An emergency warning to evacuate has been issued for parts of Seymour due to flooding after Victoria was hit by widespread heavy rain overnight.
There is flash flooding in most towns across the region, including Beveridge, Wallan, Kilmore, Broadford, Tallarook and Seymour, along with surrounding districts.
Certain sections of the Hume Freeway are also impacted by flooding, as is the Northern Highway south of Wallan, and Goulburn Valley Highway at Whiteheads Creek, Seymour, and south-west of Seymour through Trawool and Yea.
An evacuation order is also in place for parts of Yea, including Miller Street, Loan Street, Whatton Place and Court Street. A relief centre has been established at Yea Shire Hall in High Street.
Flood waters are rapidly rising in Seymour, and VicEmergency has advised that major flooding is expected in the Seymour area, slightly higher than the 1993 flood level.
People who live, work or are holidaying in the streets listed should evacuate immediately: Emily Street, Tierney Street, Lesley Street, Tallarook Street, Wallis Street, High Street, Elizabeth Street, Butler Street, Alexander Street, Edward Street, Station Street, Tristan Street, Hanna Street, Jubilee Street, Industrial Court.
Goulburn Park is already under water, and Kings Park and local river caravan parks are also expected to be impacted.
Emergency services are attributing the Seymour flooding to local tributaries, not the Goulburn River flows from Lake Eildon.
There is moderate flooding occurring along the Goulburn River, near Yea.
Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland said the Goulburn River was expected to peak at seven metres at about 7pm tonight.
Ms Cleeland said it was expected that potentially 50 homes could be impacted by flooding and 140 isolated.
She encouraged people with the capacity to assist to help Seymour State Emergency Service, SES, with filling sandbags.
“An order has been put into the Defence (Australian Defence Force) to reach out to Puckapunyal for assistance,” she said.
Mitchell Shire Council has opened an Emergency Relief Centre at Seymour Sports and Aquatic Centre, Chittick Park in Pollard Street, for those people across the Mitchell Shire who are affected by flooding and cannot stay at home.
Toilets, showers, emergency accommodation and basic food is available for those who require it. There is also some power to help charge devices and free wifi.
Seymour experienced a severe thunderstorm overnight, with 81mm of rain since 9am on Sunday.
Other rain totals in the Mitchell Shire up until 9am, according to the Bureau of Meteorology:
Kilmore Gap: 95.6mm, plus 27.4mm up until 1.30pm today
Puckapunyal – Lyon Hill: 85mm, plus 23.8mm up until 1.30pm today
Puckapunyal – West: 121.2mm; plus 4.6 up until 1.30pm today.
VicEmergency also reported that Tallarook received 56.2mm of rain in the six hours to 11am today; while there was 61.8mm at Hilldene.
Council advised this morning the following shire roads were closed due to flooding:
- Broadford: High Street (near the Island park and bowls club)
- Glenaroua: Ashes Bridge Road
- Hilldene: Seymour Pyalong Road
- Pyalong: Sandy Creek Road, Seymour Pyalong Road, Whitegate Road
- Seymour: Delatite Road, Telegraph Road
- Sugarloaf Creek: Sugarloaf Creek Road
- Sunday Creek: Gerards Road
- Waterford Park: Ryans Road.
Kilmore SES Unit reported this morning that it had responded to more than 70 requests for assistance due to flooding, fallen trees and road accidents.
There were several road accidents overnight and early this morning, including a falling branch crashing through a truck window on the Kilmore-Broadford Road, near Broadford.
Several incidents of flash flooding have occurred in Wallan and Kilmore, while the Sunday, Dry and Sugarloaf creeks near Broadford have burst their banks causing widespread flooding into paddocks and across roads.
Sandbags are available from Kilmore and Seymour SES units for residents requiring assistance.
Emergency services are advising people to stay at home, and not travel unless absolutely necessary.
An increasing number of roads are being closed, with up-to-date listings at traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au.
Other roads in the region listed to be closed include Broadford-Flowerdale Road, Strath Creek to Whittlesea-Yea Road, Flowerdale; and Simons Hill Road, Darraweit Guim.
Whittlesea Showgrounds have also been impacted by flooding, causing the cancellation of today’s Whittlesea Monday Market.
