Hundreds of residents along several swollen Victorian rivers are bracing for the worst, with record-breaking flooding predicted in the state’s north.
Emergency warnings remain in place for multiple areas, including Shepparton, Murchison, Echuca, Kialla, Mooroopna, Orrvale, Charlton Barnadown and Elmore.
Early on Monday in Echuca, residents and holidaymakers were being told to leave immediately amid concerns people could become stranded by the floodwaters.
Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said about 34,000 homes could be inundated or isolated by floodwaters.
He warned the flooding of agricultural properties in Victoria’s north could lead to a food supply shortfall and rising prices, as seen after the northern NSW and Queensland floods earlier this year.
“I met farmers in the last couple of days who were getting very close to bringing in bumper crops of canola, and there’s dairy farmers who have been affected and have been having trouble milking their cows,” he told ABC TV on Monday.
The Goulburn River at Shepparton has risen overnight to 12.05 metres (41 feet), with major flooding expected on Monday morning at 12.1m.
That is higher than the 1974 flood level of 12.09m, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
Images show buildings in the middle of town surrounded by a vast inland sea of brown muddy water and residents using sandbags to protect properties.
Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said 56 requests for rescues were made overnight in Mooroopna and Shepparton, some of which are yet to be completed.
Hundreds of homes in the area have been flooded, along with another 800 to 900 homes in Rochester.
“I had the opportunity to fly over Rochester yesterday. To be frank, it’s depressing,” Crisp told ABC TV.
A 71-year-old man was found dead in floodwaters in the backyard of his Rochester home on Saturday.
Floodwaters have receded in Maribyrnong, where police confirmed an unoccupied house was looted on Monday morning.
It is believed a man wearing high-vis and a face covering entered the flood-hit home and stole several personal items before fleeing in a car with another two men waiting inside.
Melbourne Water has been directed to carry out a review of Flemington Racecourse’s levee wall to determine whether it contributed to the flooding of properties in Maribyrnong and Kensington.
The Loddon River at Kerang is expected to peak on Tuesday and into Wednesday, with levels similar to the record-breaking January 2011 floods.
A warning has also been issued for the Wimmera River, with Horsham residents warned major flooding is possible on Monday and into Tuesday.
The Campaspe River at Barnadown, Rochester Town and Echuca peaked on Monday morning with major flooding occurring - higher than in 2011.
The Victorian State Emergency Service has received more than 4750 calls for help, including more than 500 flood rescue requests, since Wednesday when heavy rainfall lashed the state.
Disaster recovery payments have been made available to residents in 23 local government areas, and a 250-bed camp for displaced people will open at the former COVID-19 quarantine facility in Mickleham.
About 100 ADF personnel have been deployed to help with evacuations and sandbagging.
Major flood warnings are also in place for the Broken, Avoca and Loddon rivers and the Seven and Castle creeks.
The Avoca River could peak about eight metres on Monday morning around Charlton.
