NSW State Member for Murray Helen Dalton was in Moama on Monday morning as the town prepared for a once-in-a-lifetime flooding event.
Ms Dalton was encouraged by the co-operation of residents and praised emergency services.
“They say that droughts bring people together and floods separate each other,” Ms Dalton said.
“In this case, everyone in Moama is working together for the greater good and that’s the message — work together for the greater good.
“I know that the SES and the police are trying to do their very best.
“Moama is well-placed to fight this flooding.
“The hierarchy are listening, which is even better and a rare thing at times.”
The Murray River is now expected to peak at 95.9 metres, a level not seen since 1870.
Moama caravan and tourist parks were evacuated at 9am Monday morning, and the south-bound lane into Echuca on the new Dhungala Bridge remains closed.
As of noon Monday, the Meninya St bridge remains open south-bound to local traffic only.
Supermarkets are operating at reduced business hours, and a large crowd gathered at the front of Moama Woolworths prior to its opening at 10am on Monday morning.
Floodwaters are currently creeping up Blair St, and water has inundated sections of Moama Riverside Caravan Park.
With HSC exams currently taking place, Year 12 students now have the added pressure of the 2022 floods to contend with.
Ms Dalton encouraged students unable to sit exams due to flooding not to panic as an ‘illness and misadventure’ provision will be applied.
“Those people that can get to school will sit exams, but if there are students that have been cut off by flood water, they’ll have that exemption,” she said.
“Don’t panic, that’s the big thing. It can be devastating when you have worked that hard and their assessment may not be up to scratch.
“It’s only a blip in their life and they’ll get through all that, they’re pretty tough and they have been through COVID-19 and everything else thrown at them.”