Small camps lived in by homeless people in bushland in Shepparton were checked on Wednesday, September 21, as the Goulburn River flooded some areas surrounding tents.
Shepparton Search and Rescue Service, Tatura SES and Parks Victoria members were called to check tents sites along the Goulburn River behind Aquamoves late in the afternoon.
It is believed other bigger camps in bushland between Shepparton and Mooroopna had already been evacuated due to the floodwater.
Shepparton Search and Rescue president Nacole Standfield said the main objective was to make sure the campsites were empty for the safety of those who lived in them.
“We were called to have a look around — (and check) that people are safe and they can get out if needed,” she said.
She said one campsite that was inspected remained, but it was on high land and was expected to be okay.
“A lot of the (other) campsites we saw were empty,” she said.
While those who lived there had apparently found drier places to stay — for the moment, anyway — there were still tents visible in the bush.
At least one camp had parts of the river flooded into areas over a nearby path only metres away, with water also surrounding the edge of the tents on the ground.
“Our understanding is a lot have left their stuff and gone,” Ms Standfield said.
“We are trying to advise people not to go camping out there.”
She said the river levels were “quite unpredictable at the minute” and while the Goulburn River had dropped a little at Shepparton on Wednesday, it could rise again if there was more rain upstream.