UPDATE: 1.30PM
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The Wallice Creek flood gate has started to open to flush water into the Hunter River. There is no time frame on when water will clear from the New England Highway.
UPDATE: 1PM
WARNING ON MALICIOUS AUTOMATED MESSAGES ABOUT THE MAITLAND AREA
NSW Police and SES have become aware of a malicious use of an automated messaging system that has sent messages to landline phones in the Maitland area.
The messages advised that a number of schools were being evacuated. This is not the case.
There are no schools being evacuated or currently under threat in the Maitland area.
For information on the current situation in the Maitland area, visit NSW SES and NSW SES Hunter Region.
UPDATE: 12.40PM
No evacuation order has been given for the city of Maitland. Public panic has led to rumours of an evacuation, but this order has NOT been given by authorities.
UPDATE: MIDDAY
Reports are coming in that businesses down the Tourist Information Centre end of High Street Maitland have started to self-evacuate as waters rise from Wallis Creek.
This message was released from the SES:
"At East Maitland, the New England Highway is currently partly closed to single lane traffic, directed by Police. The closure is due to floodwater from Wallis Creek, and is expected to rise up to another 200mm before receeding. The water is backwater flooding, originating from Watagans Catchment, and will flow into the Hunter River, through automatic floodgates at Wallis Creek.
Last night the NSW SES informed residents on High St, East Maitland of the expected rise and offered sandbags.No evacuation have been required."
UPDATE: 10AM
SES are investigating flooding in East Maitland, they are yet to ascertain where the water is coming from.
The New England Highway has been closed at Melbourne Street to all northbound traffic.
Water has started to flow from Wallis Creek into the Hunter River.
PREVIOUS REPORT:
Residents in the old part of High Street in Maitland have been encouraged to self evacuate, according to police.
The SES did a door knock between 3.30am and 6am on Friday to encourage self-evacuation and help sandbag homes.
Residents were also encouraged to pack away valuables.
Wallis Creek is expected to flood the area some time on Friday or Saturday.
According to a spokesman from Maitland police when the Hunter River drops to 6.5 metres under the Belmore Bridge the flood gates will automatically open. Wallis Creek will then wash out into the river and may cause some flooding in Maitland on its way.
The flood water had eased to 6.789 metres at the Belmore Bridge at 8.30am on Friday, according to Bureau of Meteorology data.
Access to Maitland from the New England Highway has been reduced to one lane and is expected to be completely cut-off today as the waters rise over the road.
Police said reports of evacuations around the Maitland showground were untrue.