Warnings issued by the State Emergency Service at the weekend suggest the Wakool River and Murray River will both reach major flood level in the Wakool Junction area.
While flood levels are rated as only moderate for Moulamein, the SES says the town and properties may become cut off by floodwaters.
“You should monitor the situation and prepare to be isolated by floodwater,” the SES warned in its Moulamein and Wakool Junction alerts.
“You may be trapped without power, water, and other essential services and it may be too dangerous for New South Wales SES to rescue you.”
The warnings for these communities come as flood height predictions for the Edward River at Deniliquin this week have been revised down.
Last week it was estimated that the Edward may reach 9m by the end of this week.
Yesterday, the prediction was the river could reach 8.8m today.
The SES alert suggested this may be the peak of the current surge of inflows, but at the time of going to print further height predictions were not made public.
The 8.8m expected today is 40cm below major flood level for Deniliquin, but is above the 8.6m peak experienced in the 2016 floods.
Edward River Council acting general manager Mark Dalzell said while the town levee will hold, inundation of rural areas is significant and McLean Beach Caravan Park’s flood levee would be put to the test.
“Based on flood modelling for the Deniliquin town centre, we do not expect inundation except in the McLean Beach Caravan Park where this is likely.
“We have been working with the SES to prepare this site for this prospect, including placing sandbags along low-lying areas of the levee.
“The levee there is rated to 8.6m, but with some extra work it has been built up to 8.8m.
“Other caravan and tourist parks will only be impacted at river levels above 9m.
“Areas already inundated, such as Memorial Park, will be further impacted as the water will be higher up against buildings and structures.
“People impacted should check their preparations against the revised predicted flood height.
“The largest impact will be seen in our rural areas and villages as the flood water breaks out of the river and creeks and spreads across the flood plain.
“Again, we are working with various landowners and emergency teams to support them during this time.”
Mr Dalzell said while the remaining gates in the town levee do not need to be engaged just yet, they may be installed this week “as a precaution”.
He said some extra work has also taken place on the earthen levee in north Deniliquin after a fault was identified.
“We are in a great position with our levee system, which was tested in 2016 when flood waters in Deniliquin reached 8.6m.
“The remaining town levee gates and panels don’t need to be installed when the river is predicted to reach 9m, however, council staff are continually monitoring the situation and will advise the community if the decision is made to put these in.
“You may have seen some trucks and earthmoving equipment around the Davidson Street levee this week. This is a private levee and not part of the town levee system.
“The SES was alerted to a concern with the levee and, with council’s assistance, have undertaken repair works.
“This part of the levee protects adjoining properties and part of the caravan park which has now been completed. SES will monitor this area and advise council if any further work is required.”
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