Victoria braces for heavy flooding

The destructive La Nina wet weather pattern that has battered Queensland is set to
cause Victoria's worst floods for decades.
Much of Victoria has experienced heavy rain in recent days, and another 100mm is
expected around several rivers on Thursday night and Friday that will affect Wimmera
towns in the north and west, including Charlton, Natimuk, Stoney Creek and
Glenorchy.
Flash flooding affected houses at Natimuk and Kyneton on Wednesday, State Emergency
Service operations manager Tim Wiebusch said.
The forecast flooding is expected to be similar in scale to the week-long,
widespread flooding that occurred in September, when hundreds of homes were
inundated, and more severe than flooding in December.
Winds of up to 100km/h are also expected, but the weather system will weaken as it
crosses the state.
"Our concern this afternoon is that for these communities, particularly on the
Loddon, Avoca and Wimmera rivers, that if we do see the higher-end rainfall totals,
we will see those rivers going to a higher level than was seen back in September,
which was major flooding," Mr Wiebusch said.
"This will see communities put at risk again of properties being inundated by
floodwater."
Authorities are also monitoring the Campaspe River in the north, while a section of
the Great Ocean Road is closed following landslides, with traffic diverted at Lorne
and Skenes Creek.
Bill Lovel (Lovel), the owner of Natimuk's National Hotel, said the 500 residents of
the town were waiting nervously for more forecast rain after water from the town's
lake flowed through the main street on Wednesday.
"We have been sandbagging all day, 12 houses had water through them yesterday," he
told AAP.
SES volunteers have responded to more than 1000 requests for assistance since
Tuesday, with Mr Wiebusch urging people in flood-prone areas to make preparations
now.
Premier Ted Baillieu said while Victorians had been focused on the Queensland
floods, they should now take care themselves and not walk or drive through
floodwaters and listen to emergency broadcasters.
"The ground is already wet in many places, wet from the weather in September,
December, or indeed recent rains, therefore we will get runoff directly in some
areas into swollen creeks and swollen rivers with some dams already peaking out," he
told reporters.
Stone fruit growers in the Sunraysia and Goulburn Valley areas in northern Victoria
are suffering a heavy outbreak of brown rot and split fruit due to rain and
humidity.
This follows serious damage to Queensland agriculture due to the floods.
"The growers are suffering significant losses, which means a loss of income," said
Michael Crisera, from Fruit Growers Victoria.
The rain is good news for Victoria's dams, which Mr Baillieu predicted would
approach 55 per cent capacity by next week, compared to about 37 per cent this time
last year.
Information on flood warnings can be found at www.ses.vic.gov.au, 1300 VIC SES or
1300 842 737.



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