EMERGENCY service personnel in Swan Hill are bracing for a record level in the Murray River, expected to reach here about October 18.
The predicted peak is 4.8 metres – 2cm above what is generally regarded as the previous highest river of 4.78m (15ft 8½ in) measured in November.
However, the Rural Water Corporation says a recording equal to 4.89m was made in the 1870 flood.
The approaching peak will be created by floodwaters coming out of north-east Victorian streams that are now in the Murray.
Only hope of relief seems to be that some of the water will bypass Swan Hill through the Edward and Wakool Rivers and other NSW streams.
The Weather Bureau has based its prediction for the Swan Hill peak on a travel time of nine days from Echuca, which is expected to be hit this weekend.
The Murray at Swan Hill yesterday morning was running at 4.71m.
This level had been steady for three days after reaching 4.72m on Monday morning.
Acting Regional Officer James Gustus, of the SES in Swan Hill, said yesterday the local unit was taking the unprecedented step of presenting a demonstration of sandbag laying in Campbell Street, in front of the Westpac Bank, at 11am tomorrow.
Swan Hill unit controller Ian Vernon said as well as showing people how to fill and lay sandbags in various configurations, the public would be informed about what has happened along the river, what is expected could happen and there will be a register for volunteers to help fight the flood should this eventuate.
Three flood boats will also be on display.
Mr Gustus was full of praise for the people of Tyntynder Flats area for “the commonsense way they have attacked a potentially serious situation this week”.
He said this kind of community co-operation could be needed again in the near future to contain the flood in the river – where it belongs.
A meeting to discuss the situation in the Tyntynder area, to be held on Tuesday, is expected to be attended by about 100 local farmers.
On Wednesday 10,000 sandbags arrived in Swan Hill from Wodonga.
This number is expected to meet the needs from the Swan Hill area to Boundary Bend.
But on the other side of Swan Hill a small community also facing peril was without telephone services for 2½ days early this week.
Fish Point phones went out during Sunday night’s deluge and Telecom did not restore service until around midday Wednesday.
Residents are incensed at the length of time taken.
“We were in a situation where we had to arrange for pumps and other equipment to try to combat the flooding and none of us had a telephone service,” a woman who did not want to be identified said.
Graham Tripcony, who runs a Shorthorn stud at Fish Point, said the flooding from the deluge was more widespread than the record floods of 1956.
“I have lived here all my 53 years and I have never seen conditions so bad,” he said.
He said 5½ inches of rain fell on Friday and Sunday night into Monday, swamping paddocks.
“We had about four inches over three days a few years back, but that was in the summer when the ground was much drier,” Mr Tripcony added.
In some parts the problem was worsened because the floodgate of a drainage channel into the swollen Little Murray River had not been fully closed, allowing water from the river to flow out instead of in.
The Little Murray level at Fish Point was said to be about 10cm below the levee top yesterday “but there is still a lot of pressure”.
“We have taken every possible precaution, but more rain will create a really serious situation,” Mr Tripcony added.
