By Mikayla van Loon
The Yarra Ranges has once again seen flooding hit the region with roads closed and trees down across the shire.
Melba Highway between Coldstream and Yarra Glen has been closed due to flooding, with commuters asked to detour via Healesville and to follow the directions of emergency services.
Montrose and Mount Evelyn were also heavily hit by rainfall, seeing Swansea Road between Cambridge Road and Marne Road be closed on Tuesday 16 July because of flooding. The York Road roundabout was also impacted.
Mountain Highway, between Mount Dandenong Tourist Road in Sassafras and Forest Road in The Basin has also been closed because of multiple trees down blocking the road. Drivers are urged to seek an alternate route.
From late evening on Monday 15 July, notifications of floods across Montrose, Lilydale, Kalorama, Mount Dandenong, Kilsyth, Mount Evelyn, Gruyere and Ferny Creek were registered with VicEmergency.
Video posted to social media showed the burst banks of Olinda Creek which was impacting John Street in Lilydale near the Marketplace.
A photo also posted to social media captured the high flooding of Macclesfield Road heading towards Monbulk early on Tuesday morning.
Yarra Ranges Council posted to social media advising of further roads impacted, including:
– Baynes Park Road, Monbulk
– Fernshaw Road, Monbulk
– Kia Ora Road, Upwey
– Station Street, Belgrave near McNicol intersection
– Victoria Road, Wandin North at Stringybark Creek
– Tarrango Road, Yarra Junction near #60
– Coldstream West Road near #11
There is also considerable flooding on Clegg Road, Olinda-Monbulk Road and York Road as well as multiple small slips on the Tourist Road.
Lilydale SES had recorded 40mm of rain within 24 hours by about 2am on Tuesday.
Crews were busy responding overnight, with a rescue after a car was stuck in flood waters, reiterating the message “if its flooded – forget it!”
Water flow also caused debris and mud to create a slippery surface along Mt Dandenong Tourist Road in Kalorama.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s senior meteorologist Jonathan How said some of the heaviest rainfall was recorded in the eastern suburbs.
“The highest rainfall totals was more than 100 millimetres in Mount Baw Baw in Victoria. We also did see 86 millimetres at Mount Dandenong and many of those suburbs in eastern Melbourne as well,” he said.
Mr How said with more rainfall on the way, residents should be weary of the creeks and rivers around them, as well as run off which could cause more flooding.
“The Bureau has issued a number of flood warnings, they include for moderate flooding for parts of the Yarra River and also the Latrobe River in Gippsland and minor flood warnings for the Dandenong Creek and Bunyip catchment.
“But of course, with further rainfall to come, there is still a general flood watch current for large parts of southern and central Victoria. So reminding residents living in those areas to keep an eye on the latest forecasts and warnings, especially as some of that rain water does start to feed into the creeks and rivers as well.”
More to come.
