Authorities have reported Victoria's first flood fatality — a man whose body was discovered in the backyard of his home in the state's north. Tasmania and NSW are also battling swollen waterways as floodwaters move downstream.
Look back on how Saturday's developments unfolded in our blog.
Key events
- Victorian town of Kerang likely to experience major flooding in two days
- NSW SES directs parts of Narrandera South to evacuate before 8pm
- Echuca residents told to evacuate
- Shepparton residents told to evacuate immediately
- Residents in Mooroopna area told to evacuate immediately
- Watch: Tasmania SES providing flood update
- The Maribyrnong River has dropped below minor flood level
- Watch: Victorian flooding update
- Mooroopna residents told to prepare to evacuate
- Victorian man dies in floodwaters at Rochester
- Emergency warning issued for Lake Eildon to Seymour
- Goulburn River could reach record 1974 flood levels
- 63 flood warnings in place in NSW
- 160 rescues carried out in Rochester overnight
- An emergency warning has been issued for Charlton
- Flooding expected to impact Shepparton this afternoon
Live updates
By Jessica Riga
Where to find emergency assistance and information
We're going to close the live blog here, but here's where to find emergency assistance and information.
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For emergency assistance, contact the SES on 132 500
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If your life is at risk, call Triple Zero (000) immediately
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Roads and bridges may be impacted by flash flooding. You can find the latest Victorian evacuation orders here, the latest Tasmanian evacuation orders here and the latest NSW evacuation orders here.
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For the latest weather updates visit the Bureau of Meteorology
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If you're not sure what to do when there's a flood, here's the best way to plan
Listen to ABC Local Radio for regular updates:
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ABC Melbourne on 774am or online
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ABC Hobart on 936am or online
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ABC Sydney on 702am or online
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Search for a different frequency using the ABC Radio Finder
By Jessica Riga
What you need to right now for Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales
Victoria
- Authorities have urged residents in the northern Victorian communities of Shepparton and Echuca to evacuate, as floodwaters surge towards the regional hubs
- Emergency crews are warning the Goulburn River and Campaspe River are reaching major flood levels over the weekend and could affect thousands of properties
- Parts of Shepparton affected by the warning are urged to head to a relief centre at the Shepparton Showgrounds
- In Echuca, residents are urged to check the latest warnings for flooded roads before heading to Bendigo
You can continue to stay up to date with Victoria's flood developments here.
New South Wales
- Residents in parts of Narrandera South have been ordered to evacuate before 8pm tonight as moderate flooding threatens to close roads and escape routes
- The main flood peak passed through Wagga Wagga on Thursday and is now heading down the Murrumbidgee River
- The Bureau of Meteorology says it may reach around 8 metres at Narrandera on Sunday with moderate flooding
- Meanwhile, major flooding in Forbes has fallen to moderate levels, but evacuation orders remain in place with large parts of the CBD still inundated and aircraft dropping supplies to properties isolated by floodwaters
You can continue to stay up to date with flood developments in New South Wales here.
Tasmania
- Authorities are warning floodwaters still remain a danger in parts of Tasmania after record rainfall hit the north of the state over the past few days
- Rivers are rising in some places as floodwaters move downstream, and the Meander River reached a record height of 9.45 metres at Strathbridge, downstream of Deloraine
- An emergency warning to avoid flooded areas is current for surrounding areas and flood watch and act messages are current for 10 waterways, including the River Ouse, the Macquarie River and the South Esk River
- You can continue to stay up to date with Tasmania's flood developments here.
By Jessica Riga
One winery in Victoria has been completely submerged
At Tahbilk Winery, nestled against the Goulburn River south-west of Murchison, flooding has caused widespread damage.
Aerial footage shows vast swathes of vines have been completely submerged.
At least one house on the property has been seriously damaged.
Winery worker Lachie Thomas lives in the flooded house and used a dinghy to check on damage.
He said there was so much water the boat was able to navigate above the flooded grape vines.
“We had half an hour before we evacuated Thursday night to do a little bit of preparation in case but no one expected this,” Mr Thomas said.
“The vineyard has been run by the same family for 100 years and in that time the family have never seen or heard of the water reaching this high on the property.
“The house there is on the highest point for a few hundred meters so seemed like the least likely place to go under.
“Fortunately we could take the boat on a 3km trip through the wetlands and over the vineyards to get there and try move a few last things higher or throw them on the roof.”
Reporting by Nicole Asher
By Jessica Riga
Victorian town of Kerang likely to experience major flooding in two days
The northern Victorian town of Kerang is likely to experience major flooding two days from now.
This afternoon, the BOM released an update for the Loddon River, saying flood levels similar to the record floods of January 2011, which decimated Kerang, would hit Appin South from tomorrow morning and Kerang from Monday overnight.
The river is currently at major flood levels at the Loddon weir, with the SES urging people not to drive unless absolutely necessary.
Further west, the Avoca River at Charlton is expected to peak at 7.8 metres tonight, and up to 80 properties could be impacted.
The floodwaters are expected to stay above major levels for three to five days.
In Donald, local incident controller Mark Kittell said the Richardson River will peak overnight, with flood levels expected to reach September 2010 levels but not cut the town off from its hospital.
Reporting by Alexander Darling
By Joseph Dunstan
A massive clean-up ahead in Melbourne's west
In Melbourne's west, residents along the Maribyrnong River are clearing mud and debris from their homes in the aftermath of Friday's flooding.
Solly Ahmet, who lives in Maribyrnong, says he's never seen flooding this bad.
He says the SES came to pick him up in a boat when the water level in his house was at two feet.
"My wife is walking with a frame and her legs couldn't take her upstairs, so we had to call the SES," he says.
His house is filled with mud, and now he's tasked with a massive clean up effort.
"In the driveway, you have to walk through an inch and a half of mud," he says.
"The fear is now, will this happen to us again next week, or even this week?"
By Joseph Dunstan
Some Melburnians are just keen to get back to normal
Cyclists are enjoying their weekend ride on this path along the Maribyrnong River, still strewn with debris from yesterday's flooding.
By Ashleigh Barraclough
Charlton and Mooroopna in Victoria may lose power
Spokeswoman for electricity suppliers Powercor and CitiPower, Emma Tyner, says people need to prepare for the possibility both the Charlton and Mooroopna substations will need to be tuned off if the Goulburn and Avoca rivers continue to rise.
She says crews have been working on mitigation works including sandbagging, lifting equipment, getting pumps ready and strengthening levees but the "difficult decision" may need to be made to turn the power off.
"If significant floodwater does reach either of those substations it may pose a major safety risk and what that may mean is we have to turn them off," she says.
"If we were to turn off Charlton zone substation it would impact power to towns such as Birchip, Charlton, Boort, Wycheproof, and other surrounding towns, and Mooroopna zone substation it would impact Tatura, Mooroopna, Ardmona, parts of Shepparton, and other surrounding towns.
"We're asking customers to please plan ahead and know what they would do if the power did go out.
"Charge your phones, your laptops, have an esky on hand, torches, be prepared."
By Jessica Riga
In pictures: Water rises in Murchison, Victoria
We've just received some more footage out of Murchison in Victoria's north, showing the extent of the flooding so far, which is predicted to get worse.
By Kate Ainsworth
Where are the floods in Tasmania?
We shared a similar map in Victoria earlier — but if you're not too good with your northern Tasmania geography, here's a quick map showing whereabouts the most impacted towns are in relation to major population centres.
If you want to zoom in and explore, check out the TasAlert site here for an interactive version complete with the latest warnings.
By Jessica Riga
NSW SES directs parts of Narrandera South to evacuate before 8pm
The New South Wales SES is directing people in parts of Narrandera South to evacuate before 8pm tonight.
The listed locations include:
- Lizard Drive
- Sturt place
- Parts of Old Brewery Road
- Bridge Street
- Oaklands Street
- Robertson Street
- Oakbank Street
- Parts of Norrison Road
By Jessica Riga
Broken River swells in Shepparton
Warwick Long, presenter of ABC Rural's Victorian Country Hour, captured this footage of Shepparton's Broken River.
By Kate Ainsworth
Watch: Goulburn River flooding from above
As the Goulburn River broke its banks, Jake Knight took to the skies at the Mitchelton Winery in Nagambie, capturing the extent of the flooding and sheer volume of water at his property.
By Joseph Dunstan
Echuca residents told to plan for a week or longer away from home
In Victoria's north, residents along the Campaspe River in Echuca are being urged to prepare to be away from home for more than a week.
The council urged those covered by the recently issued warning not to delay leaving.
"Anyone who chooses to stay needs to be prepared to be isolated," the council says.
"Emergency resources will be directed to the greatest need."
By Joseph Dunstan
More of the flooding at Rochester, in Victoria's north
Life Saving Victoria has shared this video from Rochester, where they were forced to rescue people stuck in floodwaters.
By Kate Ainsworth
Murchison residents anxiously waiting for floodwaters to recede before visiting their homes
In Murchison, south-west of Shepparton, homeowners are anxiously waiting for floodwaters to recede enough for them to access their properties.
Local resident Andrew Stuart-Poynton evacuated his property yesterday, expecting to be able to return today, but came back to find his house cut off.
"When we got the doorknock to say we had to be gone we just thought it's not worth it, go, so we grabbed some clothes and toys, the animals, and we left," he said.
"I've been here for 40 years. I've been here for the last three big floods and it came nowhere near our block so I was just going 'it's another stupid flood, it's not going to happen,' but clearly it did."
Graham and Sharon Bathman's house in Murchison flooded overnight, with the speed of the rising waters taking the couple by surprise.
Mr Bathman said the water reached the front fence of the property in 1974, but they shared pictures with the ABC to show the flooding had inundated the property this time around.
An evacuation order was issued for parts of Murchison, but the SES says it's now too late to safely leave the affected areas.
Reporting by Tim Callanan
By Kate Ainsworth
Just a bit of water about in Forbes this afternoon
ABC reporter Joanna Woodburn is in Forbes where flood waters are lapping throughout the CBD.
By Kate Ainsworth
Where is the flooding in Victoria?
If you're reading from outside Victoria and aren't familiar with its regional geography, here's a quick map highlighting the major areas that are being impacted by flooding we're referencing a lot in the blog today (along with some other major towns and cities to give you an idea of scale).
If you're after a more interactive version, you can head to the VicEmergency website to see all the warnings.
By Ashleigh Barraclough
'The flood of all floods': Murchison couple's home inundated
Sharon and Graham Bathman live in Murchison, in Victoria's north, and were forced to flee their home last night when water rushed into the house.
"It's a mess in there. It's about 30cm [high] in the house, it's about two-foot-six in the shed," Graham says.
Holding back tears, Sharon says she is "devastated".
The couple recently renovated their home and say they didn't anticipate the flood water getting as high as it did.
"In 1974 it came right up to the front fence at my place, and I thought it was going to do the same this time. It's the flood of all floods this time," Graham says.
It happened so fast they didn't have time to move anything off the ground.
"It came up quick at the last minute … and we just got out. About 10pm … it came racing in," Sharon says.
They are staying with their daughter nearby, but flooding in the town continues to rise, and the whole family is being forced to leave.
They don't know where they'll be spending the night but are trying to keep their spirits high.
"We'll live to see another day," Graham says.
Reporting by Nicole Asher and staff
By Ashleigh Barraclough
'It's best to go early': SES urges Shepparton residents to leave now
The SES's David Tucek says while the peak is not expected for a few days in Shepparton, in Victoria's north, people should leave now.
"It's best to go early, before you perhaps make a decision to stay and then ultimately put yourself, your loved ones and then emergency services personnel lives at risk when you get to the point where you call for a flood rescue," he says.
He is urging people to take care as they evacuate.
"It's very important when people are moving around the landscape they do not think about going into floodwaters, not to drive through it, not to risk it, it could be the last decision you make."
By Ashleigh Barraclough
Communities await flooding in western Victoria
In Victoria's west, the Avoca River is about to reach the major flood level of 7.5 metres at Charlton.
Water is already lapping at the boardwalks and the houses next to the river.
Predictions are jumping around a bit, but at this stage the BOM expects the river to peak at 7.8m tonight, which prompted evacuation warnings yesterday afternoon.
The local council says 30 to 40 people and their pets have taken up the offer to stay at the school sports stadium at nearby Wycheproof, while many others moved to the opposite side of town which will be above the flood peak.
The river is expected to stay above the major flood level for 3 to 5 days.
Further west, the Richardson River in Donald is expected to hit 4.5m, similar to the late 2010 floods.
Crews have been erecting temporary walls and levees over the past few days, and a community meeting will take place at Soldiers Memorial Hall today at 1pm.
Levee works are also taking place in Warrackanbeal, north of Horsham, where one-in-50-year floods are expected on Yarriambiack Creek after the Wimmera River peaks at around 5m in Glenorchy today.
The Wimmera also runs through Horsham, which could experience major flooding above 3.6m on Monday.
Reporting by Alex Darling
