Colossal community effort helping protect Echuca Village

Sandbagging has been taking place outside the Echuca Village CFA station, with thousands of bags being made before getting whisked away to help build barriers against the floodwaters.

On Saturday afternoon, more than 50 people were at the site, working hard in the sunny and humid conditions to do what they can to help protect people’s homes.

Two cement trucks were at the scene pouring sand into awaiting bags, while people were shovelling away nearby.

Jarrad James is a volunteer with the Echuca Village CFA, and he has spent days helping with the sandbagging and flood protection efforts across the area.

He said it was fantastic to see so many people coming out to help each other.

“We have seen just about every member of the community out here,” Mr James said.

“Those who have come here and taken sandbags to sandbag their own places have come back here to help make sandbags too. What a community spirit.

“They have literally left their house and come and said now we are going to save other people’s houses.

“That is what the community is about.

“They have been in it together, not just from Echuca and Echuca Village, but Tongala, Koyuga, Echuca West, Kyabram — they are coming in from everywhere and you just can’t thank them enough.

“We had around 10,000 sandbags packed and ready to go earlier, that’s over 220 pallets full sitting here, what an effort from everyone.”

Sandbags have been used to help build walls along Bangerang Rd, River Ave, Goulburn Rd and right across the area.

Officials from the Australian Defence Force have been assisting with the sandbagging and levee building too.

And while the bags will help protect dozens of properties, unfortunately, some houses have already been inundated by floodwaters.

Homes along River Ave and Goulburn Rd have already been left surrounded by the torrent, while the Yarraby Caravan & Holiday Park has been submerged in areas too.

Mr James said he had already sandbagged his home, which is at risk of getting flooded.

“We’re not going to be affected so much by the river flood, more so the rain and the water from the Deakin main drain and the Bay of Biscay, it’s all flooding out towards my place,” he said.

“My fingers are absolutely crossed that the rain holds off or is a lot less than what they have predicted, otherwise it is going to be nail-biting for us for sure.”

With the peak of the floodwaters on the way and the potential rain coming down in the area, Mr James said the key for people in the community has been to be as prepared as possible.

“I think the preparations have been great. Everyone got an early indication of what to expect, but whether that happens, or if it is going to be more or less, we don’t know.

“Now we are just hoping, who knows what will happen. We have been expecting the worst but hoping for the best.

“People are sandbagging higher than what they think the water level is going to go to, and hoping it comes in lower. And that’s the best thing we can do.”

With so many people having helped, Mr James extended a tonne of gratitude to everyone who has been involved.

“We have all worked together well as a well-oiled machine, that’s all we can do,” Mr James said.

“A massive thank you to our captain Darrell Phillips, his management and forward thinking have been great.”