Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Clean-up at Baringhup after the floods

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Loddon House Caravan Park proprietor Robert Wilson took the Times on a tour last week to see the aftermath of the damage caused during last month’s floods. The caravan park sits on the banks of the Loddon River in an idyllic location with large red gums and grassy banks.

When the river rose, it swept through the park with incredible force, taking cabins and caravans with it. Electricity and water supply was cut off to the park and to the shop. 

“The water receded after about three hours, and the cleanup began,” Robert said. The cleanup is almost complete now, with large skip bins donated by Mt Alexander Shire Council being filled with damaged furniture and debris. A large collection of white goods and metals is waiting to be picked up for scrap. Cabins bear the scars of the damage caused by the flood waters, with sides ripped away. 

A children’s slide lies on the ground, metres away from the playground. 

Onwards and upwards is Robert’s attitude. “We have had two working bees to clean up,” Robert said. The first working bee was to fill the skip bins with all the damaged mattresses and other furniture that was unsalvageable. The second working bee was to clear up all the trees and shrubs that were spread over the park.

“This is the worst flood I have encountered in the 10 years since I have been here,” said Robert. “We experienced flooding in 2010, 2011 and this one which came into the house, the shop and other buildings for the first time. These buildings had remained flood-free for the past 100 years. The west end of the park, the workshop, toilets and laundry were all affected.”

Robert said that some owners have taken the insurance payout and moved on or sold up, while others have rebuilt. He said that he had lost a few annual tenants thanks to the flood. 

Some of the vans and cabins were swept across the road and ended up in the paddock, and they then had to be towed back into the park. This time Robert is securing his cabins with concrete bases, which will hold them down and prevent them from sailing away again. 

“It has happened before, and it may well happen again,” said Robert, who remains positive and has been getting on with the job without complaint. 

Tarrangower Times 25 November 2022

This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 25 November 2022.

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