Mr Cochrane’s farm on the banks of the Shoalhaven River west of Nowra was inundated as the river rose, which created problems with the waterlines and getting water to his troughs for his cattle to drink.

“The rising water has undermined the main that runs through the property and our spur line, which supplies the water, is damaged,” he said.

“We have hardly any water pressure and we are having trouble getting water to the cows,” he said.

“We have resorted to using a pump and taking water out of the dam to get to the troughs.

“I know it sounds dumb but we need water for the cows.

“We have had 400mm of rain since Monday and the river is ripping past at a hundred miles an hour yet we are struggling for water.”

Mr Cochrane said 10 days ago a centre pivot irrigator on the property was in full operation.

It now sits with six of its engines and the main control panel under water.

“I don’t know what sort of damage that is going to do,” he said.

By mid-morning the river was continuing to rise but by 3pm Mr Cochrane said the levels had dropped by about a foot.

He said the area suffered flooding two years ago but this 2015 experience seemed to be bigger.

Down on the floodplain, his brothers Tim and Tom Cochrane, who farm at Numbaa and Pyree, were also suffering in the floods.

At lunchtime the Shoalhaven River had broken its banks at Numbaa and was spewing more water towards the already drenched Cochrane property.

“We needed the Heads [Shoalhaven Heads] opened earlier to try and stop this happening,” Tim Cochrane said.