Is there such a thing as a 100 year flood?

Rowing along Wyndham Street in the 1916 floods.

Throughout its recorded history and beyond, the region around Shepparton, along the Goulburn and Broken rivers has been subject to occasional flooding. While the current drought and pessimistic projections for low rainfall in the state do not indicate a flood is imminent, it is worth looking back on some history of floods and always be prepared in case it should happen again.

Flood records show inundations since 1870 and more notably in 1916, 1917, 1939, 1956, 1958, 1974, 1993, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The more settled the region becomes, the greater the need that residents be vigilant in case of possible future flooding.

In comparing past floods with current settlement, if a flood of the magnitude of May 1974 occured, an estimated 830 houses could be flooded and affect about 4000 residential and commercial properties with loss of access or service and a damage bill around $23M

Greater Shepparton City Council maintain a flood plan on their website that offers valuable information to residents who live in flood prone areas as does the Victorian state government.

With the current political climate an

d the possibility the Federal Government may look to withdraw an additional 450GL from irrigation entitlements, concern arises if the system can cope.

No two floods are the same, with the level of new property development in the region taking place and should any number of other factors that influence floods all come into play it creates a lot more need for residents to plan for an emergency should a flood happen.

Two websites with flood preparation advice are : http://greatershepparton.com.au/community/emergencies/flood/flood-plan

https://www.floodvictoria.vic.gov.au/