FLOODING has turned much of northern Victoria and southern New South Wales into virtual inland sea.
Swollen streams have waterlogged thousands of hectares of paddocks and adversely affected the livelihood of farmers already contending with diminished returns.
Residents at Barham and Koondrook are bracing themselves for a major flood peak in the Murray River that may also aggravate the impact of flooding in the lower reaches of the Loddon River.
Federal Member for Muyrray, Mr Bruce Lloyd said after aerial and ground inspections on Wednesday that houses and farms have been inundated for over 200 km across the region.
“The great Goulburn and Murray Valley irrigation areas are almost a sea of water and that water has dramatically interfered with the lives of thousands of people”, he said.
Mr Lloyd inspected areas near Kerang affected by the Loddon River and Pyramid Creek floods and saw the aftermath of Sunday’s 66 cm downpour in Kerang where water was still being pumped from the streets after the wettest October day on record.
Borough engineer and local State Emergency Service controller, Mr Colin Campbell, led Mr Lloyd and State Member and Rodney, Mr Noel Maughan on a tour of the Loddon River area upstream and downstream of Kerang.
Mr Lloyd inspected the Barham-Koondrook area, the lower reaches of the Loddon River catchment and the lakes area from the air.
He also inspected flooding in the Shepparton region.
The inspection revealed thousands of hectares of waterlogged paddocks in the Kerang area, flood mitigation preparations at Barham and Koondrook and the swollen Loddon River.
Mr Lloyd said that the effect on the regional community was clearly evident.
“Unfortunately, none of these communities are yet secure if there is more heavy rain the next week.
“For families, there is the despair and loss of a flooded home and for farmers the loss of crops and stock and fences just when reasonable season seemed secure.
“The dairy industry, the major primary food processing industry of the valley, the flooding of so much irrigated pasture is particularly galling as production will suffer at a time when there is good international demand for Australian dairy products”, he said.
Mr Lloyd also said that much of the region’s tomato crop is devastated and grain crops damaged.
The biggest impact of Murray River flooding in the Barham-Koondrook area will be moderate to major inundation of farms.
Local State Emergency Service Controller, Mr Neil Whelan said that both towns should be able to withstand a flood peak of about 6.15 metres, expected about October 19.
The river height yesterday was 6.09 metres and rising gradually towards a peak that will be equivalent to the the 1975 level.
Mr Whelan said that excavators are strengthening Barham’s eastern levee and landholders were carrying out maintenance work.
Kerang Shire Council plant operators have created a bank along the Koondrook-Murrabit road on Koondrook-Murrabit road on Koondrook’s outskirts.
Arbuthnot Sawmills has sandbagged about 50 metres of its frontage at Koondrook and manager, Mr Paul Madden said yesterday that its height may need to be increased.
Despite the need for sandbags, the sawmill firm’s major concern is the continuing inundation of the forests.
The mill has enough timber stockpiled to last until about mid December and Mr Madden fears a repeat of last year’s conditions when timber workers were unable to gain access to the forsts until February.
Farmers on the NSW side of the river near Murrabit are expecting widespread inundation and the SES and landholders are likely to begin moving about 3000 sheep marooned on one property
“The Situation could be equal to or worse than last time”, he said.
A new minor flood peak in the Loddon River has reached the Fernihurst area and further falls in river height following the previous major flood peak are expected before the new rise reaches Durham Ox, Appin South and Kerang.
Rural Water Corporations acting operations director, Mr John Rumbold said that the river is falling slowly in the lower reaches at Benjeroop and should drop further before the Murray River peak reaches the area.
Outflows from Kow Swamp area expected to maintain the height of the Pyramid Creek, which will be bolstered by inflows from the Nine Mile Creek and the Bullock Creek.
