News
Nichols Point and Bruces Bend residents confront flood threat

NICHOLS Point and Bruces Bend homes are at risk of inundation in the coming days as floodwaters rise in parts of Mildura.

Most residents in the low-lying areas along Etiwanda Avenue, Benetook Avenue and Cowra Avenue extensions heeded an emergency warning to evacuate, according to emergency services.

The warning, which was made on Thursday to residents in the area, was expected to be updated to “not safe to return” at the weekend.

Mildura incident controller Alistair Drayton said just over half the 51 homes in the flood-affected area had been identified as at risk of inundation.

“Twenty-six homes, we think, have their floor level as being inundated,” Mr Drayton said.

“However, all of those could actually have a sandbag levee or something around them.”

Mr Drayton said emergency services were confirming how many homes were at risk.

He did not know how many people had stayed in the area after receiving the evacuation warning.

He said there had been 18 inquiries made to Mildura Council’s relief hotline on Thursday evening, while four calls registered residents who had evacuated.

“We have been checking this whole area daily and, since yesterday, we can’t get into some of those places.

“There are a lot of places where people don't live normally. Some of the people moved out a month ago.

“There was an awful lot of flatbed trucks (on Thursday) moving stuff out of there.”

Floodwaters had submerged sections of River Boulevard on Friday, while water continued to pool in areas near Mildura Racecourse.

A temporary levee has been built on Karadoc Avenue to protect Nichols Point Cemetery, which otherwise remains safe from inundation.

Private levees have been constructed around crops near Billabong Road and Irymple Avenue, while the final touches were put on a levee to protect businesses on Cureton Avenue East.

The Bureau of Meteorology recorded the river level at Mildura Weir at 37.93 metres Australian height datum and rising on Friday afternoon.

Mr Drayton said while the flood peak had been revised down to 38.3 metres, the floodwaters would remain high for at least seven to 10 days.

“Due to the sheer volume of water coming in from New South Wales, it's quite problematic in allowing the Murray to flow through and drain.”

Mildura Mayor Liam Wood has paid tribute to the many emergency service personnel as well as local community members who had persevered throughout the battle against the region's floodwaters.

At Thursday's meeting of councillors, Cr Wood said many people were being affected by the floods, had been affected in the past and potentially would be impacted in the future.

"We have just had an announcement that some people in the Nichols Point area may have to leave," Cr Wood told the meeting.

"It's really important that we show compassion and understanding towards these people."

Cr Wood said many organisations and individuals had worked "tirelessly" throughout the flood crisis.

"They have checked on family, friends and neighbours and, more importantly, banded together and helped out people that they don't even know," he said.

"That's why we live in such a great community, because we band together."

He said the community was collectively waiting for the peak to arrive and would deal with the after-effects once the water had receded.

"We're obviously waiting for the peak level to happen, but sticking together will make us get us through and then it will be into recovery mode, which is just as important," he said.

"Thank-you everyone who has been a part of it."

You might also like...