Wiebusch said at least 15 people had attempted to drive through floodwaters in Melbourne,Carisbrook and Maryborough,north-west of the city. He said driving in floodwater was extremely dangerous.
“It could be the last decision you make,” he said.
Wiebusch said emergency services were doorknocking in Charlton to ensure residents were aware of the looming risks.
The town flooded badly in 2011 when water gushed through the main street,inundating more than 300 houses.
But East Charlton Hotel publican Leanne Gretgrix said there was no need for panic,although some people were worried.
She said Charlton was flood prone,but the region had been much wetter leading into the 2011 flood.
Credit:Matt Golding
“This is probably going to be our first flood since then,” she said. “But we don’t want to panic too many people.”
Two private dams in Craigieburn in Melbourne’s north were also overflowing,resulting in the partial closure of Mickleham Road. However,Wiebusch said there was no immediate threat to private property.
A month’s worth of rain fell in parts of western Victoria,according to the weather bureau. Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Michael Efron said the area around Avoca and Maryborough had recorded between 50 and 65 millimetres of rain.
He said conditions would ease over the weekend.
The Bureau of Meteorology says technicians are working to bring Melbourne’s rain radar back online.Credit:Bureau of Meteorology
Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters at a rain-soaked press conference in Geelong on Friday that emergency services were prepared for flooding,which could hit the state over the coming weeks.
“National cabinet last week received a report from the bureau and from Emergency Management Australia. We’re going to see more significant rainfall in coming weeks. And with our storage pretty well full and the ground sodden,we’ve got some really significant flooding risks,” he said.
“So,all of our emergency services are stood up;they’re ready. And I just ask communities to keep an eye out,to listen,to be alive to those warnings. Because if they’re issued,they’ll be real,and we’d ask you to act on them.
“But all of our emergency services are at the ready because we know that this rain is going to continue. And we know that there’s every chance that we have flooding events.”
Melbourne has been pelted with rain and more is on the way next week.Credit:Eddie Jim
Grain Producers Australia southern director Andrew Weidemann said forecasts of continued wet weather were a serious concern for many farmers.
He said wheat was now particularly susceptible to fungal diseases that can kill much of a crop after heavy rain.
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“We’re talking about country with lakes of water under all these crops,” he said.
Lentils are also vulnerable to heavy rain at this point in the season.
“What looked like a sensational season is turning into a potential disaster,unfortunately.”
However,he said the rain brought some benefits and water could be stored for the coming seasons.
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