VicEmergency has warned residents along the Wimmera River catchment in western Victoria to prepare for flooding from Saturday night through to Monday.

A VicEmergency major flood warning said:

This Major Flood Warning is being issued for Wimmera River Catchment.

The Wimmera river is expected to peak at Horsham Monday morning, at approximately 8.30am.

Flood impacts are likely to start to occur in Riverside overnight Saturday and into Sunday.

Impacts on roads and properties, as water levels rise will occur from Saturday evening through Sunday and Monday morning.

In preparation for the expected flood levels, people should be aware of possible impacts.

Significant flooding is likely to occur through Horsham and Riverside with properties that may be impacted with above floor flooding. Current predictions are for flood heights to be between the 1 in 20 and 1 in 50 year Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) flood events.

Potential areas that may be impacted include

•Eastern end of Hamilton Street through to the Horsham Botanic Gardens and Wotonga Basin.

•Horsham Riverside Caravan Park

•Horsham Showgrounds

•Schools along the river area

•Access to Sunnyside Lutheran Retirement Village and Kurrajong Lodge Retirement Village.

Refer to the Horsham Local Flood Guide for more information and you can access Horsham Flood Extent maps here.

Horsham roads that may be impacted with possible deep floodwaters include:

Hamilton Street Riverside
Road Pryors road
Peppertree Lane
Barnes Boulevard
Eastgate Drive
Macbain Street
Gillespie Street
Robinson Street
Menadue Street
Trinity Drive
Baillie Street
Stockton Drive
Williams Road

Riverside road areas impacted with possible deep floodwaters include:

Heards Road
Peels Road
School Road Riverside
East Road
Cameron Road
Riverside Road
Shallow flooding is likely for West Road, Horsham Lubeck Road, Browns Road, Rokeskys Road.

Stay safe - avoid the flooded area. Be aware of potential hazards caused by flooding and never enter floodwater.

8.56pm on Oct 15, 2022

Shepparton evacuations continue

VicEmergency has recommended anyone in the city of Shepparton who has yet to evacuate their homes should go to the Shepparton Showgrounds, unless they are already surrounded by floodwaters.

The latest warning message said it was recommended those who hadn’t yet evacuated could still head to Shepparton Showgrounds until 11pm this evening.

Mooroopna residents who have yet to evacuate have been told to evacuate to the Ballantyne Centre, 9 Hastie St, Tatura but if they are surrounded by floodwater than it is too late.

The Midland Highway also known as the Mooroopna Causeway between Shepparton and Mooroopna is now closed.

The VicEmergency message for Shepparton:

This Emergency Warning is being issued for the city of Shepparton. If you live, work or are holidaying in this area, you should Evacuate Immediately.

This updated evacuation advice replaces the Emergency Warning issued at 6pm, due to reviewing the flood conditions.
It is now recommended that residents and visitors in Shepparton evacuate between now and 11pm Saturday 15th October to the Shepparton Showgrounds, High St, Shepparton.
This advice particularly applies to:

From the river along Daldy Rd east to the Barmah-Shepparton Rd then south to the transmission lines crossing the highway then west and south to Wanganui Rd; across to Mercury Ct then south on the Numurkah Rd to Halpin Cres; then west up to Furze Ave, along Newton Cres, up to Hicken Cres to Fehey St down to Balaclava Rd across to Gowrie St, up to Alambie St then down to The Blvd; follow The Blvd down to Quinan Pde to the Midland Highway down Welsford St to the railway line. North up the railway line to Swallow St then down to Haves St then down Hare St, Sanderson St, Wilmot Rd, Bradford Rd, Palmer Rd to Broken River Drive. Across to the Goulburn Valley Highway across to forest Rd, down to Settlers Dr and across to the Goulburn River.

An area bounded by Kittles Rd, the river, Wanganui Rd and west of Kingfisher Dve, Pelican Crt and Curlew Pl should remain unaffected however it will be isolated by waters to the east and north.

If you are located in Shepparton, it is recommended you Evacuate Immediately to the Shepparton Showgrounds.

If you are already surrounded by floodwater, it is too late to leave.

Never enter floodwater.

8.35pm on Oct 15, 2022

Echuca residents prepare for difficult days to come

Echuca residents have spent today preparing their homes to withstand flooding which is expected to begin heading towards the area this evening and tomorrow.

The starting point for a popular Parkrun event was under water on Saturday and we have also received a picture of a family leaving a thank you sign on its sandbagged house.

A family leaves a thank you sign for volunteers in Echuca as the town prepares for the flood.Glenn McMillan

The Age reported earlier today that Echuca residents were told to prepare to be away from their homes for up to 10 days, as two swollen rivers bear down on the border town.

“If we talk about the towns near the Murray River, we could see major flooding last for a week, and that’s because the river level is very high,” Bureau of Meteorology senior hydrologist Yves Bessard said.

8.08pm on Oct 15, 2022

‘Good, decent country guy’: Man found dead in Rochester identified as Kevin Wills

By Benjamin Preiss

The flooded town of Rochester is grieving the loss of well-respected man Kevin Wills, whose body was found in the backyard of his inundated home on High Street.

His long-time neighbour Ian Crouch remembered Wills, 71, was a “decent country guy”.

“He was always helpful and would pop around the backyard ... just a good decent country guy who would help his neighbours.”

Crouch said he would sometimes share a beer with his neighbour, a former panelbeater, who was an active member of the Rochester community.

Police are preparing a report for the coroner about Wills’ death.

“Access to the scene was difficult given the surrounding floodwater, however, emergency services have been able to extract the deceased as well as a woman who was unharmed but trapped at the address,” a police spokesman said.

8.01pm on Oct 15, 2022

Goulburn River, Lake Nagambie linked by flood water

Age photographer Eddie Jim captured these photos of the floodwaters appearing to merge the Goulburn River with Lake Nagambie in central Victoria.

The Goulburn River and Lake Nagambie (right of frame) have now merged into one huge water mass in NagambieEddie Jim

The Goulburn River near Lake Nagambie.Eddie Jim

7.30pm on Oct 15, 2022

A snapshot of today’s developments

By Marissa Calligeros

How the day unfolded

5.52am Charlton residents are advised to evacuate immediately as the Avoca River started to rise. VicEmergency noted that “floodwaters are rapidly rising” in the township. The Avoca was expected to peak at 7.8 metres on Saturday night.

Rochester Motel owner Matthew Keating inspects the flood waters.Justin McManus

6.58am Murchison and Murchison East residents are told it is too late to leave due to rising floodwaters. The town sits on the Gouldburn River which on Saturday morning was at 11.53 metres and rising.

10.04am Residents in Orrvale are told to evacuate immediately due to flooding along the Broken River downstream of Casey Weir. The Broken River was 7.36 metres and rising. It was expected to exceed the major flood level of 7.90 metres.

10.30am Victoria Police confirm that a man has been found dead in the backyard of his flooded Rochester home. This is Victoria’s first flood fatality.

12.07pm Evacuation order is issued for residents in Kialla West.

12.44pm Mooroopna residents are told to evacuate immediately. Residents are urged to travel to a safe location, like a family or friend’s place away from floodwaters, or a relief centre at the Shepparton Showgrounds.

2.08pm Evacuation orders issued in Shepparton, with some residents told to leave immediately.

2.30pm Parts of Echuca and Echuca Village are told to evacuate immediately. Campaspe Shire Council warns residents they could be away from home for seven to 10 days.

6pm The warning in Shepparton is upgraded and residents are told it’s “too late to leave”. The Midland Highway, known as the Mooroopna Causeway, between Mooroopna and Shepparton, is closed at 6.30pm.

6.02pm The weather bureau issues a major flood warning is issued for Kerang, but the water is not expected to reach the town until Monday. River levels are likely to peak at similar levels to the January 2011 flood event, the bureau says

6.35pm on Oct 15, 2022

Their father campaigned against Flemington’s flood wall, now his sons are cleaning up flood damage

When Victorian Racing Club first planned to erect its flood wall around the Flemington racecourse, local man Shane Trewin was among the residents who opposed the wall.

The VRC won the right to build the wall and three years ago Trewin died.

Channel Nine reports that on Friday, floodwaters hit Trewin’s home and his two sons Tyson and Kinnon came home from Queensland to help with the cleanup.

They are among a number of Maribyrnong locals who question whether the flood would have caused as much damage if water hadn’t been diverted at the wall.

The VRC said it was entitled to protect the racecourse and iits major events like the Melbourne Cup are major economic drivers for Victoria.

6.21pm on Oct 15, 2022

Charlton, Mooroopna and other towns may lose power

By Marissa Calligeros

Electricity suppliers Powercor and CitiPower say they may be forced to turn off substations in Charlton and Mooroopna due to flooding.

“If significant flood water does reach either of the substations this may pose a major safety risk, so we may need to de-energise them to protect the community and reduce the risk of long-term damage to infrastructure,” a spokeswoman said.

Flooded Howe Street in Mooroopna. Eddie Jim

“If we do need to take this action, customers may be without power for a prolonged period as we will only be able to re-energise the site when water has receded and it is safe to do so.

“We are asking customers to plan ahead and know what they would do if power did go out.”

Charlton zone substation supplies power Birchip, Charlton, Boort, Wycheproof, Watchem, Wedderburn, Korong Vale, Quambatook, Berriwillock, Culgoa, Sea Lake, St Arnaud, Donald and surrounding towns.

Mooroopna zone substation supplies power to Tatura, Mooroopna, Ardmona, parts of Shepparton, Kialla, Haston, Murchison, Dhurringile, Rushworth and surrounding towns.

6.07pm on Oct 15, 2022

Mooroopna Causeway to close at 6.30pm

VicEmergency moved forward its closure of the highway between Mooroopna and Shepparton which will now be closed at 6.30pm tonight.

This Emergency Warning is being issued for properties within the city of Shepparton

An Evacuation Warning remains current, but it is now too late to leave.
The flood is expected to impact properties identified below overnight Saturday, which means there is no longer enough time to safely leave your property.

The Midland Hwy also known as the Mooroopna Causeway between Mooroopna and Shepparton will be CLOSED from 6.30pm tonight, 15 October.

As it happened: Kevin Wills identified as Rochester flood fatality as more evacuation orders are issued

Key Posts

Major Victorian flood warning areas

Latest Posts

That’s all we have for you tonight

Horsham, Wimmera River catchment told to prepare for possible flooding

Shepparton evacuations continue

Echuca residents prepare for difficult days to come

‘Good, decent country guy’: Man found dead in Rochester identified as Kevin Wills

Goulburn River, Lake Nagambie linked by flood water

A snapshot of today’s developments

Their father campaigned against Flemington’s flood wall, now his sons are cleaning up flood damage

Charlton, Mooroopna and other towns may lose power

Mooroopna Causeway to close at 6.30pm

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