On 4 June 2012, up to 200 mm of rain fell in eastern Victoria, breaking daily rainfall records for June at 23 locations across the state. Many locations in Gippsland received a month's rainfall in one day. Up to 100 residents in low-lying parts of Traralgon were evacuated when 45 homes were flooded from overspill out of Traralgon Creek.

The main road through the region, the Princes Highway, was closed between Rosedale and Traralgon and also east of Orbost due to flooding. Wind gusts of up to 150 km per hour brought down trees and blocked parts of the South Gippsland and Monaro highways.

Major flood warnings were issued for the Avon, Macalister, Mitchell, Thomson, Tanjil and Buchan Rivers and the Traralgon Creek.
The Yallourn coal mine flooded when the Morwell River burst its banks in early June, impacting on coal conveyers and therefore the operation of electricity generators.

The State Emergency Service received 1200 requests for assistance across the state, including 450 calls for trees that had fallen and blocked traffic.

Early assessments estimated that damage to council infrastructure alone is expected to exceed $10 million. The Department of Human Services paid out Government grants totalling $125,000 to flood-affected residents.

The Victorian Government announced emergency flood assistance grants, with adults entitled to $480 and children $240, up to a total of $1200.

The Federal Attorney-General announced that Victorians affected by flooding in South-Eastern Metropolitan Melbourne and West Gippsland on 22-24 June 2012 would receive financial assistance in the five local government areas of Baw Baw, Bass Coast, Cardinia, Latrobe and South Gippsland.

By 22 June, water levels were beginning to recede and it was expected to take months for a full recovery to occur.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Image: Air Observer David Young, Department of Sustainability & Environment