By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Hallam businesses and several drivers have been again stranded by the latest floodwaters across Centre Road and Rimfire Drive.
The industrial estate on those two roads, as well as a section of Hallam South Road, were closed to traffic due to flooding from Hallam Valley flood plain on 16 July.
As of 10am the next day, Centre Road still resembled a lake – only traversed by trucks and other large vehicles.
Narre Warren SES rescued four stranded drivers from waters up to 65 centimetres deep at the flood’s peak.
Unit controller Damian Burns said it was a timely demonstration why drivers shouldn’t venture into floodwaters.
“The vehicles were trying to go through flood water that was too deep for them. The vehicles were swamped and water was going in through the door seals.
“It can be deceptive. When you drive out of Rimfire Drive, it’s not too deep. You don’t realise how deep the water will get – and once you start, you get committed to drive on.”
Eclipse Security Systems owner Greg Flood, who is based in the Rimfire Drive estate, said he and his employees were working from home but it was difficult to get in deliveries.
“The ones I feel sorry for are the retail businesses and car mechanics who effectively can’t trade. There’s no way in or out for customers.”
In the past 18 months, he estimates about 10 floods in the water-logged estate – with Centre Road lower in some sections than the adjoining wetlands.
Businesses have long called for either a levee or the raising of Centre Road to repel the frequent flooding.
They’ve also requested repairing Centre Road bridge at Shrives Road as an alternative access.
The bridge was long closed due to structural damage – though it was briefly reopened for a few hours for vehicle access on 16 July, Mr Flood said.
In late 2022, Casey Council called two online meetings to update business owners and staff as well as residents in Casey Greens estate on assessments of the bridge and the low-points of Centre Road.
According to Mr Flood, businesses were told there were plans to put a new drain in, but that it was “years” away. There appeared to be no immediate plans to repair the bridge, he said.
Meanwhile Heatherton Road in Dandenong was also closed both ways due to an inundated Dandenong Creek on 16 July, as was a section of Majid Drive in Narre Warren.
