Victoria's record floods may last for days

Record flooding in Victoria could continue into next week, as more communities in
the north and northwest of the state remain on alert for rising waters.
Flooding has now affected 62 towns and more than 4,300 people since heavy rain fell
over one quarter of the state last week, while the Wimmera, Avoca and Loddon rivers
remain at major flood levels.
Levee banks in the towns of Warracknabeal and Kerang narrowly held back floodwaters
as they peaked on Wednesday but an anxious wait continues as waters remain high in
both communities.
The small communities of Jeparit, Dimboola, Brim and Beulah in the state's northwest
are now expected to be threatened in coming days.
Residents in Dimboola were doorknocked and urged to evacuate on Wednesday with at
least 25 properties at risk of flooding from the Dimboola Weir.
Emergency Services Minister Peter Ryan said the floods, which have hit more than
1,730 properties, were far from over with waters expected to keep travelling north
in the next 10 days.
"This is without doubt the most significant flood in Victoria in the north and the
northwest regions since the records began, something in the order of 130 years ago,"
he told reporters on Wednesday.
"This flooding is likely to continue into next week in many of our communities."
About 1,000 people evacuated their homes in Kerang and went to a relief centre in
the NSW town of Barham after an emergency alert was issued at 5.20am (AEDT) on
Wednesday to leave immediately.
SES acting operations director Tim Wiebusch said it may not be safe for residents to
return for up to three days.
But local engineers said Kerang's levee was holding despite some breaching in
multiple sections early on Wednesday.
Residents of Kerang, Cohuna, Swan Hill and surrounding districts are advised to
prepare for possible widespread power outages.
An electricity substation about 1km from central Kerang remains under threat, and an
estimated 20,000 people would be left without power if it becomes inundated.
At Warracknabeal, a 6km-long levee bank built mostly by residents and 55,000
sandbags may have saved the town from what the SES warned would be a one-in-200 year
flood.
When the Yarriambiack Creek reached its peak at 10.45am (AEDT) on Wednesday, the
water was close to the top of the bank and homes would have been flooded if not for
the levee.
The water is expected to remain high until lunchtime on Thursday and will continue
to put pressure on the temporary levee banks, leaving 177 homes under threat.
"The worst is not over here in Warracknabeal. The water will push on the temporary
levee until tomorrow lunchtime," SES incident controller Ray Jasper told reporters.
"The levee's leaking ... and they're patching as it goes. We have enough resources
now to fix those when we can. We've got to make sure the temporary levee holds."
Mr Ryan said the state would not need to borrow money for the growing flood-damage
bill and that funding arrangements with the federal government would suffice.
Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu has increased government cleanup grants for flood
victims to $25,000 and appointed businessman Ron Walker to chair the Red Cross
Victorian Floods appeal.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced $1,000 would also be available for adults and
$400 for children through the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment scheme
for those affected by the floods.
Queensland premier Anna Bligh sent her regards to Victoria's flood victims.
"Here in Queensland, where we've lived through one of the most extraordinary and
devastating events, we also spare a thought for our friends in Victoria," she said.
"They have come to our aid over the last fortnight in a magnificent way."
She also sent her condolences to the family of eight-year-old Lachlan Collins, who
drowned in floodwaters from the Goulburn River near Shepparton.