RELATED: Flood watch: Heavy rain soaks region
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UPDATE FRIDAY 12.30pm: Tullaroop Reservoir started to spill this morning, but gently.
Central Goldfields Shire Councillor Helen Broad said the result was a slow, gentle trickle of water that had yet to make much of a difference to the creeks flowing through Carisbrook.
The community met this morning to discuss Wednesday’s events, which saw the town on high alert for flooding.
Cr Broad said the people were “very vocal” about infrastructure they believed could be improved or added to reduce the flood risk, such as a proposed levee, previous flood works, and drainage.
“There are a lot of questions that need answering,” she said.
The community will meet again at 6pm on Monday at the Carisbrook Fire Station to discuss their plans for the next bout of wet weather, which is forecast for Tuesday.
Cr Broad was hopeful the reservoir would be in a position to accept further heavy rainfall before then.
She said a special council meeting on Thursday night provided an opportunity for elected representatives and staff to debrief about the flood risk.
Further comment is being sought from council.
UPDATE THURSDAY 2pm: A Flood Community Update for Carisbrook said flood water had peaked and was receding.
“The Loddon did not reach the full height expected in this reach of the river,” the update, released on Thursday afternoon, said.
“The SES would like to thank the Carisbrook community and the local CFA for their fantastic and tireless effort in working together during the recent floods.”
Although the severe weather warning for the area has lifted, the community update noted there was another front likely to move across Victoria on Tuesday.
“This might bring additional rainfall, so the SES asks residents to remain alert and informed by checking check www.emergency.vic.gov.au and listen to emergency broadcasters for any further weather or flooding information,” it reads.
Central Goldfields Shire are establishing Recovery Outreach Teams which will be working across the shire with flood effected residents.
The focus of these teams will be on working with people who's homes have been flood effected.
If anyone would like to organise a visit from the Recovery Outreach Teams please contact Central Goldfields Shire on 5461 0610.
UPDATE THURSDAY 10AM: Carisbrook residents are hopeful the worst of the flood watch is over.
Central Goldfields Shire Councillor Helen Broad said Tullaroop Reservoir did not “go over” last night.
It is likely to spill today, instead.
“But it’ll be a gentle spill,” Cr Broad said.
She said Deep Creek was subsiding, but was still out of its banks.
“McCallum Creek is back in its banks in most places,” Cr Broad said.
However, she said the mouth of Deep Creek was still “pretty wide.”
“The residents are all flat and worn out,” Cr Broad said.
She was not aware on Thursday morning of any properties that had sustained major flood damage, and praised the members of the State Emergency Service, Country Fire Authority and Central Goldfields Shire for their efforts.
“They worked magnificently together and I take my hat off to them,” Cr Broad said.
“Our town comes together when something goes wrong.”
UPDATE 9PM: Tullaroop Reservoir will “go over” about 2am, a Central Goldfields Shire Councillor said.
Cr Helen Broad said McCallum Creek was coming down, and Deep Creek was starting to drop.
Carisbrook is still on high alert and a severe weather warning is in place for the township and its surrounds.
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But residents are hoping the dropping creek levels will help contain any excess water.
“The [fire] station will be open all night,” Cr Broad said.
She said the town’s emergency services had been relieved by units from Maryborough.
Volunteers had been monitoring the situation since 7pm on Tuesday.
A siren will sound for five minutes if Carisbrook is in danger.
There is potential for further rainfall overnight to Thursday, which Victoria State Emergency Service has warned could lead to flooding.
“Please consider your options and assess any potential risks to your personal or families safety if flooding was to occur,” a Flood Community Update for Carisbrook states.
“We ask residents of Carisbrook and its surrounding areas to be vigilant in staying alert and check www.emergency.vic.gov.au for any further weather or flooding information.”
A Relief Centre is open at the Maryborough Sports and Fitness Centre, 40 Gillies Street, Maryborough.
- For flood or storm emergency assistance from SES call 132 500.
- For life-threatening emergencies call Triple Zero (000)
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Road safety
- Be aware of road hazards such as mud, debris and damaged roads or bridges.
- Do not travel through affected areas unless it is necessary.
- Drive slowly, obey all roadblocks and never drive through floodwater.
- For the latest list of road closures check the VicRoads website or call 13 11 70.
Safety Information
- Check your home or building for damage before you re-enter.
- If your home has been flooded, all electrical and gas appliances should be checked by a licensed technician before you use them.
- Dry out and clean buildings straight away.
- When cleaning up, wear strong boots, gloves and protective clothing and wash your hands and clothes regularly.
- Floodwater is dangerous - never drive, walk or ride through floodwater.
- Floodwater is toxic - never drive, walk or ride through floodwater.
Health and Wellbeing Information
Counselling and support is available from the following organisations:
- Lifeline, phone 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue, phone 1300 224 636
- Kids Helpline, phone 1800 551 800
- SANE Australia, phone 1800 187 263
EARLIER: Carisbrook Bakehouse employees feared reliving their nightmares from 2011, but kept smiling and serving customers.
Danny McIver had two children to care for, a partner driving around flooded roads, and water flowing up to his front fence, but he welcomed us in and made time for a photo.
“Yeah, I’m worried – I’m probably more than worried,” he said, but it didn’t show in his demeanour.
Sue Perkins had water flowing into her house on Pollocks Road for the third time on Tuesday night.
She was expecting the rain to continue into the night, and for Thursday to be even worse.
Yet she and son Max described the water inundating the roads around them as beautiful.
“It’s just one of those things – you learn to live with it,” she said.
But the undisputed champions were the emergency services, who had been up and helping the community since 7pm on Tuesday.
Carisbrook was a town on tenterhooks on Wednesday.
As rain continued to fall, residents were unsure whether they would again be faced with floods like those of 2011.
Emergency services told the community about 2.30pm there was one certainty: Tullaroop Reservoir would spill at some point in the coming 10 to 12 hours.
By how much, and how that water would affect Carisbrook, was unknown.
The reservoir was at 78 per cent capacity when Carisbrook Fire Brigade Captain Ian Boucher addressed all those who came to the fire station for a meeting.
Residents were warned a siren would wail for five continuous minutes if the town was in the direct path of flood water.
Captain Boucher was keen that the community be kept informed about the situation.
"It's up to them to decide what they want to do,” he said.
Volunteers doorknocked properties close to waterways during the early hours of the morning, but there were no evacuations.
“It’s just to give people information about what’s happening,” Captain Boucher said.
Carisbrook Primary School was closed on Wednesday.
Deep Creek crept up at the school’s rear, and fluctuated in depth throughout the day.
When emergency services addressed the community, the creek had dropped.
Two people were airlifted off a car roof after becoming trapped by floodwater.
A relief service was established at Maryborough Sports and Leisure Centre, for Central Goldfields residents leaving water-soaked areas.
Captain Boucher said the most recent flood, in January 2011, inundated about 273 homes – memories that were still raw in the minds of residents and emergency services volunteers alike on Wednesday.
Several people questioned whether a proposed Western Levee might have made consequent flooding at Carisbrook less probable.
Among them was Central Goldfields Councillor Helen Broad of Tullaroop Ward.
“Hopefully now they can see how desperate we are to get something done,” Cr Broad said.
The proposal is considered controversial.