RESIDENTS are being urged to be prepared as the district’s first flood event since 2011 begins.
More than 130 people attended a community meeting at Kerang yesterday to receive an update on the rising Loddon River, with a smaller gathering held at Quambatook to update people on the Avoca River floods.
Flood warnings are in place for both rivers as masses of water move toward Quambatook and Kerang.
The Avoca River at Quambatook was at 1.36 metres yesterday morning and was expected to peak around the major flood level of 2.4 metres on Wednesday.
The Loddon River at Appin South was at 2.50 metres yesterday morning, with the minor flood level of 2.80 metres likely to be exceeded late yesterday.
The river may reach the moderate flood level of 3.10 metres late today or tomorrow.
The river level at Kerang was 75.93 metres above sea level yesterday morning, with a peak above the minor flood level of 77.0 metres expected on Sunday.
The December 2010 flood reached 77.20 metres, while in January 2011 the river peaked at 78.03 metres.
“The take home message of the day is that this event will be very similar to September 2010, Gannawarra Shire Council’s Geoff Rollinson said at yesterday’s Kerang meeting.
“This community is well versed with flood events.”
North Central Catchment Management Authority floodplain manager, Camille White said floodwater would be “generally contained with the river’s banks”, whilst State Emergency Service regional manager, John Parker urged people at the meeting to spread that message to family and friends.
“You might see more SES and CFA trucks in town, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything going wrong, it just means we’re being proactive,” he said.
Senior Sergeant Dave Bowler urged people to monitor the VicTraffic website for road closures.
“Get as much information as you can and if a road is closed pleased do not enter it,” he said.
