Disease fears, many stranded
THE army has been called in to help out in flood-ravaged Gippsland. Premier Steve Bracks yesterday toured Lakes Entrance on the ground.
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THE army has been called in to help out in flood-ravaged Gippsland. Premier Steve Bracks yesterday toured Lakes Entrance on the ground.
He also flew over other flood-stricken areas before announcing a recovery taskforce to oversee a rescue package.
The recovery work is expected to cost more than $30 million, as Victorian Emergency Services Commissioner Bruce Esplin declared the current Gippsland floods were worse than those in the area 17 years and 19 years ago.
In the latest development, four people were rescued by boat as they were caught up in the Gippsland floodwaters.
A State Emergency Service (SES) spokeswoman said a 50-year-old woman and her two teenage sons were picked up yesterday by SES rescuers at Myrtlebank near Sale after their home was isolated by water.
The woman was taken to hospital suffering mild hypothermia while the two boys were kept in hospital overnight for observation.
The SES pulled another woman suffering abdominal pains to safety after her home was left isolated by a rising Nicholson River.
The SES spokeswoman said the rescue crew crossed 300m of flood plain to get to the woman and then return her to a waiting ambulance.
About 350 people on Raymond Island, Burrabogie Island and parts of Paynesville are likely to remain cut off for another three days as they wait for the water to drain out through Lakes Entrance.
No rain is expected today, although there could be heavy falls later in the week.
Elsewhere 350 people were left stranded in their homes on Raymond Island, and another 16 isolated at the Hollands Landing caravan park.
And the weather bureau has predicted steady rainfall later this week could bring more headaches for flood-ravaged East Gippsland.
Water continued to subside, leaving a legacy of mud for residents of Lakes Entrance, Newry, Tinamba, Sale and Bairnsdale to clean up.
Although flood waters have peaked, the effects of continuing high tides at the Gippsland Lakes mean homes in towns including Raymond Island, Burrabogie Island, Loch Sport and Paynesville will not be out of danger for up to three days.
Fears of a disease outbreak were also rising last night as septic tanks overflowed.
The rain has brought Melbourne's dams up to 31 per cent full, almost 2 per cent higher than last week.
As the State Emergency Service deployed fresh rescue crews and ground-based flood level observers, the State Government announced it would seek help from army engineers.
The government taskforce, led by Treasurer John Brumby, will meet today to plan the recovery.
Mr Brumby said the taskforce would have government resources to help rebuild roads, bridges and public assets in a multi-million dollar clean-up.
"We've made a call for assistance from the Australian Defence Force for some of the temporary bridge work required," he said.
Mr Bracks said the most urgent item on the recovery agenda would be repairs to roads, bridges and communications.
About 52 households had already taken up emergency grants, Mr Bracks said.
He said the Government would fund 75 per cent of any infrastructure recovery projects up to $110,000, and 100 per cent of the larger items over $110,000.
More rain on the way could hamper the clean-up, according to the weather bureau.
Up to 70mm of rain could fall in Gippsland on Thursday and Friday as another cold front hits the region, senior forecaster Richard Carlyon said.
"On Thursday we could get falls of 15 to 35mm and similar on Friday," he said.
"It's hard to say how much impact that would have but if these falls come through it's certainly going to have an impact."
Strong wind is also expected to make life difficult for clean-up crews.
Despite the deluge boost to Melbourne's storages, more rain is needed throughout winter and spring, Melbourne Water spokesman Ben Pratt said.
"It's very good, but water storages were around 48 per cent full this time last year," he said.
"But while we welcome the rainfall in our catchments, we recognise the people of Gippsland are suffering as a result of these floods."
By yesterday afternoon, the SES had received 1687 calls for help since last Wednesday.
The number of properties affected across Gippsland is not yet known as some parts will remain isolated for up to three days, VICSES state operation director Trevor White said.
While water across Gippsland is mostly receding, Mr White said communities around the Gippsland Lakes were not yet in the clear.
"Water levels will continue to rise and fall so people need to stay on their toes until the water drains out," he said.
The fluctuating level of Lake Reeve was yesterday creating problems for the nearby town of Loch Sport. The coastal town is wedged between Lake Victoria and Lake Reeve.
Michael McOrist, from the Loch Sport Holiday Park, said Lake Victoria was subsiding but the usually dry Lake Reeve was still rising.
"It's just as well I can swim," Mr McOrist said.
He said many homes had already been flooded with others surrounded by water.
The Marina Hotel had also taken in water.
"A lot of the locals have said they have never seen it like this. It's definitely been a wake-up," Mr McOrist said.
He said the floods had stopped tourists heading to Loch Sport for the school holidays, adding further woes to tourism, hit by the bushfires.