The biggest questions on the minds of locals and visitors to the region at the moment are “how high will it get?” and “when will it peak?”
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As the Edward and Murray rivers continue to rise, the Billabong, Tuppal, Gulpa and other creeks and associated waterways do likewise, and concern for personal safety and property is rising at a similar rate.
Many people in communities across the southern Riverina are feeling anxious about the potential impact floodwaters may personally have on them.
In some locations, moderate and major flooding has already eventuated and evacuations undertaken, others are busily preparing for what is still to come, not knowing when the worst will hit.
Edward River Council last week said it was reaching out to the community to find out where it wanted sandbags and other assistance.
General manager Phil Stone said council was identifying issues at locations such as Wanganella and Conargo as part of its inspections and requested residents contact the SES for help, as it is forward planning and triaging the need for most urgent assistance.
“They have not been forgotten,” Mr Stone said of residents outside of Deniliquin.
“The SES is working on requests in order of priority. Council is checking on our infrastructure and doing what we can to prepare for the future.”
Mayor Peta Betts said Deniliquin was now considered a regional hub to assist with flood activity across the region.
“We are the hub for work being done at Barham, Kerang, Moulamein, Moama and other places,” Cr Betts said.
“People may see helicopters going up and a lot more action in town, as well as emergency personnel.
“This is not cause for panic, it’s preparation.
“It’s time for everyone to enact a flood plan, and be prepared.”
Cr Betts said now was not a time to be scared, but be prepared.
“We don’t want people to panic and call on the SES when it’s not necessary, but we also don’t want people to be too complacent and not act when it is.
“Let’s stay calm and let’s take action now,” she said.
At midday on Friday, the Edward River at Deniliquin was still sitting fairly close to where it had been for the previous few days, around 6.5m, and was well within the minor flooding level.
By midnight Saturday the level had passed the moderate flood level of 7.2m and was rising quickly.
At 7am yesterday, the river sat at 7.8m and was continuing to quickly rise.
On Sunday afternoon, a spokesperson for the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) indicated the Edward River at Deniliquin would reach 8m later in the week, from October 27 to 30, however, that has since been listed as an indication, no longer a prediction, due to the uncertainty around the actual peak timing and level.
This uncertainty is backed by some who have lived in the local community for decades saying they have never seen water come down the river system in the manner or quantity it currently is.
Water in the Murray River started flowing backwards at the Barmah Choke on Friday and Picnic Point on Sunday.
This is not good news for those living near the surrounding creeks or the Edward River.
The water from Picnic Point will flow into the Gulpa Creek and then the Edward, increasing the level above what the additional rainfall of recent days would have done.
A former Murray Irrigation channel attendant the Deniliquin Pastoral Times spoke with has observed flood activity in the region for many years.
He said once the water cuts across all the flood land in the Barmah and Gulpa forests, and it starts flowing backwards at Barmah, it has nowhere to go but towards Deniliquin.
From his observations of previous floods, he said that once the water floods the Edward River Oval and covers the North Deniliquin “flats”, it puts real pressure on that side of the river.
Additionally, on the Cobb Highway between Deniliquin and Mathoura, at the back of Hill Plain, if the water level gets over the ridge “it’s all downhill into the south side of Deni”, he said.
While the southern side of Deniliquin has some protection from the channel banks of the Mulwala Canal, which acts as a barrier, under the channel is a series of pipes that let the water through.
These may push water into the Deniliquin Cemetery and surrounding land.
At the moment, the water is coming up in the Hill Plain area and only time will tell how high it gets.
The communities of Wanganella and Conargo are also busily working to safeguard homes and businesses against rising floodwaters.
The Deniliquin-Conargo SES Unit has made sandbags available to both communities, as well as others in the region, including around Steven’s Weir.
Sandbagging efforts continued over the weekend, with hundreds of volunteers joining the emergency service and defence force personnel in Deniliquin for just that purpose.
See the story on page 16 for more details on this.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest flood warning, issued just before 4pm Sunday said the Edward River at Stevens Weir Downstream may reach 6.4m around October 28 or 29, with moderate flooding.
The Edward River at Moulamein was expected to exceed the moderate flood level (5.2m) overnight Sunday into yesterday.
The river level may reach around 5.4m today, with moderate flooding.