Lauren Pezet
Wagga Wagga, NSW
Lauren is the NSW Regional Deputy Editor. Based in Wagga Wagga via the Illawarra, Tamworth and Alice Springs, she has previously worked for the ABC as a chief of staff, journalist, broadcaster and producer.
Latest by Lauren Pezet
Health minister praises 'phenomenal' work of frontline health staff who assisted after Hunter wedding bus crash
The NSW Health Minister says while frontline workers train for horrific scenarios like the crash that left 10 people dead on Sunday, those who responded to the incident will need ongoing support.
Analysis
analysis:It's been a gradual demise for the NSW Nationals, with no clear path back to its former regional dominance
Eight years ago the Nationals held 18 seats in NSW, on Saturday they struggled to get to 11. A path back will be a seat-by-seat labyrinth for the party, writes Lauren Pezet.
How a one-in-5,000-year flood wiped out a town in minutes
When the people of Eugowra woke on November 14 they had no understanding of the "waves of water" that were hurtling towards them. Before long they were running for their lives, rescuing each other and clambering onto rooftops.
Some thought Eugowra couldn’t rebuild. Now, days after a deadly flash flood, the community is determined
Something has shifted in the Central West NSW town of Eugowra, with locals now hopeful they can rebuild after most of the town was damaged or destroyed in a deadly flash flood.
Body found near Eugowra in search for man missing after flash flood
Police believe a body found near Eugowra on Saturday is that of 85-year-old Ljubisa 'Les' Vugec. It is the second person to have died after a flash flood devastated the town on Monday.
NSW floods from above: Aerial images show the sheer force of the floodwaters
Fast, deep and devastating — these aerial photographs show how communities across NSW have been swept away as floods pummelled towns across the state this week.
Rivers set to rise, snow forecast as wild weather lashes south-eastern Australia
More than 100 people are rescued from rooftops by ADF and SES helicopters in Eugowra in western NSW as flash flooding strikes Australia's south east amid a forecast for rising rivers and snow.
Hundreds rescued from rooftops and trees, dam spills at record rate as flash floods batter NSW
Spills from Wyangala Dam peaked at 230,000 megalitres a day and elsewhere thousands have been forced to leave their homes as flash flooding sweeps large parts of western NSW.
Body found as flooding hits Forbes with more than 1,000 people told to evacuate
A body has been found by police searching for two men missing in floodwaters on the Southern Tablelands, as 1,000 people told to evacuate homes near Forbes.
Hundreds told to evacuate as NSW communities brace for flood levels not seen in decades
Residents in Gunnedah, Wagga Wagga and Forbes are being ordered to leave their homes.
Search for two missing in floodwaters as flash flooding and wild weather 'wreaks havoc' across NSW
Heavy rain and strong winds cause dangerous flash flooding and rapid river rises in parts of central and southern NSW.
Buybacks, house raising and retrofitting form $800m scheme for flood-hit Northern Rivers
Northern Rivers residents whose homes were severely impacted by floods earlier this year may now have the opportunity to move to higher ground.
Saturday set to be 'danger day' for parts of New South Wales, with super cell storms and heavy rain possible
Residents are being warned of major and flash flooding, with two "significant and serious" weather systems expected to develop in parts of the state, including Sydney.
Two dead, children among six injured in 'very distressing' car crash in NSW Central West
A 29-year-old male driver and 63-year-old female passenger died in the incident on Friday afternoon in the NSW Central West, with three children, two other women and a man also injured.
People living in 'high-risk' flood areas should relocate 'urgently', inquiry finds
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says the state cannot keep developing in areas that are at high risk of floods as an inquiry hands down 28 recommendations over this year's devastating floods.
46,000 people in Sydney could fail to evacuate in future flood, report warns
A report says up to 46,000 people in Sydney could fail to evacuate if flooding comparable to that experienced in Lismore earlier this year struck in the future.
BOM attacks parliamentary report critical of its handling of deadly NSW floods
The Bureau of Meteorology has hit back at suggestions it is treated as a "nine-to-five business operation" after a report found it needs to review its data processes in the wake of the NSW floods.
Scathing NSW flood report finds SES, BOM failures left locals no choice but to save themselves
A NSW parliamentary inquiry is damning in its assessment of the response to major flood events this year, listing a slew of failures by government agencies.
University boss accused of assaulting teen girl resigns
The vice-chancellor and chief executive of the University of New England has resigned after allegedly assaulting a 16-year-old girl at a licensed venue.
Splendour in the Grass organisers and government urged to rethink next year's event
Some are questioning the music festival's ability to cater for a 43 per cent increase in patrons, after days of flooding and muddy conditions, cancelled sets and controversy over bus wait times.
'The sun's coming out' and Splendour in the Grass festival-goers look forward to muddy weekend of music
Organisers say day two of this year's Splendour in the Grass music festival will go ahead and are urging music fans to "put a smile on your face and come down and get muddy with us".
Burnt-out nurses leave hospitals 'in droves' for booming cosmetic injectables industry
The cosmetic nursing industry says exhausted registered nurses are leaving hospitals "in droves" to work in a busy clinical aesthetic setting instead.
Before and after photos capture national highway underwater in NSW floods
The extent to which flooding cut off several roads, including the New England Highway, in the NSW Hunter region a week ago has been captured in aerial images.
Deadly bee parasite found closer to Sydney as new red zone declared.
Varroa mite has been found in another beehive north of Sydney as the biosecurity emergency intensifies
Former swim coach accused of sexually abusing two girls only has six months to live, court told
Former national swimming mentor Dick Caine is facing nine charges over allegations of abusing teenage girls in the 1970s.