Residents in Corowa, Rutherglen and surrounds face a mammoth clean-up after torrential rain and storms hit the region over the weekend.
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Rutherglen and Chiltern were the worst affected towns with some residents recording up to 160 millimetres of rain in a four-hour period from Saturday night.
Flash flooding caused a number of road closures including the Murray Highway, Three Chain Road, Chiltern-Rutherglen Road and Federation Way.
The Rutherglen State Emergency Service (SES) attended more than 50 call outs, from shortly after midnight continuing though until 4pm Sunday.
Rutherglen SES member Roger Farrell said he had never seen so much rain in such a short period of time.
“People I know who have spent their whole lifetime here have said the same thing. It had quite a widespread affect,” Mr Farrell said.
“We attended a number of calls mostly for flood damage, but also building protection as water moved through the town rapidly, a few washaways and roof damage.
“We also had a car stranded on a flooded road which serves as a reminder to people not to drive through flood waters.”
Mr Farrell said SES was well supported by up to 20 members from the local CFA Brigades as well as Yarrawonga and Chiltern SES.
“We were very grateful for the assistance. It was a combined effort but also a very long effort. We were all working in very hot and humid conditions,” he said.
“A big shout out to some of the food and beverage attendants in town including The Other Place, Silver Key and Caffeine n Machine who provided food for the emergency service workers. It’s been a real tremendous community spirit.”
In Wahgunyah, Hilda Strachan came home to a nightmare with flood damage as well as an inundation gravel and dirt from the surrounding road and nature strip travelling downhill into her driveway, through her garage and out to her back patio.
Ms Strachan, who purchased the home in 2003 said there is no adequate drainage on the southern end of Ford Street, an issue she has raised with Indigo Shire Council on numerous occasions since 2003.
“I’ve contacted council about the issue for 16 years and I’m now just at the point of exhaustion. It’s the eighth time since 2005 that I have had to put up with it,” Ms Strachan told the Free Press.
“Last December, just four weeks ago, we were hit with rain and once again my front yard and garage flooded. The water had nowhere else to go. It took two hours just to sweep up the dirt out the front.
“I can’t do anything about it this time because I have a ripped shoulder. I cannot cope with it anymore. I am mentally and emotionally drained and I’m here all on my own.
“I contacted council in December and their solution was to rip up the nature strip for grading which they hoped would help the water flow down Dennison Street. They also put more gravel at the top of my driveway which was just ridiculous. Now I’m left to clean up an even bigger mess.”
Ms Strachan said all she wants from council is concrete kerbing installed to guide the water to the drain across the street.
“Even the drainage on Dennison Street is so old and blocked so water doesn’t even have a chance to go in those pipes anyway,” she said.
“I pay my rates, and all I’m asking is for is to be looked after and to feel safe and protected on my own home. “Most of the residents around here are elderly and I’m sure they feel the same way.”
Meanwhile, across the river, Corowa was not spared from the chaos with a trail of destruction evident right through town.
Martin Street and Sophia Close were two of the worst affected areas in Corowa.
Paul Giordano woke in the early hours of the morning to water lapping almost up his knees in his Martin Street home.
“It’s a hell of a mess!” Mr Giordano said.
On Sunday, Mr Giardono’s backyard resembled a swimming pool. Inside, his floors were muddy, carpet saturated and furniture damaged by water.
“The water came up quickly and travelled through the backyard and into the unit. I have never ever seen or heard anything like it, and I have lived in the tropics!”
The Corowa Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) attended more than 30 jobs assisting people with flood inundation, filling sandbags and removing trees from properties.
VRA president Rob Slot said the amount of water flowing rapidly through parts of the town was unprecedented.
“In my 30 years of living here, I have never seen anything like it,” he told the Free Press.
“It was the weirdest thing; you would come around the corner and there was water up to a metre high.
“Quite a number of homes around Sophia Close were significantly impacted.”
Mr Slot said he was appreciative that all the local emergency services including NSW Fire and Rescue and Federation Support NSW RFS came together to help with the freak weather event.
“When the hammer falls, this community really pulls together,” he said.
“It’s not often that you see places like the Corowa Caravan Park under a metre of water that isn’t from the usual flood conditions. This time water was coming from a different direction.”
Federation Council General Manager Adrian Butler said council crews would continue to work around the clock to provide assistance to those residents that require it in the coming days and weeks.
“It has been devastating to hear of the many reports of property damage and our thoughts go out to all those who have been directly affected. Council crews continue to be out assembling appropriate instructional signage and closing roads that are covered by floodwaters, as well as moving debris off roadways,” he said.
“A number of roads are inundated with water and motorists are encouraged to take care whilst travelling throughout our LGA and not drive through floodwaters.”
Mr Butler thanked the community for their patience and understanding.
“Our crews are prioritizing works and as I am sure many residents would be able to see there is much work to be done that will continue over many days and weeks,” he said.
“I request residents to continue to be patient and understanding in respect to our response times and be respectful to all staff and first responders who are all collectively working together to manage this natural disaster event.”
Federation Council will offer free waste disposal at their waste facilities located in Corowa and Howlong for flood affected residents for the next two weeks.
“This is without a doubt a freak weather event that thankfully doesn’t occur often and there is much work to be done collectively by council and residents over many days and weeks ahead,” Mr Butler said.
Federation Council MayorPat Bourke said he drove to Corowa on Sunday, January 30 to view the flood water damage first hand and speak to local residents.
“It is clear that a lot of our residents are still in disbelief that something like this has happened,” he said.
“To have 180mm worth of rain in four hours is just unbelievable. One thing that I have taken away from this experience is the absolute appreciation our residents have for one another and leading agencies who assisted during and after the freak storm. Everyone rallied together to support one another in a time of need and collectively do everything possible to limit damage to one another’s properties.
“I am positive that the support for one another will be ongoing as the clean-up effort continues. “
The Corowa Waste Management Centre is open on Tuesday from 9am-12 noon and Sunday 1pm – 4pm. The Howlong Waste Management Centre is open on Tuesday from 1pm – 4pm and Sunday 9am – 12 noon.
Residents should bring proof of address and flood affected items only to be eligible for free waste disposal.