A day after torrential rain returned to southeast Queensland, the trough that is causing the flooding havoc drifted south to deliver a repeat of the deluge that hit the Northern Rivers region last month.

In flood-hit Lismore, the Wilsons River rose several metres on Tuesday and is expected to reach a major flood level.

The Bureau of Meteorology warns the river could reach 10.6 metres.

People have been told to leave central Lismore by 4pm on Tuesday, with floodwaters expected to again flow over the town’s levee.

Flood Recovery Minister Steph Cooke said the people of Lismore must heed the warnings.

“This latest event on top of the one we experienced a month ago, that unprecedented natural disaster, that saw flooding over two metres beyond the previously set record rush through your communities – this is the last thing you want at this time.”

Flood recovery centres opened after the February floods had been closed for the next 48 hours and the SES had positioned resources, including aircraft, in the region in anticipation of flooding, Ms Cooke told parliament on Tuesday.

About 4000 defence and 1000 emergency services personnel remain in the region.

Some 6600 people have also been ordered to leave in parts of Tumbulgum, Mullumbimby, Billinudgel, North Lismore, South Lismore, Coraki and Kyogle.

A further 9100 people have also been issued evacuation warnings for Condong, South Murwillumbah, East Lismore and Girards Hills.

The SES has conducted 14 flood rescues and received 462 calls for help in the past 24 hours.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin swam from her home during last month’s floods, while her neighbours rescued her husband and others clambered into their attics.

She said it had been all hands on deck as the rain and flood threat returned overnight, and the response to evacuation orders on Monday was more organised than in February.

“There were SES, army knocking on doors saying evacuate … but only about 15 per cent of people have gone back to North and South Lismore,” Ms Saffin said.

The ruined contents of flooded homes still line Lismore streets as the flood threat returns.

“People’s lives are out on the footpaths … it’s going to be everywhere,” Saffin said.

“This really was a horrific event … and it requires a very different response from government.”

Saffin wants a “reconstruction commission” that provides a single point of contact so flood victims are not left dealing with multiple government agencies.

There also needs to be urgent improvements to housing solutions because as present “the implementation is just appalling”.

“I get told, ‘Everybody who wants to be housed is being housed’. How come yesterday I got a call from a family of seven at the Lismore showgrounds with their baby, their niece, three dogs, and they weren’t housed, they were in tents?” Saffin said.

Cooke said there were 1500 people in emergency accommodation.

Acting NSW Premier Paul Toole told parliament the primary focus of the government was putting a roof over people’s heads and that community members had stood up to support each other, including by welcoming displaced residents into their homes.

He said flood recovery co-ordinator Mal Lanyon had the ability and resources to cut through the red tape Saffin spoke of, and he questioned why her reconstruction commission was not included in Labor’s 10-point recovery plan released this week.

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said on Tuesday morning that exhausted residents were suffering from flood fatigue after a month long clean-up effort.

Rain is expected to continue on the NSW east coast for much of the week.