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LOCAL farmers are now assessing the damage left by the weekend’s flooding, which saw the Bega River peak at 6.2 metres on Sunday morning.
The speed at which the floodwaters rose surprised many, resulting in a couple of helicopter rescues as farmers became stranded while removing pumps and machinery from low-lying areas.
Cows at Jerang, a dairy on the Bega-Tathra Rd, were enjoying a breakfast of fresh cut silage on Monday morning as a number of stray hay bales from another farm ended up on the property.
Jerang manager Willie McDonald and two others (and a farm dog) were caught out early Sunday afternoon by rising flood waters and were airlifted back to safety by the SES helicopter.
Mr McDonald only started his position as manager a few months ago and had been told that the farm goes under in a flood, but said he wasn’t prepared for what he experienced over the weekend.
“It was quite a sight to see the farm go under; you can’t really comprehend it until you actually see it so it was quite a shock,” he said.
“We got the majority of our pumps and machinery out on Saturday before the flood water came up to its highest point.”
Although the property was still under water in some places on Monday morning, the water had receded enough for Mr McDonald to inspect some of the damage.
“From what I can tell it’s mostly fences being ripped out, some of it by the hay bales which have ended up here.
“It will put us back a little, but that’s one of the things about farming on a flood-prone area.
“Hopefully it fully recedes in the next couple of days and we can get on with things.
“It’s not the first time this has happened and it won’t be the last.”
And as for the hay bales, Mr McDonald said whoever is missing any is welcome to collect them.
“Most are on the ground now, but there are still a few floating about.
“The cows have gotten into a few that have split open, but as long as they haven’t got wet the others should be alright.”
John Daly who has a property at Jellat Jellat recorded 225mm of rain at his place over the weekend.
He said he had moved his stock, pumps and machinery to higher ground in plenty of time.
From his house he has a view of the river flats and could see four-wheel drive vehicles making it through the flooded road on Monday morning.
He said after the initial receding of the water, it had since slowed down and he expected the water to sit in the creek channels until it eventually drains away, enabling the road to be reopened to all traffic.
Dairy farmer Rob Russell of Jelgowry said it will be at least another day before he can fully assess any damage to his Jellat property.
The recently planted corn on the river flats is his biggest concern, but as the flood water subsided quite quickly from most of the land he expected the majority of the crop will recover.
“I’m not too sure about the corn that’s in the dips and gullies as it’s still under water, but it doesn’t look too bad.
“It could be a lot worse considering the amount of rain that fell.
“We have some fence damage through the dips and roads washed out, but it was wonderful to get the rain.
“From what I can see at first glance there is minimal damage…the rain is a far bigger bonus than the small amount of damage that has occurred,” Mr Russell said.
