Forestry Corporation of NSW is advising the public to avoid State Forests in the Hunter, Central Coast and Mid North Coast regions following significant flooding, which has damaged forest roads and infrastructure.

A full safety assessment of State forests will be undertaken once floodwaters have receded.

In the meantime, State Forests on the Mid North Coast and in the Hunter and Central Coast area remain closed to the public until further notice.

As a public safety precaution, Forestry Corporation’s Senior Manager Country and Community Kathy Lyons urged the public to avoid state forest roads and popular campgrounds.

“Forest roads are unsafe to navigate following flooding events, with damage to bridges and crossings likely to have occurred along with landslips and fallen trees and we urge the public to stay safe and avoid visiting State forests and using forest roads given the risks to their safety," Ms Lyons said.

"This excludes State forest permit holders who need to check on cattle and bees and residents who need to access forests to travel safely between their homes and towns and this should only be undertaken with caution and not entering floodwaters.

"We are expecting road damage and potential bridge and culvert failures in state forests in the regions.

“Forestry Corporation staff will be monitoring the situation across the Hunter and Mid North Coast in coming days, and we urge regular forest users to check closure notices on our website and stay up to date with roads conditions via the Hazards Near Me App,” she said.

An assessment has been completed at Guulabaa – Place of the Koala and the visitor site in Cowarra State Forest is open to the public.