Residents have been noticing elevated river levels of both the Campaspe and Murray rivers at Echuca following persistent rain this week, but the NCCMA has said that the level is still well below minor flooding levels.
“We’re certainly not worried about Echuca at the moment,” the spokesperson said.
“There’s still a good three and a half metres for the river level to rise for it to reach minor (flooding levels), and it’s certainly not expected to rise much more than what’s there now.
“Even if it was to rise a little bit more, it’s still going to be well below minor level at Echuca.”
The Murray river level at Echuca is currently the highest it has been since November 2016.
NSWSES predicted moderate flooding was possible at Barham from Monday night, and minor flooding at Torrumbarry Weir from Friday.
Spills from the Hume Dam combined with flood waters from the Kiewa River have caused minor flooding along the Murray River at Corowa where river levels are expected to remain steady above the minor flood level (4.6 metres) through to the end of the week.
Moderate flooding is possible at Barham, and minor flooding is possible at Torrumbarry.
The Murray River at Torrumbarry Weir may reach the minor flood level (7.3m) around Friday.
The Murray River at Barham was expected to exceed the minor flood level (5.8m) on Monday night.
The river level may reach the moderate flood level (5.8m) around Friday.
The NCCMA spokesperson said Echuca had a “confined” river system, and that the warning issued at Torrumbarry in particular was due to the likelihood of water spilling into the floodplains in the forest.
“We’re not expecting it to effect any private properties along the Murray,” they said.
“There will certainly be an elevated river — which is a good thing — but we’re not expecting any impacts to private property in the Echuca area.
“On the Campaspe itself, Eppalock is still only just under 60 per cent full so it’s still got a long way to go on the Campaspe.”
The spokesperson reiterated that they were not worried about any flooding at Echuca from the Murray or Campaspe rivers at the moment; however, they were getting prepared.
“There’s a lot of preparedness happening but we’re certainly not expecting anything to happen on the Murray in our area,” the spokesperson said.
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