CARAVANS are being moved to higher ground as the Murray River continues to rise due to big Lake Hume outflows.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But the swollen waterway has provided a boost for one Albury businessman.
Murray River Canoe Hire owner David Breedon set up at Noreuil Park on Wednesday afternoon and was offering $5 paddles for those keen to explore usually grass-filled areas.
He had 10 customers in his first 30 minutes and plans to return on Thursday.
Only months ago Mr Breedon’s business was left hurting because of a blue-green algae outbreak on the river.
Albury’s River Deck Cafe remains shut after it was isolated in Noreuil Park by flood waters.
Operator Alex Smit said there was “no way” it would be open at the weekend, with two to three days of preparation needed before it could trade again.
Meanwhile, Corowa caravan park managers are on edge as they prepare for the Murray River to peak there on Friday.
Bindaree Motel and Caravan Park operator Tania Trembath said 20 of the 80 caravans at her park would be moved to higher ground after being deemed at risk.
Property manager Di Jorgensen drove from her Bendigo home on Tuesday night after realising her caravan was at risk.
“It’s a massive job,” she said of the work needed to move it to the park boundary.
“It’s the joys of having a caravan with such a good outlook, because we do face the riverfront you’ve got to take the good with the bad or I should say the bad with the good.”
Ms Jorgensen has had a van at the park since 1990, having regularly visited with her four now adult daughters.
Further downstream at the Ball Park Caravan Park proprietor Andrew Palmer is not moving vans but is nevertheless “a little bit nervous” about forecast heavy rain from Friday.
SES Murray region commander Bernard Kates said his Corowa controller Jim Walliss would be monitoring water levels and advising affected property holders throughout Thursday.
The last time the river exceeded six metres at Corowa was in 2010.
Mr Kates advised concerned residents to monitor the weather bureau’s updates and check council websites for road closures as the water continued to move downstream.