Flood fears

By Monique Ebrington
UPPER Yarra residents faced wild weather over the weekend with flood warnings and a Warburton man going missing.
The wild weather put a Warburton resident in danger when he went missing for over 12 hours in bushland and was forced to cower under his umbrella overnight in the snow.
The 60-year-old set out for Cumberland Junction, near the Yarra Ranges National Park, around 2.30pm on Sunday 27 September.
He was reported missing by relatives around 9pm when he didn’t return home from his trek.
Lilydale Police Sergeant Bruce Delmenico said the man had set out to take photos when he came into trouble.
“He walked out, apparently to take some photos, and somehow became a bit disorientated with his directions and then became stranded over night,” Sgt Delmenico said.
“He took refuge under an umbrella he had and he moved down below the slow line,”
“He just had trousers and a jumper and he did have gloves but they probably weren’t suited for the conditions that developed.”
The man was found around 8.30am on Monday 28 September by his wife, who had joined emergency services and volunteers in the search.
Yarra Junction and Millgrove residents were also stuck by weather dangers when the Bureau of Meteorology issued a minor flood warning for the Yarra River at 12.41pm last Monday 28 September.
Following a weekend of heavy rain, the Bureau also reported that the water level in the Millgrove section of the Yarra River had exceeded the minor flood level of 2 metres and was still rising.
According to the Bureau the Upper Yarra River catchment received 100mm of rainfall from 9am Thursday 24 September to Monday midday.
Lilydale Senior Sergeant Shaun Young said by Monday morning sections of Doon, Corduroy and Settlement Roads, in Yarra Junction, were under water.
“People should just be careful while driving on roads with water on them,” Sen Sgt Young said.
“When there’s water on the road drivers should slow down and if they’re not sure, don’t cross.”
Residents were advised not to walk, ride or drive through floodwater, to stay away from waterways and stormwater drains and not to let children play in floodwater when flooding occurred.