By Parker McKenzie
Water rising to over a metre deep in some parts of Yarra Junction has flooded buildings, lifted cars and caused widespread damage late into the evening on Thursday October 28 after heavy rain.
On the morning of Friday 28 October, residents and business owners were busy cleaning up the aftermath and surveying the damage caused by the flooding.
Local business owner Ash said when he arrived at his real estate agency, water poured out of the front door when it was opened despite sandbags placed at the entrance.
“It’s a mess, the whole place was full of water,” he said.
“It was pouring out of the power points, the carpet was knee-high with water.”
He pointed out a nearby creek runoff drain that was blocked with debris as a contributing factor in nearby businesses being flooded.
Local resident Glen said he spent an hour clearing the blocked drain and believes it should have been cleared after heavy rains on Tuesday 25 October.
“It wasn’t cleaned for six to 12 months and it wasn’t cleaned after the rain on Tuesday,” he said.
“We shop here and we live here. That’s why it’s so devastating.”
He said he had seen SES and CFA volunteers in the morning assisting locals with the cleanup.
Another local business owner Weizhou said he was fortunate his grocery store wasn’t damaged beyond low-level flooding.
“We need to clear the water otherwise it will go mouldy,” he said.
“The boxes are wet and damaged but because they are packaged what was in them is okay.”
In an online statement, Upper Yarra SES said heavy rains saw portions of Warburton Highway flooded “which unfortunately impacted multiple local traders.”
“They’ve described the water at the rear carpark as being well over a meter deep in sections. This water then flowed from the rear of the buildings, through the shops and out onto the highway,” Upper Yarra SES said.
“They rushed into stores they could access to help move possessions to higher ground as the water poured out windows and doors. Despite so much water, they still had to stop helping local traders to instead tend to someone who drove through the flood water and had resulting engine troubles.”
One vehicle was lifted off the ground by the water, resulting in it having one set of its wheels on an embankment.
The water cut power to some local businesses, with the Medical Centre being one business closed.
Yarra Ranges Council Director of Environment and Infrastructure Bill Millard said the drain “is owned by Mebourne Water and Council is liaising with them in relation to any support we can offer.”
“Due to the high demand on Council services with homes and businesses inundated, we are working with our contractors and outdoor staff to prioritise work as quickly as we can,” he said.
