There are more than 4000 uninhabitable homes across NSW as people begin to wonder what to do amid the mammoth clean-up effort.

Two major industry groups are asking the Australian and Queensland governments to financially support flood mitigation projects in the Greater Brisbane region that have been proven to work since the 2011 floods.

Ongoing record warmth in the world’s oceans has increased the likelihood that 2014 will be declared the hottest year since reliable data began more than a century ago, US and Japanese agencies say.

A high-pressure system "as big as Australia" will bring Melbourne's warmest patch of weather in more than five months, while most of the country is likely to go for a week with little rain.

Canberra has enjoyed a run of beautiful sunshine and light breezy weather this week and those hoping for a clear weekend may be in luck with a forecast of gradual heating over the next five days.