Politics & Council
21 January, 2024
Shire counts flood cost
WEDDERBURN and Korong Vale have copped the brunt of summer flooding in the Loddon Shire. Storms overnight Christmas Eve, on January 2 and again on January 8 have damaged homes, buildings and roads. Floodwaters are still receding around Boort and...
WEDDERBURN and Korong Vale have copped the brunt of summer flooding in the Loddon Shire.
Storms overnight Christmas Eve, on January 2 and again on January 8 have damaged homes, buildings and roads.
Floodwaters are still receding around Boort and Pyramid Hill where pumps are keeping water out of the towns and at Mitamo and Dingee.
Loddon Shire wellbeing director Wendy Gladman said council was still collecting information from people impacted by the floods
She said an early assessment included:
17 properties had water over floor level - 15 in Wedderburn and two in Korong Vale;
Many residents in the townships and on rural lifestyle blocks in the area also had water impact on shedding, gardens, fencing, and private road access;
Early estimates of fencing losses were 100km of damaged or destroyed fencing in an area from Fentons Creek to Borung;
Other damage noted by primary producers includes unharvested crops, water seepage into grain bag storage, lost field bins, feed loss (including hay and pasture) and soil erosion; and
There had been some reports of stock losses, or stock being unable to be located in small numbers.
“Council is still accepting calls from people who would like to provide information on damages to property as a result of the storm/flood event.
“Council is also keen to hear from residents and farmers in the East Loddon and Pyramid Hill areas who have recently been impacted by the Bendigo, Bullock and other flooded creek/river systems following the January 7 and 8 rainfall event,” Ms Gladman said.
Pyramid Hill’s Victoria Hotel was hit with flooding twice during the summer deluges.
And the cost of road repairs will leave the council with a bill of several million dollars, according to operations director Steve Phillips.
“Officers are still assessing council’s infrastructure for damage. There are still road closures in parts of the shire as the water drains through on its way north,” Mr Phillips said.
“An initial assessment indicates that the impact is not as great as October 2022 – although in many cases there is further damage to existing locations.
“Council has notified the State Government of its intention to make a claim under the Disaster Recovery Assistance Program to support the restoration works required following this recent event.
“It is still too early to estimate a dollar figure of the impact to Council’s drainage and road networks – it is however, likely to be several million dollars.”
Loddon Shire daily update of road closures for VicTraffic is being provided to the Loddon Herald and placed on our website each afternoon.
Some gravels roads in the southern, central and northern areas of the shire are still flood-affected while new closures this week have been in the Yando district.