More than 230mm in first two months
More solid rain last month has given Warragul one of its wettest starts to a year.
The 117.8 millimetres recorded last month took the January-February total to 234.4 millimetres.
The same period last year produced just 55.4 millimetres.
Only three times since 1905 have the first two months produced more than this year.
They were 1924 with 275 millimetres, 1946 when 317 millimetres were recorded and 2011 with 255.4 millimetres.
Each of those years went on to record annual totals that well exceed the all years’ average of 1007 millimetres.
Rain was recorded at Warragul on 18 of the 29 days last month; the highest falls being over the 48 hours from 9 a.m. on February 14 when 48.4 millimetres fell during a severe storm that hit most of West Gippsland.
But Warragul’s rain over those two days was modest compared to some other nearby areas.
Yarragon was one of several areas to receive more than 90 millimetres.
Last month’s 117.8 millimetres was double the 115-year February average for Warragul and previously bettered only nine times.
While business for water cartage contractors has dropped because domestic tanks at properties beyond the Gippsland Water supply area have been well replenished by the past two months’ rain those relying on their tanks have had other problems.
A combination of smoke hanging in the air from bushfires in East Gippsland and Tasmania and a dust storm that emanated from north-west Victoria have tainted many tanks.
Paul Mogensen of Clear Water Tank Cleaning of Warragul has had ‘phone calls from the Dandenong Ranges to Wilsons Promontory from people whose water had become smoky-like from the smoke and ash or dirty as a result of the dust storm.
He said the smoke and ash tended to make the water acidic with poly tanks seemingly more affected than those of concrete and galvanised iron.
Treatment varied according to circumstances. Really it is no different from normal treatment of swimming pools, Mr Mogensen said.
The Bureau of Meterology outlook has a 6070 per cent chance that March rainfall for Central Victoria will exceed average it says the March-May autumn period appears likely to produce about average totals.
Gippsland Water’s storages are holding well. Both Blue Rock and Moondarra dams are full while Tarago is at 65 per cent of capacity and Glenmaggie at 55 per cent.
The Neerim South supermarket that also has a packaged liquor licence wants approval to sell alcohol on Good Friday.
It has applied to the Victorian Commission for Gaming and Liquor Regulation to amend its licence to allow Good Friday sales.
The application seeks approval to be able to sell packaged liquor between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. on that day.
Members of the public can lodge objections to the proposal if they believe granting of a permit would detract from, or be detrimental to, the amenity of the area or if it would encourage the misuse or abuse of alcohol.
Any objections must be in writing and lodged with the VCGLR by email to contact@vcglr.vic.gov.au, in person at level 3, 12 Shelley St, Richmond, or by post to VCGLR, GPO Box 1988 Melbourne 3001.