Mr Walker said persistent heavy rain had saturated the ground and filled river systems. He said parts of Sydney developed around historic water channels, such as the Carrington Road area, were often more severely affected.

“The water’s got nowhere to go. That leaves us to suspect conditions could be similar to worse than last week across Sydney.”

He said an east coast low expected to develop in NSW would bring prolonged, heavy rainfall to Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong from Tuesday evening, and into the morning peak hour on Wednesday.

He advised people to avoid unnecessary travel, or use alternative routes, on Wednesday morning.

“We want people to prepare, to look out on Facebook for SES updates, listen to the SES alerts and follow advice, because we want people and our members to be safe.”

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The emergency service has also warned people in the area not to drive or walk through flooded streets, to tie down any loose items in their backyards and balconies, and to steer clear of any fallen trees or branches.

The Inner West Council warned residents to avoid areas of Marrickville prone to flooding including Carrington Road, Myrtle Street, Holt Crescent, Beauchamp Street and Wardell Street.

Police urged Marrickville residents who parked their cars on Illawarra Road, Wharf Street, Myrtle Street, Riverside Crescent, Byrnes Street and O’Hara Street to move their vehicles immediately on Tuesday due to the risk of floods.

Ms Lu said the council had supplied sandbags at the SES station in Marrickville for people in the area to collect. She thought they should be delivered. She said her business had operated on Carrington Road for 12 years, and the street flooded every year.

“When it floods, we can’t work. The water will stay inside the property like a swimming pool because it’s lower than street level, so it won’t drain out onto the street. We used buckets and buckets, and a pump, to get the water out. We have to do it ourselves.

“If you know that happens, as a government or a [local] council, why wouldn’t you do something?

A1 Mechanical and Smash Repairs assistant Ocker Pryor said workers “couldn’t get in, and couldn’t get out” when floodwaters covered the driveway of the Carrington Road business, and spilled into cars last week.

“I think we’ll hang around here this time, take all the cars out of the street. The water will drain eventually, hopefully.”

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