A family and dog were evacuated from their home by jetski as the Avon River filled with water on Friday, February 10.
It was one of the rescues performed by the State Emergency Services (SES) during the flood crisis earlier this week. The Bureau of Meteorology weather station at Muresk recorded 94mm of rain for the past week.
Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) district officer Avon Torbin Bendtsen said the last time this happened, was 17 years ago.
“The figures that were coming out showed that this was the same as in year 2000,” said Mr Bendtsen.
The Council activated its incident support group on Thursday, which involved the Shire of Northam, WA Police, Water Corporation, Dept of Education and Department of Child Protection.
This group was in place to provide support and information to DFES, who were the controlling agency.
The region saw water rising considerably from Thursday in parts of the Avon River, Mortlock River and smaller feeder rivers.
DFES area officer upper wheatbelt Justin Corrigan said they were worried about inundation to properties near Muluckine and Seabrook due to the Mortlock river filling fast and were supplied with a rescue boat from Belmont.
District officer natural hazards Colin Brown said four properties surrounded by water requested assistance and only two elected to evacuate their homes.
“Some people decide they would rather stay then be evacuated by boat – that is a call that they have to make,” said Mr Brown. “We used a jet ski to evacuate a family on Spencers Brook Road,” he said.
The other house was on Northam-York Road, that included three adults, two cats and one dog.
Mr Brown said one family adopted not to leave their home, because of their pet snakes. “We make other arrangements and contact vets or arrange a shelter, but some people say they will not be separated from their animals and look for friends and relatives to stay with – even if they have to travel a bit further.”
Volunteer Fire and Rescue groups from Toodyay, Northam and York assisted the community with over 35 requests for assistance from Thursday to Sunday
“The volunteers did a great job, working long hours to ensure the community was safe,” said Mr Brown.
Northam Shire chief executive officer Jason Whiteaker said staff are in the process of assessing damage which will continue once water levels have dropped. He estimates the cost for the Shire of Northam will be in excess of $500,000.
Main Roads spokesman Dean Roberts said workers are moving as quickly as possible to repair damaged road connections and it is too early to determine the cost of repairs.
THE State’s freight rail network also suffered significant flood damage with some lines, including the main interstate line, still closed this week.
Brookfield Rail declined to nominate when the standard gauge line might reopen.
The heavy rainfall in Northam in the early hours of Friday morning caused stormwater to infiltrate the wastewater system, resulting in some minor wastewater overflows from access chambers in town over the weekend.
Water Corporation tankers were brought in to remove wastewater to minimise overflows in these areas.
On Sunday, stormwater inundated the Northam Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Water Corporation Goldfields and Agricultural region manager Sharon Broad said on Monday: “Water Corporation crews have reduced the levels of storage ponds at the Northam Wastewater Treatment Plant overnight, which received a large inflow of stormwater after the recent bad weather.
“The treatment plant is now discharging only treated wastewater into the Avon River.
“Water Corporation will issue a media statement lifting its advisory when wastewater operations return to normal operations.
“Water Corporation apologises for any inconvenience caused to Northam residents and thanks them for their patience while we work to return wastewater operations to normal.”
DFES will be holding a meeting this Thursday to discuss the issues concerning the Avon catchment being full with water at this time of the year and how this will impact the river this winter.