RIVERINA farmers are on flood watch again with a deluge of rain forecast to hit the region this week.
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An additional 80mm – following the wettest winter in 25 years and relentless rain in spring – is anticipated to fall this week.
Andrew Hamilton, of “Invermay”, at Borambola was hit by the deluge two weeks ago and a swollen Tarcutta Creek wiped out many of his fences. On Wednesday morning – before the rain arrived – he was busy moving cattle to higher ground and onto some cropping country. “Enough is enough … this is hurting a lot of people,” he said. “All of our fences have been taken out,” he said.
In addition to farming at Borambola Mr Hamilton, who is principal of Andrew Hamilton Tree Services had kept much of his equipment at “The Islands”, North Wagga.
Fortunately he got all of his equipment off that site before heavy rain and flooding hit earlier this month. The Island’s Road, North Wagga was blocked off by Wagga City Council a couple of weeks ago as a precaution.
Landholders are encouraged to report incidences of flooding or calls for assistance to the Local Land Services.
LLS incident controller, Eliz Braddon said a control centre in Wagga was actively working with landholders to assess flood impact and helping where needed.
“Staff will be coordinating aerial surveillance to find and inspect livestock at risk, with the potential to assist with fodder delivery or provision of on ground support where needed,” she said. “Fortunately many landholders have been able to rescue stock through their own capacity,” she said.
Ms Braddon said landholder reporting of incidents was also vital for coordination and allocation of resources in the coming days and weeks.
Meanwhile, a regional recovery coordinator will be appointed to oversee the clean-up and recovery effort from the foods which have hit western NSW.