flood impact on yarra ranges

As of last Monday (7th Feb) the Shire had received 599 requests relating to the flooding and flood damage. Requests are still coming in thick and fast. The requests to date relate to 426 different roads throughout the municipality, covering 52 suburbs/townships.

Roads throughout the shire were impacted, this one in Belgrave was one of many that suffered extensive erosion.

~ 41 suburbs have reported 10 or less roads with issues.
~ 9 suburbs have reported 10-20 roads with issues including Launching Place, Wandin Nth, Chirnside Park, Montrose, Selby, Yarra Junction, Belgrave, Healesville and Mt Evelyn.
~ 3 suburbs have reported 20-40 roads with issues, being Mooroolbark, Upwey & Lilydale.

The volume of rain caused much erosion to private property and public infrastructure.

The focus of council’s works is on making everything safe and accessible followed by permanent rehabilitation works. We commenced rehabilitation works last Sunday the 6 Feb and I’m thankful to Boral who opened their quarry on Sunday morning to allow us to collect supplies to start immediately on repairing the roads.

The shire had reports of around 50 houses suffering inundation, this house in Belgrave one of them.

Ten contractors along with shire staff are working on tree removal, road and car park repair, unblocking and clearing drainage as well as repairs to buildings and bridges. However given the volume of requests and level of specialist works required it is estimated that it will take approximately 6 months to complete all the restoration works.

The sMy thanks to our emergency services who energy and efforts are untiring on behalf of our community, also thanks to the community for maintaining their good spirits, and lastly thanks to the Shire staff who are busily working on repair and restoration works around the clock.

If you need to report any flood damage please call the Shire’s 24 hour number on 1300 368 333.

yarra ranges contributes to flood relief efforts

Recently councillors discussed the flood disasters in both Queensland and Victoria. With the memory of the generous assistance the Shire received in the recent Black Saturday bushfire disaster we wanted to make sure we gave back on behalf of our community.

Councillors decided to donate $50,000 towards the Premier’s Flood Appeal in Queensland.

We were also prepared to send staff to Queensland to assist with the recovery effort, however in the interim the flood disaster of Northern Victoria was unfolding. In response to the Victorian floods the Shire sent some 20 staff to Stawell to help the Northern Grampians Shire in their Municipal Emergency Coordination Centre.

Our staff have been involved by helping out with health and road inspections as well as emergency management and administrative support. Our staff generously volunteered to help our northern neighbours for several days at a time.

Post Black Saturday council has put much resourcing in to the Shire’s Emergency Management Team, we now have the largest emergency management team of any council in the country. It was time for us to share that resource and capacity with a smaller rural council that doesn’t have the same capacity to deal with the scale of this flood disaster.

Yarra Ranges received an enormous amount of assistance when we were facing the aftermath of the Black Saturday bushfires, it is certainly time to return the favour.

storms across yarra ranges

In the last 24 hours the Shire of Yarra Ranges has received over 400 calls about flood/storm damage. This afternoon the Shire's MECC (Municipal Emergency Coordination Centre) was activated.

The spillway at Belgrave Lake Park was flowing at an enormous pace, Monbulk Creek has suffered significant flooding.

















Roads across the shire are closed (click here for Vic Roads information) due to trees down, flooding and landslip. This is the Belgrave Gembrook Road, unpassable this morning due to trees down. I urge people to take it easy on the roads if you're out and about today.

Some roads are still flood affected, this intersection at McNicol Rd and Station St, Belgrave is not traversible

Although unconfirmed there have been reports of approximately 50 houses being impacted by flash flooding or flooding.










































This pothole is over one metre deep and around ten metres long, I urge people to take great care when driving on unsealed roads in the region.

A number of landslips have been reported as well and are currently being inspected to determine the size and scale of the slips.

Areas most impacted in the Shire include Belgrave, Upwey, Lilydale, Mooroolbark, Kilsyth, Healesville and Badgers Creek.

Clematis Creek, like all of our waterways, has burst its banks and is flowing across the road. Puffing Billy volunteers assisted the clean up. Happy to have something to do as Puffing Billy isn't running today due to fallen trees and landslips on the line.

Reports of damage to council infrastructure and roads are being prioritised for a response.

CFA and SES Volunteers are being kept busy with traffic management and storm damage clearance, I'm thankful for their tireless contribution to our community.

If you need to contact council please call our 24 hour call centre number on 1300 368 333.

it doesn't rain - it pours

I had every intention of heading down to Birdsland today to help out with the community planting organised by the Birdsland Environment Collective, however when I got there the gates were shut, Birdsland closed due to flooding.

This is Monbulk Creek near Birdsland, it's banks well and truly broken, water lapping the bridge on McNicol Road.

Local waterways were gushing, swollen with water, many banks broken.

The other side of Monbulk Creek near Birdsland.

In Healesville many roads were closed, Yarra Ranges MECC (Municipal Emergency Communications Centre) was activated as shire staff set about dealing with flooding in Healesville and the Upper Yarra.

The Weir at Belgrave Lake Park was overflowing, spilling along the length of the wall, quite an amazing sight.

With heavy rains comes trees down, this one blocking a road in Belgrave.

This is Monbulk Creek at Belgrave Lake Park, the arrows indicate the stakes from some revegetation works undertaken on the existing creek bank. Lets hope the plants are well established and survive this inundation.