AS CLEAN-UP efforts continue in Charlton, relieved residents say they’ve learnt a lot from the 2011 floods that inundated their town.
“We’re getting back to some sort of normality,” business owner Janine Oldfield told The Guardian on Wednesday morning as floodwaters dramatically receded.
“It’s as if someone has a pulled a plug, it’s unbelievable.”
Only hours earlier, residents were on “tenterhooks”, hoping they wouldn’t have to repeat the widespread devastation of 2011.
An evacuation emergency warning was in place, with floodwaters rapidly rising.
“The river was raging on Tuesday night,” Ms Oldfield said.
“It was three times its usual width and was like a freight train to watch, the noise and the smell … our nerves were very raw. It was very scary.”
The North Central Catchment Management Authority anticipated the Avoca River level at the James Patterson Bridge to reach between 7.9 metres and 8m.
At this projected level, 70 per cent of the town, encompassing about 50 properties, was likely to be impacted by flooding.
However, Ms Oldfield said the river peaked at 7.91m.
“If we got to 8m or above, we were gone,” she said.
Despite this, a relieved community awoke on Wednesday to find damage was minimal compared to 2011.
“The heavens were on our side,” Ms Oldfield said.
While much of the town escaped relatively unscathed, several homes and business were impacted, including the pharmacy, Broadbill Cafe and the House to Home store.
Residents and business owners believe the 2011 flood left them better equipped to deal with rising waters.
Gill Gretgrix and her husband have lived in the Charlton township since 1988, after retiring from their farm.
They live within close proximity to the river, and were hit hard in 2011, describing the situation as “horrendous”.
“This time we had learnt from the 2010 and 2011 floods of what we had to do and that made a big difference,” Ms Gretgrix said.
They lifted possessions and vehicles to higher ground, before evacuating their home.
Ms Oldfield and Ms Gretgrix praised the efforts of Buloke Shire and emergency services personnel who worked around the clock to help protect the town.
“As bad as floods are, it does bring the community closer,” Ms Oldfield said.
“We are very grateful and our hearts are breaking for Rochester and Shepparton because we’ve been there.”
These sentiments were echoed by Ms Gretgrix.
“A big thanks to our residents who live up on the hill area, they opened their homes to everyone who had to evacuate.
“Also to Donald and Wycheproof, who also took in some of our residents. This is country living at its best and looking after one another is what we do.”
