There is growing confidence within Kerang that the town will avoid major flood damage from the rising River Loddon, with local emergency services boosted by news that the small township of Appin South has been kept out of water .
Appin South has the latest water gauge downstream of Kerang and is the best guide to where Loddon will peak in the coming days unless there is more substantial rain.
Kerang residents watch the Loddon River rise as the Patchell Bridge on the Murray Valley Freeway remains closed due to flooding. Credit: Eddie Jim
In 2011, when devastating summer floods inundated 41 homes and five businesses in Kerang, the township of Appin South was inundated.
This time, a concerted effort by emergency services and local volunteers to clear all the houses and build machinery dams kept the water at bay. The Loddon peaked at Appin South on Thursday at 3.47m, which is 100mm below the peak level recorded in 2011.
“We’ve saved six or seven houses from falling or any kind of damage,” Appin South CFA boss Jack Hewitt said.
“We endured it. We got through it.”
The Loddon River at Kerang. Credit: Eddie Jim
CFA Sector Commander Michael Masters, who is co-ordinating Kerang’s flood preparations, said the success of Appin South had added to a level of comfort in Kerang about what it was likely to face the city over the next few days.
“It’s a very slow flood event compared to 2011,” he said.
“I think people are a lot more prepared this time. That’s partly because of the experience of 2011, but there’s also this greater awareness that it can happen to us.
“In general, people have a good idea of what’s coming to them. They trust that the municipality will be protected and that the peripheral areas will take the appropriate measures.”
Commander Masters said the focus of Kerang’s preparations was to protect critical infrastructure such as power grids, communications networks, potable water and sewerage.
He said despite media reports and public perception that the city is cut off by floodwater, most roads other than the main road connecting Bendigo to Swan Hill remain open in and out of the city .