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Fifty to sixty homes expected to flood in Maribyrnong
The state commander of the Victorian SES, Josh Gamble, told Radio National this morning that about 50 to 60 houses in the Melbourne suburb of Maribyrnong will see “above-floor inundation” today.
That is due to the heavy rainfall in the Maribyrnong’s upper catchments, which will reach the city about the same time as a tidal surge.
Anglers’ Tavern is already under water.
Before 7am, Gamble said the SES had conducted 108 flood rescues in the past 48 hours – that had already risen to 120 by the time emergency management commissioner Andrew Crisp gave his update after 7am.
Gamble said:
We haven’t had that many flood rescues in quite some time, for many years. Many of those people are putting their own lives at risk, their own children in some cases …
People I think are a little bit complacent and they think a little bit of water will not float their vehicle and will not float their vehicle downstream and off bridges. But that is what occurs and it only takes a very small amount of water.
The risk of flooding is likely to continue over the next few months, he said.
This is the third season of La Nina that we have got upon us, and although the severe weather warning for Victoria was cancelled this morning, we do know the water has got a lot to continue yet.
There is a lot of water in the hills, there is a lot of water in dams and all the tributaries across the state and it’s only going to take another 15-20mm in the next couple of weeks again and that’s going to continue, as the bureau said in their modelling, for the next couple of months. Everything’s moist, the catchments are full, and it’s not going to take much to push them over again week on week, month on month.
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Amy Remeikis
Fremantle MP Josh Wilson is off to Slovenia for the 68th meeting of the International Whaling Commission.
Australia’s Whales Commissioner Dr Nick Gales nominated as vice chair of the commission for the next two years and Wilson is attending as environment minister Tanya Plibersek’s representative.
The goal is zero extinctions of whales, dolphins and porpoises which means not only remaining opposed to commercial whaling but also tackling climate change and plastic litter – of which there are island sized masses currently floating in the ocean.
Plibersek said Australia had a very big role to play:
Each migration season Australia’s coastline turns in to a highway for whales. It is important we keep these routes safe and free of pollution.
We are advocating and protecting species and their habitats both at home in our waters and globally including through our leadership in the International Whaling Commission.
This will be further supported by the Australian Government’s pledge to protect 30 per cent of our land and 30 per cent of our ocean by 2030 as we move towards zero extinctions.
Wilson said the nomination of Dr Gales was also an important step:
Australia’s nomination of Dr Nick Gales – a globally recognised scientific expert – is testament to that focus, and demonstrates the Albanese Government’s commitment to environmental conservation through active and cooperative participation in organisations like the International Whaling Commission.
But it must be said Australia still struggles to balance environment and economy. The Albanese government has opened up nearly 47,000 sq km of Australian waters to oil and gas exploration, which critics say will further endanger marine parks and contradict Australia’s emissions reduction targets.
Emergency services have urged people to stay off the roads in Melbourne this morning unless absolutely necessary, and this is why.
Mandatory isolation for Covid ends today
In non-flood news, mandatory isolation rules for people who test positive to Covid-19 will end from today.
NSW premier Dominic Perrottet, who led the campaign to ditch isolation rules, told AAP that he believes people will continue to register virus diagnoses.
We’re moving to a system of good faith where people are looking out for each other and caring for each other.
I just want to make the point … people should still test.
We may have further waves of Covid in the future, in fact, we probably expect that. So by testing, you’re looking after yourself, looking after your family.
More from AAP:
Australia will move to a workplace health and safety regime, with the decision made off the back of lower case numbers, South Australian health minister Chris Picton said.
“However, the message is still the same in making sure you’re staying home if you’re sick and being very conscious of people who are vulnerable in our communities,” he said.
The SA chief health officer said she had no doubt the community would be able to take individual responsibility.
“There’s been such a fantastic response throughout the pandemic with people following health advice,” Nicola Spurrier said.
“Quite often we didn’t have things as legal directions and people still did them. I am very confident that will continue over the next month.”
The Australian Medical Association wants the government consider bringing back Covid isolation requirements if cases spike during holidays.
President Steve Robson said information from the northern hemisphere showed newer variants won’t be affected by immunity from previous infection or from vaccinations.
Australia recorded 36,790 Covid cases and more than 270 deaths last week.
Goulburn river peaks at 8.26 metres, surpassing 1974 flood record
This was the main street of Seymour about an hour ago.
The Goulburn river peaked at 8.26 metres at 3am this morning, well above the record of 7.64 metres set in the 1974 flood. It is expected to remain above major flood levels – that’s 7 metres – throughout the weekend.
That water is moving downstream, with major flooding expected at Murchison from Friday evening and at Shepparton from late Saturday morning.
The Bureau of Meteorology said flood levels in Shepparton could approach the record of 12.09 metres set in the 1974 flood.
Major flood warning for the Ovens and King rivers in Victoria
Wangaratta, in north-east Victoria, has been on flood watch for two days – but miraculously appears to have escaped the worst of it.
The town, which is at the junction of the Ovens and King rivers, floods fairly regularly. As a former resident, I have been anxious to know the status of Wangaratta’s unofficial flood gauge: the Humphrey B Bear in Apex Park.
Thank you to this local for the update. You are forgiven for incorrectly thinking he is a Yogi Bear.
This is how it looks when the floods are bad.
There is still a major flood warning out for the Ovens and King rivers. Major flooding is occurring Docker Road Bridge, where the King river may reach 4.2 metres.
Moderate flooding is likely along the Ovens river, including at Wangaratta, today and into tonight, the Bureau of Meteorology has said.
The Yarra river in Melbourne has also risen significantly, cutting off bike paths.
Reports of young horses being washed away in Victorian flood waters
Very upsetting news from a thoroughbred stud north of Seymour, where foals are reportedly being washed away in the flood waters.
🚨🚨 🚨YULONG STUD EMERGENCY:
Urgent need for boats to 115 Grenada Rd, Mangalore at the Yulong Stud.
Horses are stranded in flood water that is still rising.
Please share to all.@m_felgate
— RSN Breakfast Club (@RSNBreakfast) October 13, 2022
We spoke to a stud manager at Kilmore yesterday about the difficulties of managing foals in this weather. It is breeding season, and the area worst affected by flooding is the heart of Victoria’s horse country – the Strathbogie Shire’s tagline is the “horse capital of Victoria”. Newborn foals are not the most coordinated animals, they are not able to withstand rising waters.
Residents in Seymour were trying to coordinate the rescue of horses in low-lying river flats yesterday.
Eden Gillespie
Queensland to introduce new family violence laws
The Queensland government will today introduce a bill to strengthen the state’s response to non-physical forms of domestic violence as they lay the groundwork for coercive control to be criminalised.
The bill proposes amending legislation to include a “pattern of behaviour”, and that the definition of stalking be updated to reflect modern technology.
Other proposed changes include strengthening the court’s response to cross-application for protection orders and the court’s consideration of previous domestic violence history.
Attorney general, Shannon Fentiman, said the “important reforms lay the foundation for the passage of a standalone offence of coercive control next year”.
This bill makes a number of amendments to further shift our approach to domestic and family violence to focus on the dangerous patterns of abusive behaviour.
The bill will also amend the criminal code to replace the term “carnal knowledge” with “penile intercourse” and change the offence of “maintaining a sexual relationship with a child” to “repeated sexual conduct with a child”.
The bill will be referred to the Legal Affairs and Safety Committee for review.
For those not familiar with the Anglers’ Tavern in Maribyrnong, this is a handy before and after to show the flood levels.
Hey Mum.. A before and after for you..@AnglersTavern Maribyrnong River. The photo of flood was taken around 7:30am.. I think it was still rising at that stage given high tide out in Port Phillip bay was around 7:00am. pic.twitter.com/21tyaIu25Y
— Bevo (@bevan_braddon) October 13, 2022
Mickleham quarantine facility may be used as flood evacuation centre, Andrews says
Benita Kolovos
Andrews says the state’s purpose-built Mickleham quarantine facility, which closed just last week, could be reopened to house those impacted by the floods.
He told ABC radio Melbourne:
Last night I instructed my officials to speak with officials from the commonwealth, we think we may need to stand up the Mickleham quarantine centre and we need a federal government partnership to do that. That work is happening right now because back to that point about a flood event that won’t necessarily be over in just a few days, some people may need to be accommodated for a longer period. So that work is happening right now and we’ll provide further updates.
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