After a tense Monday night, Rochester residents breathed a sigh of relief Tuesday as the Campaspe River peaked at 114.63m AHD, lower than expected.
The town faced clean-up challenges, with some homes and streets affected.
Australian Defence Force personnel and volunteers, who had filled sandbags at the football oval, swiftly moved to remove them from Rochester businesses, easing the town back to normalcy.
The anxiety peaked on January 7, following 180mm of rainfall near Lake Eppalock, causing the river to rise.
Rochester SES member Judith Gledhill noted the significant relief in the community, as initial fears of 60 homes being affected were downgraded to five, with floodwaters largely confined to streets, gutters and backyards.
Meanwhile, Victoria Police, led by Inspector Dave Bowler, increased patrols in the flood zone to ensure property protection and prevent looting.
Campaspe Shire’s Cr Paul Jarman and Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell expressed relief and gratitude that the flood was less severe than previous ones.
The event highlighted Rochester’s resilience and the importance of community support in times of crisis.
As Kyabram Free Press went to print on Tuesday, January 9, a moderate flood warning was in place for the Goulburn River between Murchison and Shepparton, and a major flood warning was in place for Seymour to Murchison.
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