THE Murray River downstream of Barham was set to flood on Wednesday.
The VicEmergency website warned that the river at Barham was set to reach the minor flood level of 5.50 metres.
Barham resident Lloyd Polkinghorne told The Guardian on Monday the township was safe from flooding.
“The flows we’ve got at the moment is 65 per cent of our historical capacity, so it’s way off,” he said.
“The forests (at Gunbower and Guttrum) are starting to see flooding.
“Some low-lying areas are starting to experience some flooding, which is a great natural event caused by rain in the catchments and dam releases – it’s the right time to have a natural event.”
Mr Polkinghorne said the pontoon at Barham, installed at the end of 2019 and opened early last year, was safe from going underwater.
“It’s starting to go inverted so you now need to walk up to the ramp,” he said.
“The risk with it will be if there’s enough clearance between the gangway and the pontoon.
“The highest river height at Barham recorded by WaterNSW was 6.2m, so the pontoon has another 900mm clearance for the water to rise.”
Mr Polkinghorne said the rate of erosion of the river banks was a concern.
“Our banks are being compromised and it’s having some real impacts,” he said.
According to the State Emergency Service, in a VicEmergency update, a minor flood peak passed through Corowa on October 7 and river levels peaked below minor at Tocumwal on October 10.
To keep informed, use the VicEmergency app or visit emergency.vic.gov.au/respond.
To monitor weather forecasts and river levels, visit http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/warnings/
