A community meeting has been told the Campaspe River in Echuca will peak on Sunday.
More than 70 people attended Thursday night’s meeting at Echuca College, where North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA) officials provided an update on the current flood situation.
They were joined by members of the SES, CFA, Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, Echuca Moama Search and Rescue, Campaspe Shire Council and Coliban Water.
NCCMA officials said they are expecting a “widespread inundation of floodplains” and other low-lying areas.
The Echuca community was warned to expect flooding at a similar level to that experienced in 2011.
The Riv understands that sandbags will be placed on the road at Campaspe Esplanade to try and stop floodwaters reaching households.
The Campaspe River is expected to peak in Echuca on Sunday, with the flow-on from the Goulburn River expected to reach the region in five or six days.
Down the road in Rochester, the Campaspe River is expected to hit major flood level on Friday and peak on Saturday afternoon.
A relief centre has been set up at Echuca South Basketball Centre at 244 High St, Echuca, with food, water and 50 mattresses available.
With the risk of flooding very real, the community has banded together to help those at risk with sandbag stations set up in both Echuca and Moama.
There are two sandbag stations in Echuca – on Kerferd St, and at the old Echuca South Primary School (entry on the corners of Boyle St and South St).
There is a limit of 25 sandbags per household – the number needed to protect a home, with doors and drains blocked.
A sandbag hub was also set up at Jack Eddy Oval, Moama, on Friday morning.
The Murray River in Echuca Moama has risen to 93.05 mAHD as of 8am on Friday.
The Campaspe River in Rochester (town) was 114.53m at 7.53am on Friday.
An official from the SES said they had received more than 40 call-outs since 4am Thursday.
A boil water notice was sent out to Echuca residents on Thursday morning, and an official from Coliban Water was there to provide an update.
“Coliban Water, following consultation with the Department of Health, advises that customers in Echuca should boil their drinking water until further notice,” Coliban Water said.
“This advisory has been issued following excessive stormwater due to inclement weather entering one of our treated water storage tanks. This may compromise the safety of drinking water.”
The water will be tested to ensure all contamination has been removed, and it is likely to be Sunday before the notice is lifted, an official from Coliban Water said at the meeting.
Boiled water can be used for drinking, preparing beverages, washing and preparing food, preparing baby formula, brushing teeth and making ice.
Unboiled water can be used for washing hands, showering and bathing, flushing toilets, washing dishes and clothes and garden watering, but should not be ingested.
Consumption of unboiled water can cause gastro-like symptoms.
A power outage affected parts on Echuca for hours on Thursday afternoon, but the cause of the blackout was unknown.
Shops on High St and the Woolworths were closed at one point, but that is believed to be a result of the power outage.
Stores, as well as Woolworths and Coles were both open on Friday.
People from all agencies were united on one key message at the meeting as they implored people not to drive through floodwater. 15cm of running water enough to float a car.
Victoria Police said extra officers are on the way from Geelong, Bendigo and Mildura to provide support over the coming days.
Police urged those who need assistance to reach out for help.