‘Stay away’ order as flooding risk rises
Thousands of Eastern Victorian residents have been told to stay away as state emergency services race to get ahead of more potential flooding.
Thousands of Eastern Victorian residents have been told to stay away from their homes as state emergency services race to get ahead of more potential flooding.
An emergency evacuation warning issued on Wednesday afternoon remains for the Wellington Shire towns of Tinamba, Tinamba West and Newry as more than 130 properties are estimated to be flooded.
Two emergency warnings advising people to move to higher ground are in place for the Macalister River downstream to Lake Glenmaggie and the Port of Sale as well as 15 watch and act warnings.
Up to 60mm of rain poured down overnight in East Victoria in addition to the heavy rainfall of about 100mm from Wednesday.
It comes as residents grappled with bushfires that spiralled out of control just two days earlier.
VICSES deputy chief operations officer David Baker said the major flooding at the Macalister River meant his radar is “well and truly” on Tinamba, Tinamba West and Newry.
“That’s where our strong focus is. We have crews on scene with police, fire agencies and we’ve also got a taskforce coming in from the metropolitan region to assist with efforts there,” Mr Baker told The Australian.
“There’s always a potential for some properties will be isolated as a result of a lot of road closures in the local area. And again, those people are advised at a local level that that’s going to happen so that they can either relocate or plan to see it out.”
The SES deputy chief said there are 30 properties in Wangaratta that may be advised to prepare to relocate on Thursday.
“We’re doing some planning around what the floodwaters in the Ovens River might mean for the Wangaratta community … then we’ll look at what’s going to happen with the Macalister River as it makes its way downstream towards our Sale over the next few days.”
Mr Baker said that while sandbagging has been undertaken in places where the river is
flowing, like at the Tinamba general store, residents should always strive to relocate.
“We can always go back to properties that have been impacted after the waters have receded and do repair work, but we prefer people to take safer approaches, and that is to avoid those areas of potential flooding.”
Lake Glenmaggie, located close to the townships that have been advised to evacuate, is releasing 40,000 megalitres per day.
While the Macalister River downstream of the lake is expected to fall from its current 6.31m, the water will remain above major flood level at 5.30m due to the planned releases.
The SES has issued 124 flood warnings and advice messages in the past 24 hours and has received 204 calls for assistance, including 88 for trees down, 52 for flooding and 25 for building damage.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan on Thursday morning thanked emergency services and volunteers working in Gippsland and the Northeast parts of the state.
She said that while water is still rising that flood levels are expected to peak in Tinamba and Newry in the middle of the day.
Teams will then be able to go in and as an assess the level of inundation, particularly in homes,” Ms Allan said.
‘They’ve just not been able to get in and do that assessment yet because the floodwaters continue to rise and a number of roads remain closed in the in the local community.”
The Premier said nine people took refuge at the Sale relief centre overnight.
“I want to thank local communities and local residents for heeding the warnings and making their decisions early as to how they can make themselves and their families safe in this emergency situation,” she said.
“The commissioner indicated that work was supported by VicPol, CFA, SES, door knocking local streets and local homes to give people warning in addition to the work that goes on through the usual communication channels.”
Ms Allan confirmed disaster payments have been activated for those experiencing hardship as she advised people to get in touch through the relief centre.
Mount Hotham achieved a record-breaking amount of rainfall in the last 24 hour period with 198mm of rain.
In the East Gippsland region, Mount Cann Fire Tower had the highest rainfall at 75mm, followed by Mount Elizabeth at almost 74mm and then Mount Waldron Fire Tower with 73mm.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Helen Reid said further significant rainfall is not expected in the flood-affected areas.
“In terms of rain, we’re expecting a lot less if anything it’ll only be just a couple of showers through those regions where we’ve got floods. The low pressure system driving all the weather has moved further offshore, taking all its rain with it,” Ms Reid said.
“We do have another system coming into the West and that may bring a couple of showers along the coast tomorrow, but nothing like what we’ve seen in the last 36 hours.”
Ms Reid said there would not be much rainfall until later next week.
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