THE State Emergency Service is preparing to send a "large shipment" of sandbags to the Sunraysia region in coming days as floodwaters continue to rise.
The SES is in the process of establishing an incident control centre in Mildura to help manage floods across the region and will begin door-knocking residents and business owners whose properties may be at risk of water inundation.
Floodwaters are currently at 35.67 metres (Australian Height Datum) at Mildura Weir, but are forecast to reach 38.6m by the end of November, slightly higher than the major flood level of 38.5m.
Mildura SES controller Bradley Whelan said the local group has an "appropriate" supply of sandbags for current needs but additional supplies are expected to arrive in the region as river levels continues to rise.
"What we are starting to do is heading out and door-knocking households and businesses in the potentially impacted areas to let them know that their property is at risk and give them some advice around what they need to do to prepare before the main event actually hits us," Mr Whelan said.
"We're not expecting major implications for the Mildura township itself, however, the smaller communities around and along the river in these floodways such as Iraak and Nichols Point, they may receive some water inundation. As to what level that forecast is is still actually being refined as the peak moves down the river.”
Mr Whelan said SES staff had yet to begin sandbagging, but had been assisting the community members on an as-needed, individual basis.
"We'll be undertaking sandbagging as it is required - we are currently putting some things in place to increase our capacity in that space and if it is required sandbagging points will be established at a later date," he said.
"We currently hold a supply of bags locally - quite a reasonable supply - and we're looking to increase that supply so that we can better serve the community with this level of event that is coming.
"We hold enough for our current operational needs and we are getting more in to ensure that we can cater for the community with this flood."
Mr Whelan said the Mildura incident control centre would be staffed with both volunteers and paid VicSES staff.
"As it grows it will obviously evolve from there," he said. "There is a potential that personnel from outside the region will be brought in - this is quite a large event and it is drawing a lot of resources from across the state."
Mr Whelan said he was unable to say how many houses or businesses may be impacted by the flood.
The NSW SES has advised people in Wentworth, Dareton and Buronga to stay informed about predicted widespread flooding of the Murray River.
The Murray River at Wentworth may exceed the moderate flood level (32.68 metres AHD) around November 12 to 14 and around 33.30 metres AHD at the end of November, with moderate flooding.
