General News
13 August, 2026
SPILLING OVER
RAIN forecasts lacked precision to manage river flows, Goulburn Murray Water claimed yesterday as thousands of megalitres sprew over the Laanecoorie Reservoir spillway.
RAIN forecasts lacked precision to manage river flows, Goulburn Murray Water claimed yesterday as thousands of megalitres sprew over the Laanecoorie Reservoir spillway.
But some Loddon farmers are unimpressed with water flow management after 80mm of rain fell and triggered minor and moderate flood warnings on Monday and Tuesday.
Flash flooding also closed some roads across the district, lifting bitumen and leaving sheets of water across paddocks. Sections of the Wimmera Highway near Newbridge and north of Tarnagulla were also hit with flash flooding.
Major flooding of the Bet Bet Creek and McCallums Creek, near Maryborough, sent water gushing towards Laanecoorie and the Loddon River.
“The Bet Bet was within its banks early Monday afternoon when I went to Maryborough but has come over by later in the afternoon,” said Laanecoorie’s Brian Baker.
Salisbury West farmer Neil James said landowner anxiety had been heightened by GMW failing to plan for the weekend deluge.
“They’ve learnt nothing from the floods of 2022 ... it’s beyond belief.”
GMW told farmers in a 2.24am Tuesday text message that 7754 megalitres a day were now being sent over the spillway.
“I can’t believe that they kept Laanecoorie at such a high level for a month without releasing enough water to cope with the amount of rain we have had,” Mr James said.
But GMW manager water resources Mark Bailey said: “Rainfall forecasts are not precise enough for GMW to make decisions about what rainfall impacts will mean for water releases from its storages in advance of this time with any certainty.”
GMW saiud outflows from the reservoir were at 150 megalitres early on Monday and increased throughout the day. By 8pm Monday they had reached 500 megalitres a day and at of midday Tuesday the outflows are 20,000 megalitres hitting a peak 24,000 megalitres a day outflow downstream of the reservoir 8am.
Downstream flows were receding yesterday morning.
Mr Bailey said: “The main operational purpose of the storages is to store the water needed for GMW’s various customers.
“Prior to this event, the Bureau of Meteorology and other water organisations had identified the strong likelihood of continuing dry conditions, similar to those experienced during much of 2025-2026.”
Rain forced the postponement of the final day of Pyramid Hill Golf Club’s tournament last Sunday while the opening day at Inglewood club was abandoned with the club still assessing conditions ahead of major tournament events from tomorrow. Regional primary school sports carnivals have also been postponed. Tarnagulla Primary School was closed on Tuesday with students instead going to Dunolly.
Read More: Loddon Shire