Rochester businesses are on high alert after a Vic Emergency warning indicated flood water had been detected on Mackay Street.
Major flood warnings have been put in place for the town as the Campaspe River is expected to break its banks.
The Rochester SES unit put a call-out for anyone able to fill sandbags to help, with sandbags available from the Rec Reserve.
Residents and businesses in the street told the Campaspe News they had not seen any flood waters at this point, but were preparing for the worst ahead of predicted heavy rains tomorrow.
Liz Trewick, principal of the St Joseph’s Primary School, said for her staff and students it was just about being prepared at the moment.
St Joseph’s is located on Campaspe Street, well and truly in the path of any flood waters from the nearby Campaspe River.
“We are at the point that we are starting to lift things up, rather than leaving it to the last minute,” she said.
Mrs Trewick said there was no directive from the school in regard to attendance at the school.
“It is more about preparation at the minute,” she said.
A community preparedness information strategy was held on Tuesday evening, hurriedly organised by Victorian State Emergency Service co-ordinators who have now taken control of flood preparations.
A three quarter filled Rochester Shire Hall hosted members of the public and representatives from the police, fire brigade, the catchment management authority and the Campaspe Shire Council.
At the southern end of Mackay Street neither the Rochester Mitre 10 or Criterion Hotel had seen any signs of flood water.
Both had received the Vic Emergency App alert in regard to the Mackay Street situation, but both said there was no sign of water at their business locations.
Rochester Historical Society members were preparing for potential flood inundation earlier today, having suffered severe damage in 2011.
John Foster, a member of the society’s executive, said they were taking measures to prevent flood water from entering the historic buildings.
In 2011 several of the historical records of Rochester were destroyed or water damaged as a result of the society not being prepared for the severity of the flood.
“We are taking some new measures to prevent water getting into the buildings. Hopefully they are not needed,” Mr Foster said.
“We will not really known until Sunday apparently,” he said.