Victorian streets flooding, residents fighting to defend homes as sewage leak rumour sparks panic

Residents in one state are fighting to defend their homes from rapidly rising floodwaters, as discoloured water sparks a secondary panic.

Rising floodwaters across Victoria are wreaking havoc upon residents, threatening to invade homes and cause damage to vehicles, but new concerns of waste water flowing down streets is causing more panic.

People in the state’s north west are among the hardest hit, with reports raw sewage was pouring into flooded streets in Kilmore.

Goulburn Valley Water spokesperson Steve Nash denied those reports, telling 3AW radio the brown water was from a surge of storm water in the sewer system.

“We’ve inspected it and we’ve got stormwater pumping out,” Mr Nash said.

Victoria’s department of health issued a warning about the health risks during flooding.

There is heavy rain happening across Victoria and chances of flooding in some areas.
Floods can increase certain health-related risks so it's important to stay informed and be prepared.
Download the @vicemergency App and set up a watch zone for your area.https://t.co/CVqb7L89Gspic.twitter.com/qjNIy07yA3

— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) October 7, 2022

Well Castlemaine is going under pretty quickly. Barkers creek has burst its banks and roads out are being flooded. Take care out there everyone.. and ffs don’t drive through flood waters #vicfloodspic.twitter.com/vmEn6pBes6

— not your kollontai (@speakcleary) October 13, 2022

Stranded residents have shared footage of their seemingly sinking land as the rain engulfs suburb after suburb.

The school oval at Belvedere Park Primary is also underwater, with the school on high alert for dangerous weather, with further flooding predicted.

The State Emergency Service has received over 200 calls for help, and there are reports more than 26,000 homes are currently without power.

Parklands across metropolitan Melbourne are turning into lakes and rivers, and The Alfred Hospital is reportedly experiencing flooding in its basement.

The Calder and Midland highways are among those which have been forced to close as water spills out onto the road.

Flooding in the inner-city suburb of Cremorne. Picture: David Caird

The state’s Emergency Management Commissioner, Andrew Crisp, also told 3AW the flood risk is unlikely to end even after this weekend.

“There’s another low developing, so we’ll see that weather that brings next Wednesday, Thursday,” Mr Crisp said.

He said the bureau of meteorology had predicted residents would continue to see the weather cycle over the next six to eight weeks.

Victorians are urged not to drive at all if possible, and if necessary, do not drive into the flood waters.

People are braving the wet weather in Melbourne. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brendan Beckett

In Rochester, a town in central Victoria, sandbagging is underway as fears more than 700 homes could be in the flood path.

The SES confirmed the flood peak is expected to hit on Saturday.

The town experienced significant flooding during 2011, which was the worst on record.

Barry, 82, works to protect his house in Rochester on the Campaspe River. Picture: Jason Edwards