May 22 (Bloomberg) -- Australian authorities evacuated 14,200 people and rescued nine from floodwaters in coastal New South Wales as more wild weather hit the eastern state, disrupting the world’s largest coal-export harbor.

About 5,000 residents fled the town of Lismore in the state’s north as 200 millimeters (8 inches) of rain fell in 33 hours. Another 9,200 people were evacuated today from the Grafton area. The State Emergency Service said flood waters would rise later today as the rain continues.

“We’ve still a severe weather warning from the Queensland border down to Coffs Harbour and we still are experiencing large surf and damaging winds,” SES spokesperson Erin Pogmore said in a phone interview. “Flood waters are predicted to peak in the Grafton area in the early hours of tomorrow morning.”

Newcastle Port restricted ship arrivals and departures, spokesman Keith Powell said by telephone today, adding that 32 vessels are waiting outside the harbor.

NSW State Premier Nathan Rees declared parts of northern New South Wales disaster zones, which enables residents to access emergency assistance for lost property, personal hardship and temporary accommodation.

Australia’s government also announced flood assistance of A$130,000 ($101,000) for businesses and farmers, A$25,000 for non-profit organizations and A$15,000 freight subsidies for stock or feed, Attorney-General Robert McClelland said in an e- mailed statement.

Queensland Weather

The wild weather came down from the northern state of Queensland, where a man was killed and residents forced to evacuate earlier this week. Fallen power lines and trees cut electricity to about 30,000 homes and businesses as Queensland suffered its worst deluge since 1974.

Australia has been buffeted by floods and fires this year as severe weather swept the nation. Nine people have died in floods across Queensland to date this year, the state rescue service said; 173 were killed in February during wildfires in the southeastern state of Victoria.

Newcastle port, used by mining companies including Rio Tinto Group, Xstrata Plc and BHP Billiton Ltd., cut its forecast of 2009 coal shipments by 10 percent this week, partly because of disruptions caused by storms.

The weather bureau issued severe weather and flood warnings for northern New South Wales today. Winds as strong as 125 kilometers (77 miles) per hour were recorded in the area last night.

Federal Assistance

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said today the federal government was ready to assist New South Wales in whatever way it can.

In Western Australia, 4,900 homes in the state capital of Perth were without power at 3 p.m. local time after a storm lashed the city overnight.

At the height of the storm, 62,000 WesternPower customers were without electricity, Marisa Chapman, spokeswoman for the state-owned provider, said by telephone. The majority of the damage was caused by flying debris from homes and trees hitting power lines.

Heavy seas snapped the iconic pylon at Cottesloe Beach in Perth, WAToday reported on its Web site. The pylon was erected in 1936 as part of a plan to create a shark-proof pool at the popular beach, it said.

A severe weather warning for Perth was removed at 4:40 p.m. local time, the Bureau of Meteorology said on its Web site.

To contact the reporters on this story: Gemma Daley in Canberra at gdaley@bloomberg.netJason Scott in Perth at Jscott14@bloomberg.net;

Last Updated: May 22, 2009 05:23 EDT