General News
4 October, 2022
Highway closed, waters rising
The Wimmera Highway between Tarnagulla and Moliagul is closed after the bitumen dropped in latest rain. Melanie Hotton, Director Loddon Mallee Region, Department of Transport, said: “Crews are currently working to repair a section of the Wimmer...
The Wimmera Highway between Tarnagulla and Moliagul is closed after the bitumen dropped in latest rain.
Melanie Hotton, Director Loddon Mallee Region, Department of Transport, said: “Crews are currently working to repair a section of the Wimmera Highway between Moliagul and Tarnagulla.”
“Damage has been caused to the road as a result of historical mining activity – a common challenge in the area due to the region's mining history.”
“Please avoid the area and detour using Bridgewater-Dunolly Road and Dunolly-Moliagul Road.”
As rain again falls, a new minor flood warning has been issued for the Loddon River downstream of Laanecoorie.
And with many of Goulburn-Murray Water’s (GMW) water storages near capacity and further wet weather expected, GMW is encouraging people who live or farm on floodplains to prepare their properties.
In a flood event, Victorian State Emergency Service (SES) is the lead agency and GMW
supports them to minimise the impact on customers and communities. However, there are
some regulations regarding the works people can undertake on farm dams and channels on
their property that GMW enforces.
GMW water storage services general manager Martina Cusack said it is important people
consider these regulations when preparing for floods.
“During flood events, the changes people make to farm dams and channels can affect water
flows and change conditions downstream,” she said.
“It is crucial people know what works are permitted and what works they need authorisation
to undertake, both for their own safety and the safety of the community.”
Do: inspect and monitor your dam prior to flooding. Clear spillways and outlet pipes to help
pass floodwater, and repair any cracks and other defects.
Don’t: pump any water on your property into GMW irrigation or drainage channels unless
you have a current pumping agreement and have gained approval from GMW to commence
pumping. This is to ensure that additional water pumped into these systems does not exceed
the channel capacity and cause additional flooding.
Do: prepare to move machinery and livestock to higher ground.
Don’t: cut your channel to remove water from your property. In a flood event, GMW’s
irrigation system may need to be locked to prevent water travelling down the system and
flooding other landholders.