Narrandera still on flood alert as the Murrumbidgee remains unpredictable

Narrandera residents remain in limbo as the Murrumbidgee’s unpredictable flow continues to hover around the moderate flood level of eight metres.

After clear peaks upstream at Gundagai and Wagga Wagga last week, authorities had expected the river to rise quickly towards a major flood level of 8.20 metres on Tuesday before falling away.

“Yesterday it took 12 hours to go up four centimetres and we just don’t know why it’s going so slow,” said NSW SES public information officer Scott McLennan.

“After speeding through Wagga, the water’s got to Narrandera and decided to hang around for a bit, which means it’ll also delay what’s happening downstream as well.”

The SES door-knocked dozens of homes on Saturday and residents remain in alternative accommodation or isolated by floodwaters.

“Of the 60 homes we door-knocked, about 17 people did make the choice to leave; the others that remained have been isolated,” said Mr McLennan.

“We are providing resupply for those properties by boat, in fact we are doing resupplies along the Lachlan, the Murray and the Murrumbidgee.

“We are doing some locations by helicopter and we are servicing all of the western zone by helicopter.”

He said they had reiterated the orders to evacuate and shelter in place to remind the community that the situation remained unsafe.

“The river looks like it is plateauing today and hopefully it just starts falling away again soon, but unfortunately with more rain coming this week, the rivers will rise again.”

Early this afternoon Bureau of Meteorology stopped short of announcing a peak saying, “The Murrumbidgee River at Narrandera is currently at 8.00 metres and near its peak, with moderate flooding.”

They remain hopeful that it will remain within the moderate flood level range.

Resident Sharon Bailey captured a string of photos as the water rose, including one of a local koala doing its best to stay high and dry on the Bundidgerry track next to Lake Talbot.

Major roads in and out of Narrandera remain closed with the Sturt Highway closed from Collingullie to Darlington Point and the Newell Highway closed south to Jerilderie.

Minor flooding is expected to continue downstream at Carrathool and Darlington Point, however Hay is bracing for a major flood as waters from both the Murrumbidgee and Lachlan Rivers converge.

You can stay up to date with the latest through the Narrandera SES Facebook page here and you can keep an eye on the river heights here.

For emergency help in floods and storms, call the NSW SES on 132 500.

In life-threatening situations, call triple zero (000) immediately.