Coming down: An excavator and a truck work to remove sandbags from along Campaspe Esplanade near Lions Park in Echuca. Photo: Steve Huntley
Almost two months after they were first laid down to protect homes from floodwaters, the sandbags along Campaspe Esplanade in Echuca started to be removed on Tuesday.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The wall of sandbags was built to protect homes from the torrent of water that was spilling out from the Campaspe River in October.
But now, having done its job and with water levels significantly lower, the wall has at last started to come down.
Excavators were on site near Lions Park on Tuesday, loading the sandbags into the back of trucks to be taken away, with the road set to be fully open by the end of the week.
It follows works last week to remove sections of the temporary levee in Echuca’s east along Goulburn Rd, Bowen St, Moama St and Pakenham St, and is another sign of things returning to normal around town.
Campaspe Shire Council shared a message from the Bendigo Incident Control Centre on the situation.
“Currently, works are continuing in and around Echuca in order to improve access for residents and essential services and to provide increased traffic flow around temporary levees and other flood protection,” the message said.
“Works to remove the sandbag levee in Campaspe Esplanade and McKenzie St will start today and are anticipated to be completed by the end of the week.”
The areas along the Campaspe River in Echuca’s south were some of the first to be inundated back at the start of the weeks-long flood crisis.
About 100 properties were inundated when water streamed from the Campaspe late on Saturday, October 12, and the early hours of the following morning.
The wall was first built by local residents and reinforced by emergency services and played a crucial role in protecting homes.
Re-emergence: The car park at Lions Park along the Campaspe River was underwater for weeks, but it has become visible once again as floodwaters have receded. Photo: Steve Huntley
18°C