Victoria weather: Areas impacted by floods and storms still picking up the pieces

Downed trees, lost lambs, flooded pasture and crops. See which areas had the most rainfall and how farmers have been affected by a week of wild weather.

Damage after wild storms destroyed homes and left towns without power in parts of Victoria. Picture: Zoe Phillips

A week of wild weather across parts of Victoria has left two people dead, thousands without power and phone reception, and millions of dollars in damage.

Rainfall figures for the week exceeded 100mm in many places, mainly concentrated in the Gippsland region, where there were still flood warnings in place for the Latrobe, Bunyip, Thomson and Snowy rivers yesterday.

Mt Tassie, 28km south of Traralgon, received one of the biggest rainfall totals across the state with 327mm recorded since Wednesday.

Other huge totals were recorded at Balook (286mm) and Koornalla (228mm) in West Gippsland, while nearby Traralgon South received 150mm.

The central Victorian areas of Woodend (105mm), Wallaby Creek (109mm) and Waterford Park (120mm) also copped a drenching.

The highest rainfall in the Western District was received along the coast, with Mt Sabine recording 86mm and Cobden recording 61mm.

In contrast, parts of the northwest of the state received less than 10mm over the same period, including the cropping region of the Mallee where farmers are still waiting on an autumn break. Mildura’s total was 6mm and Swan Hill received just 4mm.

The State Emergency Service has received more than 9000 calls for assistance, with more than half for fallen trees.

A 20-year-old woman was found dead in floodwaters at Glenfyne, near Cobden, on Friday, while a man in his 60s died when his car, which was almost submerged in floodwaters at Woodside in Gippsland on Thursday.

Traralgon floodwater cut off roads and homes. Picture: David Caird

Victorian Farmers Federation president Emma Germano said hundreds of farmers were affected by the storm but the real extent was still unknown as people were still without power, no phone service and in some cases, didn’t have access out of their properties.

“Downed trees, flooded pasture and crops, lost lambs, damaged shedding, landslides: this is the sort of damage our members have been telling us about,” Ms Germano said.

“There is a huge clean up ahead of the community and the damage bill is going to run into the many millions of dollars.”

The Macedon Ranges area was hit hard when a windstorm ripped through on Wednesday night, with thousands of residents left without power for days and a huge clean-up underway.

Lancefield earthmoving business owner Stuart Mustey said the damage was as bad as he’s ever seen.

“It’s the most devastation from a windstorm that I’ve ever seen,” Mr Mustey said.

He has had two crews moving trees off roads since Thursday morning, and said there was no sign of that ending soon.

“All the work we’ve done is to open the roads up so the residents and Powercor can get in and out,” he said.

“There’ll be months and months of work to pick up all the limbs.”

Gallery: Storms pummel country Victoria

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While the total damage bill across the state is yet to be estimated, it is likely to stretch into the tens of millions of dollars with more than 6500 claims already lodged with insurance companies by Monday.

Acting Premier James Merlino announced financial assistance of up to $42,250 would be available to those affected by the floods and storms.

MIXED SEASON SO FAR FOR GRAIN FARMERS

Grain growing regions across Victoria are experiencing mixed fortunes, with Western District farmers wanting rain to stop, the North East having a perfect season but the northwest of the state needing a good soak.

Skipton farmer Wayne Haywood said 40mm of rain which fell recently had soaked paddocks, making it difficult to spray crops and spread urea.

“There is no shortage of water here,” Mr Haywood said.

“There’s a lot of water lying around in places.

“The slugs are giving us a hard time and there are a few mice about.

“But all in all, it looks like a good season.”

Victorian Farmers Federation grains group president Ashley Fraser, who farmed at Springhurst, said the North East was “cracking along really well”.

“The crops are out of the ground and beginning to tiller,” Mr Fraser said.

“We have had good rain.

“It couldn’t be better.”

Carron farmer Jason Mellings said the Wimmera and North Central regions were hoping for a good season.

Mr Mellings said districts such as Horsham and Rupanyup were “tracking pretty good” but further east and north from Donald through to Warracknabeal and Birchip, the crop had emerged but was in need of rain.

“Most farmers have their crops up but there is little moisture underneath,” he said.

“If it rains from now on, the season could work out pretty good.

“The long-range forecast is positive.”

Grain Growers chairman Brett Hosking said much of the Mallee region needed a big rain.

“It’s been very much hand to mouth for most of this season,” Mr Hosking said.

“A lot of crops had failed to germinate and others were just poking through (the soil).

“There is a little bit of urea going out.

“But growers are looking for rain to give them confidence in the season.”

Mr Hosking said the Wimmera region was probably “about four weeks behind where they would like to be at this time of the year”.

“There is a little bit of rain forecast some days this week,” he said.

“Hopefully, that will add up to a reasonable fall by week’s end.”