The horrific weather that has absolutely battered much of the east coast is continuing to wreak havoc on grey nomad travel plans … and on the tourism industry in general.
Multiple caravan parks have had to evacuate guests and close their doors as river levels rise and serious flooding is occurring in some places, and threatening to occur in others.
And beyond the immediate problems the deluge is presenting, there are long-term implications for business viability.
The ABC reports that the outlook for many tourism-related business like caravan parks, houseboat and water sports businesses in towns like Moama, on the New South Wales-Victorian border, is uncertain with the Murray River floodwaters expected to soon reach above 1993 levels.
The outlook as shown by BOM's National Radar Loop image late yesterday afternoon. PIC: BOM
The Mayor of Murray River Council, Chris Bilkey, told the ABC that having another setback when the town was still recovering from Covid was ‘devastating’.
“Tourism is a huge part of our economy … it seems to be one hit after another, and we’ll take a breath after this one and just go on,” Cr Bilkey said. “Floods and droughts, they’re all part of the Australian way of life and being built on such a flat part of the country with a big river running through it, we’re prone to these events from time to time.”
In Victoria’s north, the Loddon River is expected to remain at major levels for days, while the Murray River as continued its rise at communities around Echuca.
SES Chief Operations Officer Tim Wiebusch said that, in the small town of Kerang, some 20 homes as well as a caravan park and industrial area had been impacted by floodwater following a levee breach.
Residents of the town have been desperately sandbagging in an effort to prevent flood damage.
Mr Wiebusch told the ABC that Swan Hill further north-west along the Murray was expecting to see major flooding around the first week of November, potentially above the levels reached in the 1993 flood.
Plenty of communities have been frantically sandbagging in recent days. PIC: Pixabay
He said there could be a return to major flooding in Shepparton and Mooroopna, but only if the upper end of the expected rain totals was reached.
In Rochester, Mr Wiebusch said the Campaspe River had returned to minor flood levels, but there could be renewed rises due to rainfall.
And, in the Victorian town of Barmah, a caravan park on the Murray River, is also feeling the pain. Co-owner Jenny Panos, told the Guardian that 13 of 60 units there had already been inundated.
“We are feeling pretty tired right now, and still quite nervous as there are a lot of mixed messages about how high the peak will be and what day it will arrive,” Ms Panos said. “The waiting is frustrating, it is creating many sleepless nights and tiring days, the anxiety levels are running high … we are feeling very much over it and just want it to hurry up and come so that we can assess the damages and start the clean-up.”
It’s a sentiment shared by many people across the country … but the forecast suggests it may be a bit of a wait yet.
Weatherzone.com.au reports that an intense low pressure system has developed off the Southeast Queensland coast and will traverse southwards over the coming days.
“As the system moves along the coast of New South Wales it will continue to bring widespread rainfall and thunderstorms to much of eastern Australia, before finally reaching the southern reaches of Tasmania on Friday,” it said. “Rainfall totals around the northern parts of New South Wales over the next few days could reach between 140-200mm.”
Weatherzone warns Victoria will not escape the heavy falls with potential rainfall totals between 50mm and 150 mm later in the week.
“Continuing down to Tasmania we will also see some significant rain where totals may reach between 40mm and 150mm,” it says. “Rainfall is expected to exacerbate currently flooded areas.”
A high-pressure system is expected to arrive late Friday and early Saturday over New South Wales, bringing some respite before another low-pressure system moves across southeast Australia early next week.
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We are grey nomads 5 3/4 years ,currently on the east coast of Victoria. March 2021 we were in Iluka when we were flooded in. I torn ankle ligaments bone fractures avulsion fractures. February 2022 we were at riverside caravan park Brunswick heads watching the river rise as we packed to evacuate we had water running in vents accross kitchen bench. Caravan inside door saturated when door open we spent that night high on the M1. We’re from Ingham flood capital of Queensland so used to heavy wet season rain and flooding . We are used to it so take it as it comes watch tv read I do patchwork and embroidery and crochet