Shepparton residents wake to flooding on Sunday

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Water everywhere: Roy and Michael marooned at their house in Wyndham St, Shepparton on Sunday morning. Photo: Anna McGuinness Photo by Anna McGuinness

On Sunday morning, some residents in Shepparton woke to find themselves trapped with floodwaters rising to their front yards, after rivers swelled overnight.

Wyndham St resident Michael, who lives near Kennedy Rd, was marooned at his house as water from the Broken River rose up his driveway.

He said the water rose on to his property from midnight to 6am, and sometime during the night he moved his car from the driveway to safety in a carpark across the street.

About 7.45am, Michael said he didn’t expect the water to enter his home.

To the north of central Shepparton, flooding was impacting streets off the Boulevard, including Balaclava Rd.

Nearby resident Justin Threlfall said people driving through the water was making things worse.

Unprecedented circumstances: Resident Justin Threlfall in front of flooding on Balaclava Rd. Photo: Megan Fisher Photo by Megan Fisher

“If they don’t need to come here they shouldn’t drive through it; it’s already stressful enough for people,” he said.

Over on Packham St, Kyia Samkakai’s brother Jesse was getting around on a kayak through the flooded street.

Ms Samkakai had evacuated her children and dog from her Olympic Ave home earlier in the morning.

On the water: Jesse Samkakai in a kayak on Packham St, Shepparton. Photo: Megan Fisher Photo by Megan Fisher

At 6am the water was on the footpath but by 8am it was pushing up her driveway.

She said she knew her area would be impacted, being so close to the Goulburn River but said it was a “very scary” situation.

“It was bound to happen, it was just about when and how bad,” she said.

“I’m on a couple of stilts so I’m quite high up but you never know what’s going to happen.

“We’re just going back down to get some more clothes and rest of the food hopefully.

“I’ll come back to my mum’s where we’ve got more chance of getting out if we have to.”

Packham St resident Tony Conte also said the water was up to his front step on Sunday morning.

On the scene: Tony Conte at Parkside Dve, water was at the front step of his home in Packham St on Sunday morning. Photo: Megan Fisher Photo by Megan Fisher

“By Tuesday I reckon it gets worse. I was going to get some of my stuff but I don’t know how I can get back,” he said.

Mr Conte said he had spoken with a kayaker who was rescuing his “old nanna”, who was further down the street into the water than his house.