By Paula Doran
The SES has issued a ‘prepare to evacuate’ warning to 30 homes in Menindee.
Spokesman for the SES, David Rankine, said volunteers door knocked in the town last Sunday to warn residents roads gaining access to their homes would be under water for some time in the current flood event.
“Once the Darling River gets to 9.4 metres in height, while there is no risk of overflow or inundation, the irrigation roads around the homes affected will be cut off.
“We wanted to give residents the heads up that the likelihood of their homes being isolated into the New Year, was likely, and now is the time to get out or prepare for isolation,” Mr Rankine said.
He said the update was met with positivity and the community continued to work with SES volunteers in place in the town. The SES has had a team of volunteers in
Menindee since Christmas and will continue to be in place until the end of the current event.
“We’ve had amazing support from teams across the state who have come to help out in the Far West. These people are flood rescue teams from the North Coast, Central
Coast and metropolitan areas. The people we bring in are highly experienced, this is not their first rodeo.”
Mr Rankine praised Menindee residents along the river for their sensible approach to the floodwaters, and urged continued awareness in those in and around the Darling.
He condemned news that a speedboat had been skylarking on the flooded river over the weekend.
“There is a four-knot limit on any boat using the river. Bow waves created by those boats can add 50-60cm of flood height on already elevated river levels, and that creates even more problems for those living behind the levy banks.
“Anyone creating unnecessary risk on the Darling River is a clown and needs their head read.”
Meanwhile rainfall records continue to be broken in the current La Nina weather event.
Broken Hill this week recorded its wettest October on record, with 144mm.
Wilcannia also topped its October record with 180 mm of rain, a marked increase on the 1894 top of 126.4mm.
Menindee residents have been invited to a drop-in session on Friday organised by the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC). The session will allow those potentially impacted by flood waters to get updates from WaterNSW, SES, Family and Community Services, police and Council. It will be held at the Menindee Community Hall from 1pm-3pm.
