Rolling updates: Moama braces for further flooding, Campaspe set to peak this afternoon at 96.3m

Several low-lying areas have been asked to evacuate by 9am Monday, October 17, including Moama caravan and tourist parks.

An evacuation centre has been set up at Moama Recreation Reserve (52 Perricoota Road).

Alerts have been integrated via the new hazardwatch.gov.au, with further information available through that website.

The Moama flood levee is set to be tested in these conditions for the first time since its construction, but even in the instance of a 1-in-100 year flooding event, authorities are confident the levee will hold, with 24/7 surveillance expected.

The Cobb Highway southbound over the Dhungala Bridge has now been closed due to flooding on Warren Street, but local traffic is still permitted across the old bridge at Meninya Street with the aim to restrict uneccesary travel.

The Cobb Highway is not expected to be closed.

Sandbag supplies are expected to be replenished with 10,000 set to reach sites on Sunday evening and Monday morning.

Murray River Council (MRC) community transport is commuting for essential travel. The SES number for assistance is 132 500, and more information can be found on the MRC Facebook page or website and emergency services channels.

Coliban Water has also informed customers that flood waters are impacting its systems in Echuca.

“We are isolating our sewer pump stations during the flood to ensure asset protection and speed of recovery,” it said in a text message.

“Some customers may notice their toilets aren’t flushing or sinks aren’t draining as normal.

“Please consider minimising water use, including the use of washing machines, dishwashers, and limit baths and showers.

“This will reduce the volume of water being sent to sewer while flood levels are high.”

EARLIER: The Campaspe River at Echuca is expected to peak this afternoon at around 96.3m AHD with around 1000 properties are inundated by flood waters.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the river level was 96.24m AHD and rising slowly in its 1.45pm update.

Victoria SES chief officer operations Tim Wiebusch said the situation is far from over.

“We are expecting a peak this afternoon of 96.3m at that location, and this will mean that there will be around 1000 properties that will either be surrounded, or some of those, inundated, by floodwaters,” Mr Wiebusch said.

“Fortunately, we have have good support there for our emergency services from the ADF and other local community groups that have been doing a terrific effort in terms of providing some mitigation through sandbagging and other means in that community.

“That will be the first of two peaks for the Echuca community, with the Murray River then coming into play again Monday into Tuesday.

“We are expecting a flood peak of around 95m, which is above the major flood level.

“Again, we are expecting a similar amount of properties to be again under threat from that major flood level for at least three to four days.

“Echuca has an evacuation message out for a number of parts of that community, but also ‘too late to leave’ coming into play in some locations.”

Mr Wiebusch also gave an update on the situation in Rochester.

“The Rochester township has experienced significant inundation. But it is now receding at that location, but we are still expecting major flood levels to be there for another few days,” Mr Wiebusch said.

Campaspe Shire Council announced this afternoon St Mary's Primary School is open as an evacuation centre as of now.

Council said if you need to evacuate, the school is where you can do so on the west side of Echuca.

It comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced $1000 one-off payments available for adults and $400 payments for children in Campaspe Shire.

Murray River Council announced the Cobb Highway (new bridge) is closed to all southbound traffic from the Meninya St corner.

Meninya Street (old bridge) is open to local traffic only travelling southbound, but you can speak with staff onsite if you need to travel across the bridge.

Council said the road changes had been enacted by Transport NSW to discourage any unnecessary travel.

The Commonwealth and Victorian Governments have come together to prepare the Centre for National Resilience at Mickleham to provide crisis accommodation for Victorians affected by widespread flooding.

From Tuesday, 250 beds at the Mickleham facility will open to help people whose homes have been inundated.

As well as accommodation, residents will be provided with food and support services both on-site and remotely.

The Commonwealth, which built and owns the Mickleham facility, has agreed to its use as crisis accommodation after the centre closed as a quarantine hub last week.

12PM: Flood water has inundated a number of homes on Campaspe Esplanade and Ogilvie Avenue.

Ron Ash gave The Riv some of his time as he stood in the flooded front yard of his Campaspe Esplanade home.

“We’ve been here for 40 years and never had water through before,” he said.

“We put some sandbags down, but there’s water through the cupboards of the house.”

Mr Ash said the flooding struck about 8am.

“The water hasn’t come from over the levee bank, it came through the back (of the property),” he said.

A number of properties on the outbound side (heading to the Northern Highway) of Ogilvie Avenue were also flooded.

Flood water also touched the Old Coach Motor Inn, while Lions Park on Campapse Esplanade is completely submerged.

An excavator is being used to build a levee bank, while volunteers and members of the SES were busy sandbagging near the median strip.

Emergency services have spent the morning pumping water from Campaspe Esplanade.

The predictions of the Campaspe Esplanade peak of 95.8 m AHD remain from yesterday, although it remains unclear whether the peak has arrived yet.

Road blocks are in place, with traffic diverted along Shackell St.

Members of the Australian Army are in Echuca to help with the flood effort.

Across the river, a community meeting will be held in Moama tonight.

The meeting, which will feature representatives from the Murray River Council and NSW SES, is on at the Moama Bowling Club from 5pm.

It comes as crews, SES and members of the general public are sandbagging around Moama today.

The NSW RFS said anyone living in the shaded zones in the below photo could be impacted in the next 24 hours.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the major flooding along the Goulburn and Campaspe rivers combined with flows down the Murray River are expected to cause major flooding in Echuca Moama on Monday and Tuesday.

The Murray River has exceeded the 2016 flood level (93.39 AHD), with minor flooding occuring.

River levels at Echuca Wharf may reach levels possibly higher than the 1993 flood (94.77 m AHD).

As this flood water moves downstream, river level rises and significant major flooding is expected at Torrumbarry and Barham.

9AM: The NSW SES is directing people in Moama Caravan and Tourist Parks to evacuate before 9am tomorrow.

It states you must evacuate before this time because evacuation routes will be closed due to floodwater.

You should evacuate to stay with family, friends, or alternate accommodation in areas unaffected by flooding.

If you are unable to find accommodation, evacuation centres have been set up at: Moama Recreation Reserve (Moama Pavilion).

Entry via, Kirchhofer Street, Moama NSW

If you remain in the area, you may become trapped without power, water, and other essential services.

8AM: The evacuate immediately warning remains in place for parts of Echuca and Echuca Village.

The SES said this warning is current to 12 noon today.

It said if you do not evacuate before this time, your property may be isolated or inundated with water and it may be too late to leave.

Echuca Racecourse and Echuca Harness Racing are among the safe locations to travel to if you can.

It comes as reports filter through this morning of floodwaters getting into some properties in Echuca.

Emergency management commissioner Andrew Crisp said people in the affected areas

“Get out of there, we will see the water continue to rise there (in Echuca),” Mr Crisp said.

“Echuca will have a second peak later this week ... this water is flowing into the Murray.”

The SES said if you are travelling by car:

•Do not drive through floodwater.

•Find alternative travel routes if roads or underpasses are flooded.

•Be aware of driving hazards, such as mud, debris, damaged roads and fallen trees.

•If driving conditions are dangerous, safely pull over away from trees, drains, low lying areas and floodwater.

The SES said if you stay:

•If you choose to stay, emergency services may not be able to help you.

•Stay inside and be aware of changing conditions.

•If floodwater comes inside, move to a higher point such as a kitchen bench or second story.

•Follow your emergency plan, if you have one.

•Contact family members and neighbours to ensure they are aware of the situation, if safe to do so.

For live updates you can visit www.emergency.vic.gov.au

6AM: Closures of some major thoroughfares are in place as the impacts of the rising Campaspe River are felt in Echuca.

Echuca SES reported Warren St (from Cobb Highway roundabout through to the Northern Highway) was closed earlier this morning.

Ogilvie Ave is now closed in both directions.

That follows the closure of the westbound lane of Ogilvie Ave from Haverfield St to Crossen St earlier this morning.

People from up to 300 properties were told yesterday to evacuate ahead of the peak of the Campaspe.

The forecast peak of the Campaspe, predicted by VicEmergency to be today, is around 95.8m (AHD).

A relief centre at the Bendigo Showgrounds has been set up to support Echuca residents.

The safest evacuation route is by Kotta, Lockington, Elmore (via Elmore Mitiamo Road), then travel directly to Bendigo via the Midland Highway.

Echuca SES has also put out the call for volunteers to assist with sandbagging efforts on Campaspe Esplanade and McKenzie St.

MORE TO COME