As was the case in the more severe December 2010 flood, a crane was called in to lift cabins clear of the creeping Queanbeyan River.

Three of the 11 permanent cabins were out of harm's way late yesterday afternoon.

A park spokeswoman, Robyn Dury, said the cabins would be placed on the back of trucks and parked at the Morisset Street car park across the road.

Rooty Hill, Sydney, residents Richard and Margaret Marriott, who have been living at the caravan park while Richard works in construction, wasted no time leaving earlier in the day.

Stubbing his cigarette out, he told his wife: ''That's it, we're not waiting around for a knock on the door. We'll evacuate now.''

Gathering up their dog Penny, Mrs Marriott said it was no strain pulling up stumps quickly to leave.

''Yesterday I saw this guy pick up his tent pegs and drag [the tent] up to higher ground.''

The Marriotts had already taken their van's stabilisers off and were headed to the showground to join about 10 neighbours.

Queanbeyan SES said the Queanbeyan River had risen to 5.3 metres, while the Bureau of Meteorology had forecast it would rise to 6.3 metres.

Bricks and sticks kept campers, apartment and coffee shop owners abreast of the rising floodwaters, while a front-end excavator cleared debris from Morisset Street's submerged low-level crossing.

In contrast to the December 2010 flash flood, which rose to 8.6 metres above the normal level and banked up behind tonnes of felled willow trees, property owners had all day yesterday to prepare for the worst, and strolled to and from the rising water to monitor its rise.

For businessman Brent Richter, who has opened a coffee shop on the river bank near Queens Bridge since the last flood, a red brick near the water's edge kept him informed.

George Farrell had a similar idea downstream, placing a stick 300mm from the water at 12.40pm. It was swamped at 1pm.

Waniassa Street apartment owner Nodira Karimova, who had to leave in a hurry in the December 2010 flood, was none too impressed with the ever-widening river opposite Riverside Plaza.

''Looks like we will be spending the night somewhere else,'' she said.

Ms Karimova had already packed personal documents, toiletries and clothes for a few days in readiness for a dash to her friend's place. ''It's not much, I hope this won't last.''

By early afternoon, SES had responded to 61 requests for sandbags and to repair roofs. Spokesman Mitchell Clout said the SES had been regularly updating business owners and monitoring the river.

Mr Richter said his riverbank cafe, built from two shipping containers lowered by crane on to the eastern river bank, could not be insured for flooding because of its proximity to the river.

''I'm saving money, unlike those people in Queensland who paid their insurance and found out they were not insured for flooding.

''We embraced a flood plan and are under no illusions. Floods I can watch for hours, it is bushfires which frighten me.''

Everything that had to be moved - including four fridges, 60 chairs and 40 tables - would be put on wheels for a quick get-away.

He said the SES was in contact every 15 minutes and was more concerned about access out of the river's proximity, rather than the rising waters.