19 Jan 2011

Australian PM promises aid for Victoria

9:40 pm on 19 January 2011

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the federal government will offer flood assistance payments to people in Victoria.

Flooding has now affected 62 towns since heavy rain fell over one quarter of the state last week.

Ms Gillard says rising floodwaters have also caused substantial damage in the state and affected communities deserve support.

The federal government has already paid more than $A150 million to people affected by floods in Queensland and Ms Gillard says it is determined to help Victoria recover also.

Walls of water kilometres wide are flowing across the north and west in the wake of record rainfall last week, prompting State Premier Ted Baillieu to warn that the recovery costs will be enormous.

The Municipal Association of Victoria says councils will need significant funding from the state and federal governments to rebuild.

Councils hit hardest by the disaster, including the shires of Horsham, Campaspe and Hepburn, are already some of the poorest in the state.

Hopes for Kerang

Emergency services are optimistic Kerang in northern Victoria will not be flooded, but warns the town could be isolated for days.

The Loddon River seeped through the dirt levee on Wednesday morning, sparking mass evacuations and fears the entire town could be inundated.

But the river has stopped rising near the town, and no significant rise is expected over the coming days, the ABC reports.

The town's levee is also holding, though engineers continue to monitor some parts of the barrier.

More than 1,000 Kerang residents have registered at an evacuation centre at Barham, over the New South Wales border.

Meanwhile, authorities are urging residents of Dimboola, near Horsham in western Victoria, to evacuate their homes. Several houses have already flooded, and up to 18 could be swamped.

The State Emergency Service has warned the Dimboola weir may fail, and water could flood into unexpected areas.

Health precautions urged

Many towns have been without power for several days and residents are being urged to take precautions if they come into contact with floodwaters.

The ABC reports this can lead to cuts and injuries that can become infected.

There have also been reports of snakes in the water in some flooded towns.

Victoria's chief health officer says there is a high risk of gastrointestinal diseases.

"The floodwaters can be contaminated with sewage when there are, for example, overflowing septic tanks," Dr John Carnie.

Mosquitos and other insects will also pose a risk, he warns.