Derwent Valley weather: Paddle board school impacted, doorknocking underway

Waterlogged paddocks may have isolated a Macquarie Plains’ farm, however the farm’s owner is looking to the bright side. Here’s why.

Arundel Farm owner Fiona Hume has been completely cut off by floodwaters at her Macquarie Plains sheep farm.

With the deluge of rain over the past week, many of her paddocks are now waterlogged as well as the floods from the Derwent River spreading into her bottom paddock.

“I have moved our sheep and few cows from the bottom paddocks away from the river, but the rest of the sheep are smart enough to keep out of floodwaters,” she said.

Sheep farm, Arundel Farm, at Macquarie Plains has been cut off due to flood waters. Picture: Supplied

Arundel Farm. Picture: Supplied

However, the rain is a blessing in disguise for Ms Hume, after “unseasonably dry” conditions over the past 18 months as well as low commodity prices.

“We have had such an awful 18 months, it’s been a horrendous time in terms of climate and stock prices, but the rain is a blessing,” she said.

“It’s uplifting to know that with this rain, we may have hay and feed for sheep and not have to buy food into the future.”

Arundel Farm. Picture: Supplied

Arundel Farm. Picture: Supplied

Ms Hume has also been one of the lucky Derwent Valley residents to still have power and some mobile service.

Elsewhere in the Derwent Valley, Westerway Roadhouse is still open for business, but staff member Tiffany is worried she will be shut off from getting to her mother’s house in Gretna.

“I live in Ellendale but am staying with my mother and the police look like they are going to shut the road because of sticks caught underneath the bridge,” she said.

“I may have to leave work early.”

Arundel Farm. Picture: Supplied

Paddle board school abandons classes after dangerous floods

Cameron Douglas has eight years experience running a paddle boarding school on the Derwent River — and during that time he’s never seen the water level this high.

Flood warnings are in place for low-lying communities in the Upper Derwent to evacuate and the danger can be seen from New Norfolk.

“I went down to where we run our classes on Ferry Street in New Norfolk last night and the water had run up Ferry Street,” the owner of Derwent Valley Stand-Up Paddle boarding said.

“It was from the storm drains with all the rain we are having and had spread through the caravan park and the rowing club carpark to the river.”

CLICK HERE FOR ROLLING COVERAGE OF MONDAY’S WEATHER EVENTS

Derwent Valley Stand Up Paddle boarding experiences flooding of the river. Picture: Supplied

Derwent Valley Stand Up Paddle boarding experiences flooding of the river. Picture: Supplied

Mr Douglas said he would be unable to run classes until October due to the high water levels.

“We won’t be running until October at the very least until the water recedes, which I think will take three weeks,” he said.

“It will be interesting to see how the river has changed once the water recedes as well.”

The emergency warnings sparked doorknocking efforts overnight urging people to take the alert seriously, Derwent Valley Council mayor Michelle Dracoulis said.

Derwent Valley mayor Michelle Dracoulis says they undertook doorknocking overnight to alert communities threatened by flooding. Picture: Genevieve Holding

“A lot of the residents located close to the Derwent River have been notified of the risks, but a lot have experienced flooding of some kind before and want to stay at home,” she said.

“This flooding is due to an extended weather event and will be affecting us late into the week, so it isn’t a regular flooding event.”

The two evacuation centres in New Norfolk have still not seen much traffic through their doors, with Ms Dracoulis stating a lot of communities are prevented from reaching the centres.

“Westerway has been isolated in both directions by floodwaters as well as much of Maydena,” she said.

“There’s been some council infrastructure affected too as well as some homes I saw with water visibly running through them, but we need to wait and see what happens.”

It was a different story on Sunday morning when Gaylene Fenton from Bushy Park Roadhouse said many people had stopped in at the popular cafe and fuel stop on their way to work.

“Everyone seems to be continuing with their normal lives, just with some bad weather,” she said.

“I live in New Norfolk and I’m not too worried about being able to get back home.”