In pictures: Australia storm kills three people as huge waves and cyclone-force winds hit east coast

The Bureau of Metrology have issued warnings as the low pressure system moves south and continues to thrash southern New south Wales, Victoria and Tasmania

Three people have died and several are missing after severe storms hit the east coast of Australia bringing huge waves, cyclone-force winds and torrential downpours.

Waves reaching 12 metres high pounded much of the east coast of the country over the weekend, including Sydney, forcing hundreds to flee their homes.

Pictures show the severe coastal erosion at Sydney’s Collaroy Beach, which led to the evacuation of many beach-side multi-million dollar properties, with some losing swimming pools and balconies.

The Beach Club was severely damaged by heavy rain and storms at Collaroy in Sydney's Northern Beaches (EPA)

An in-ground pool lies on the beach next to damaged houses after a severe storm at Collaroy on Sydney's northern beaches (AFP)

A man watches a wave hit a rock pool at Curl Curl beach as large swell hits the East Coast of Australia (Getty Images)

Local residents look at the damage caused by a severe storm at Collaroy on Sydney's northern beaches (AFP)

Power outages caused by the storm affected more than 85,000 homes and businesses over the weekend. Nearly 300 people needed to be rescued from flooded areas across New South Wales and more than 9,250 rescue calls had been received, the state emergency services agency said. Many of those people had attempted to drive or walk across flooded roads.

On Monday morning, a 37-year-old man’s body was found in the Cotter River near Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory after he was caught in floodwater at a river crossing.

Police divers also discovered the bodies of two men whose cars has been washed off the road in New South Wales in separate incidents.

Residents wait at the end of a flooded road after the Georges River burst its banks in Sydney (AFP)

A ferry terminal is submerged by the overflowing Parramatta river in Sydney (Getty Images ) (Getty Images)

A stand up paddle boarder helps with the rescue of surviving cows and bulls which were washed downstream when the Mersey River (Getty Images ) (Getty Images)

Volunteers in kayaks help rescue the surviving cows and bulls which were washed downstream when the Mersey River flooded in Devonport, Australia (Getty Images ) (Getty Images)

The Mersey River breaks its banks and floods several nearby towns (Getty Images ) (Getty Images)

One 65-year-old man became trapped in his vehicle while trying to cross floodwaters in Bowral. Another man was killed after his utility vehicle was washed off the road on Sydney’s south-west fringe.

The Bureau of Metrology have issued warnings as the low pressure system moves south and continues to thrash southern New south Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.

On Monday, northern Tasmania faced its worst flooding in decades, with areas of Launceston, Latrobe and Railton underwater.

Additional reporting by agencies