There are fears that Australia’s largest urban water supply could overflow, adding to the risk of flooding after a damaging and complex low-pressure system dubbed the “bomb cyclone” caused widespread havoc across New South Wales.

Warragamba Dam in western Sydney is nearly at full capacity and is expected to “moderately spill” on Thursday after days of intense rain and destructive winds, Water NSW said.

“The duration and volume of the spill will ultimately be determined by rainfall received across the catchment,” it said.

Clare: ‘Consequences for bad behaviour’ in childcare safety crackdown

Education Minister Jason Clare has explained new legislation aimed at tightening oversight of childcare centres and says they will crackdown on childcare centres not meeting strict safety standards in the wake of recent abuse allegations.

Mr Clare has told Sunrise the current system had “failed these families” if the claims are proven true.

Clare revealed the government would move quickly, promising to bring forward new laws in the first sitting fortnight of the new parliament.

“The big weapon that the Federal Government has to wield here is the funding that we provide to childcare centres,” he said.

“It equates to about 70 per cent of the funding that runs a centre, and if they’re not keeping our kids safe then we need to cut off their funding. There’s got to be consequences for this sort of bad behaviour when centres don’t look after our kids properly.”

The move comes as state and federal governments consider a suite of new safety measures, including enhanced background checks and a national ban on personal devices in childcare centres, as well as urgent reviews of sector protocols.

“Reforms have taken too bloody long,” Mr Clare said, promising that the government would act swiftly to ensure all centres are “up to scratch” and that children are safe in their care.