Wettest January on record: Flood waters yet to peak in Victoria’s north

Victoria has seen the wettest start to January on record, prompting the PM to provide ‘whatever support is requested’.

A person walks over sandbags as they are placed around a store to protect it from floodwater in Rochester. Picture: Getty Images

Regions in Victoria’s north have been warned floodwaters are yet to peak after what has been the wettest start to January on record, as Anthony Albanese promises to provide “whatever support is requested” for flood-affected communities.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the State Control Centre in Melbourne on Wednesday afternoon, where he received a flood briefing and discussed what further support might be needed in Victoria, just hours after visiting Queensland’s far north.

Mr Albanese said support would be provided to individuals, families and councils as the state continued to battle severe flooding.

“We will be providing whatever support is requested to make sure that people aren’t left behind,” he said.

“We’ve signed off on a commitment to provide further support to Victorians as a result of this flood event that continues to unfold.

“Support in terms of the emergency hardship payments being made to individuals and families to assist communities in their time of need, but also support for local councils who are doing work on the ground to make sure the community can be made more resilient.”

Flood levels in Kialla, Shepparton and Mooroopna areas are expected to reach nearly 11m on Friday morning, one metre short of the 2022 flood level of 12m, as the Goulburn River continues to swell.

A drone view shows floodwaters at Rochester. Picture: Getty Images

The alerts come as at least a dozen emergency flood warnings were downgraded in Seymour, Yea and Rochester in Central Victoria allowing residents to return to their homes as the towns enter a “recovery phase”.

Minor flooding and local road closures remained in Echuca and Murchison on Wednesday with both towns expected to peak flood levels in the afternoon as flood water from the Campaspe River made its way to the northern river systems.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Bri Macpherson said the first nine days of January had been the wettest nine days in January in more than a century.

“If we had no further rainfall for the rest of January, this month would still be within the top 20 wettest Januarys that we have on record,” she said.

Ms Macpherson warned showers and storms could hit Victoria’s north and east on Friday and Saturday but said they were expected to be much more “isolated and short lived” compared to the severe rain the state had endured since Sunday.

A resident walks through a flooded street in Rochester. Picture: Getty Images

Tim Wiebusch said the SES has door knocked more than 300 homes in Kialla, Shepparton and Mooroopna areas, warning residents of possible flooding in and around their properties and streets.

“We’re only expecting a very small number, less than a dozen of properties that may see some direct impacts in and around those homes but there will be extensive flooding in some of the streets in those communities,” he said.

Mr Wiebusch said six properties in Yea and seven businesses in Seymour have seen above floor flooding and impact assessments are underway as floodwaters continue to recede.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts weather across Victoria will “settle” next week, allowing the clean-up to begin.