Echuca residents on ‘wrong side of levee’ threaten action
Echuca residents stuck on the wrong side of a flood levee say they’re “p---ed off” and there will “definitely” be some sort of legal action.
Victoria
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Angry Echuca residents stuck on the wrong side of its giant flood levee say they’re “p---ed off” at being left to fight by themselves to save their homes – and have had “zero” help from authorities.
More than 100 homes in streets including Goulburn Rd, Pakenham, Bowen and Moama streets were left in the firing line on the wrong side of the levee after it was hastily built to save Echuca last week.
Residents continued to fight the surging Murray River on Tuesday, as it peaked about 94.9m.
Martin Golledge, who lives on the corner of Pakenham and Bowen streets, said he and his neighbours had received no help since the levee cut them off. “We’ve had zero, no ADF support, no emergency assistance whatsoever,” he said.
“I’m upset, nervous, anxious, gone into depression, and I’m now coming out the other side with anger. This whole area and these streets cut off on the ‘wrong’ side, we’re all p---ed off,” he said.
Mr Golledge said he understood the levee had to be built to protect the town, but said it should have been built by Campaspe Council “about 20 years ago”.
He said while it appeared his home wouldn’t go under, he faced a repair bill of about $20,000.
“All they’ve told us is to evacuate, but how do you walk away from your home?” Mr Golledge said.
“Last week, I woke up after they built this levee, and I felt like I wasn’t worthy of being saved, that’s how they’ve made me feel,” he said.
In a statement, Campaspe Council said the levee was built by Emergency Management Victoria. It said the council was not consulted on its design or location.
“The levee’s location was decided by EMV to save as many homes as possible from flooding,’’ it said, adding: “Based on the flood modelling available in the incident control centre in Bendigo, EMV had 48 hours to put the levee in place.’’
Nicole Salisbury, who rents a house on Goulburn Rd, said neighbours and other residents were baffled by the “odd” decisions made.
“At this point in time I don’t know what we are going to do about it,” she said.
“We are all going to band together to get the right advice and then do what we can, but there will definitely be some sort of action.”
Kim Hay said the men helping to sandbag her Goulburn Rd property and who put pumps in her front yard had restored her faith in the community.
“They have been doing that while we try and save our other place here,” she said.
Despite widespread wet weather in Echuca on Monday, only 8mm of rain was recorded in the 24 hours to 9am Tuesday. There were visible signs later on Tuesday that the flood water had receded.
But Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said: “We will see water levels remain for a number of days at the major flooding level. There is still potential for significant impacts on the community.”
The BOM has forecast only up to 2mm of rain each day for Echuca until Sunday.
Emergency Management Victoria’s Bendigo incident control centre has been contacted for comment.
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