The Victorian State Emergency Service says the risk of a temporary levee collapsing in the town of Hamilton has lessened, as the state’s south-west faces widespread flooding.
Residents of 45 homes in the area were urged to evacuate this morning.
Locals told 9NEWS it’s the worst flooding they have seen “in decades”.
The evacuation warning is in place for homes and businesses along the Grangeburn River, near Apex Drive, Holden Street and Abbott Street.
An SES spokesman said water is beginning to spill over the Grange Burn levee further upstream of Apex Park.
Parts of the state have been lashed by heavy rain and strong winds for the past few days, with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) listing more than 15 Flood Watch warnings.
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In a press conference this afternoon, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews thanked emergency services for their efforts.
Mr Andrews said the flooding had forced the closure of 102 roads and seven schools, and implored people to refrain from entering floodwaters.
“People continue to put themselves at risk, and put members of Victoria’s emergency services at risk,” he said.
“We’ve had 11 flood rescues in the past couple of days, more than half of those have been very dangerous exercises.
“Exercise common sense – just don’t enter floodwaters.”
Both the Victorian and federal governments have offered emergency relief grants for those affected by the floods.
Land slips and downed trees have also blocked parts of Great Ocean Road between Lorne and Airey’s inset, as heavy rain lashes Victoria.
The road remains closed from Deans-March Road in Lorne through to View Road. Emergency crews have begun to clean-up the fallen debris.
The Mallee region town of Walpeup recorded 32.6mm of rain between 9am and 9pm yesterday – the area’s mean rainfall for a month, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).
From 9am Monday to 9pm yesterday, the town has received 46.4mm of rain.
The ongoing heavy rain and flash flooding has damaged farmland and some homes, including a Cockatoo home hit by a large tree last night.
The tree pierced the roof of the home and narrowly missed a bed. No one was injured.
The SES is advising people to keep away from floodwaters after a man and his dog were rescued from a fast-moving creek yesterday in Pascoe Vale.
Severe weather warnings for heavy rain and damaging winds have been cancelled for most of the state, but still remain in East Gippsland, Mallee and North East Forecast Districts.
The warnings for Bendigo, Shepparton, Seymour, Maryborough, Ballarat, Wodonga, Wangaratta and alpine areas have since been cancelled.
The deluge is expected to ease over the next couple of days, but heavy rain is expected to return on the weekend.
The SES advises that all community members should:
Never walk, ride or drive through floodwater,
Never allow children to play in floodwater,
Stay away from waterways and stormwater drains during and after heavy rain,
Keep well clear of fallen power lines
Be aware that in fire affected areas, rainfall run-off into waterways may contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks, and heavy rainfall increases the potential for landslides and debris across roads.