Billabong continues to rise
Residents in the Jerilderie region are the latest to have their lives impacted by major flooding as Billabong Creek flows increase.
Reports are being received of some homes at Jerilderie beginning to succumb to inundation, with other infrastructure badly affected.
While the majority of the township itself is still not facing water damage, there are some low-lying areas that are disappearing under water.
Among the local infrastructure impacted is the Jerilderie Apex Mini Rail.
Surrounded by water since mid-October, Jerilderie Apex immediate past president Aron Birch said only a small section of the track is not submerged.
“The Billabong runs along both sides of the min rail track, and there’s only a small part of the rail on higher ground not covered by water,” he said. “At least 90 per cent would be under. “We knew the creek would be coming up, but initially no one thought it would get this bad.
“By the time we realised (a few weeks ago) it was too late to really do anything.”
Mr Birch said upgrades made at the railway after the 2016 floods are now under water again, and he said the station – an old railway carriage - would likely need considerable repairs after this flood event.
“This time we expect the timber floor might need total replacement, given 2016 and now this flood.
“Especially as it seems this flood is moving a lot harder than in 2016.
“A lot of the track will also need to be redone.
“The damage is done now and we just have to ride it out, assess the damage and see what grants we can apply for.”
Jerilderie’s Kayla McAuliffe has been watching the waterlogging of the region taking place as she travels to Deniliquin each weekday for work.
Usually making the trip via the Jerilderie-Conargo Rd, she switched to detouring through Finley two weeks ago because of the amount of water on the roadsides.
“Quite a few of the paddocks are basically lakes now,” she said.
“The last time I did take the Conargo Rd the water was already starting to come across the road, so I knew it would not take much more water for that to happen.
“While the Riverina Highway between Finley and Deniliquin is mostly fine, the stretch between Jerilderie and Finley is now getting just as bad.
“The expanses of water start before you even get to the 100km/h sign on the Newell heading out of Jerilderie.
“The potholes are also getting a lot worse.”
For some residents, the risk of their homes and businesses flooding is more evident than for others.
Many in the community are resiliently taking the situation in their stride, preparing but not panicking.
Jerilderie Newsagency owner Natasha Nash said that while the community is facing an increased flood risk, their spirits remain high.
“Most people are still going about their business as normal, still going to work each day," she said.
“When people come in to get their papers, they still have a chat, they’re still in good spirits.
“They seem to be doing their same daily routine.”
While the impact on the township is not vast at this time, many farmers have faced, and may still face, a harder time of it.
Crops have yet to be be harvested and much of the grain that was ready to be stripped has been badly downgraded.
Mrs Nash said her son works on a property and he is still able to get to his job despite some road closures in the region.
On Friday, the NSW SES advised people of current rising floodwater on the Billabong Creek flooding from Jerilderie to Wanganella.
It said the flooding along the Billabong Creek is expected to continue to rise for some time.
At the time of going to print yesterday, the Billabong at Jerilderie was 2.41m.
Low-lying areas from Rand to Jerilderie surrounding the Billabong Creek have also been impacted, with roads closed or impassable.
Last weekend, the Rural Fire Service, NSW Fire Brigade, SES, Murrumbidgee Council staff and other community members filled 20 pallets of sandbags in Jerilderie to assist with upcoming needs.
There are currently a number of major road closures in the Jerilderie area, including South Coree Road between Booroobanilly Road and Lignum Lane/Willawa Lane, as well as Rifle Range Road.
All residents are reminded never to enter floodwaters on foot or by vehicle due to the risk of damage to roadways. Floowaters also pose a health risk.
Tocumwal residents have breathed a sigh of relief after the Murray River peaked at 7.4m last weekend and has now fallen from major to moderate flood level.
Many became increasingly concerned after a gauge that provides readings from the Old Tocumwal Railway Bridge showed the river height had hit 7.95m.
This was later detected as a falsely high water level due to a faulty gauge.
The peak was reduced to 7.4m as of last Thursday, after hydrographers repaired the gauge, recalibrated it and once again checked flow levels.
The gauge spike was due to a sensor coming off the end of a probe attached to a computer that records the river level.
At this time, the Murray is slowly receding, but that did not begin until it had exceeded the 2016 major flood level of 7.3m.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the Murray River at Tocumwal peak was accompanied by major flooding.
At the time of going to print yesterday, the Murray River at Tocumwal had steadied to 6.93m and is slowly falling, with moderate flooding still occurring.
The Tocumwal river level is likely to remain above the moderate flood level of 6.7m through to the weekend, with some areas still impacted by dangerous floodwaters.
These include low-lying roads and bridges, farms and rural areas, and recreational areas along the Murray River.
Many Tocumwal region residents have now experienced weeks of flood warning to avoid floodwaters while those on rural properties have been required to isolate due to water cutting access roads.
One of the major concerns remains the instability of large trees that have been under water for an extended period.
The Stan Collie Causeway between Cobram and Barooga was the most recent roadway to be affected due to a large tree leaning over the roadway yesterday morning.
Berrigan Shire Council organised contractors to remove the tree.
The Goulburn Valley Highway between Cobram-Koonoomoo Road and Tocumwal has water over the road with the speed reduced to 40km per hour.
Road users are advised to obey the speed reduction and drive safely.
Meanwhile, it will still be weeks before many primary producers affected by these floods will be able to assess the full impact on grazing and cropping areas.
A $75,000 Special Disaster Grant has been made available in local government areas such as Berrigan Shire, Murrumbidgee Council and Federation Shire for those impacted by the current severe weather and flooding events.
Primary producers are encouraged not to self-assess, but to consult with their local Rural Financial Counselling Service, the Rural Recovery Support Service or apply for the scheme so that the RAA can determine eligibility for this funding.