Tasmania floods: Launceston suburbs spared further damage as river peaks lower than anticipated

Updated

Launceston's low-lying suburbs are spared further inundation as floodwaters peak lower than expected, but communities are still bracing for a high tide this afternoon.

Key points: Mid-afternoon high tide may pose further problems

Two men still missing after being taken by floodwater

Five evacuation centres still open in Launceston (2), Longford, New Norfolk and Latrobe



The Launceston suburbs of Trevallyn and Invermay have been on high alert today as floodwaters from the South Esk River rose.

Tasmania Police Commander Brett Smith said while the water has now peaked lower than expected, the city was not out of the woods yet.

"The good news is that the peak is below what we anticipated, however we have another issue which is the high tide at 3:37pm," he said.

The State Emergency Service regional manager Mhairi Revie said while further flooding was unlikely, dangerous river flows still posed a threat.

"What they need to imagine is 24,000 Volkswagens worth of water passing them by every second," she said.

Launceston City Council said damage to infrastructure and clean-up works are likely to cost the city millions of dollars.

Many roads and rural bridges have been damaged and there is significant debris across roads, footpaths and parklands along the North Esk River.

For the northern Tasmanian town of Longford, where river levels peaked overnight, the flood emergency is over after the levee there held the water at bay.

In a life-threatening emergency call 000

Call your local SES on 132 500

Bureau of Meteorology

ABC Emergency

The floods, which began after Tasmania was pummelled by massive rainfall generated by an east coast low, have claimed the life of a 75-year-old woman at Latrobe in the north-west.

Police are continuing to search for two men who remain unaccounted for.

Flood gates have been secured around Launceston and the State Emergency Service (SES) will sound flood sirens if danger is imminent.

About 3,000 residents and 800 businesses in low-lying areas have been threatened by flooding.

There are four evacuation centres open — two in Launceston (at the Silverdome and the UTAS Newnham Campus) one in Longford and Latrobe.

Losing elderly community member 'numbing'

An emotional Latrobe Mayor Peter Freshney said it was numbing for the community to have lost 75-year-old Mary Allford in the floods.

"All the emergency service personnel and the people who were working were doing everything they possibly could for a large number of people," he said.

"Despite all that, it's still numbing to think that we've lost a community member and our thoughts and prayers are with the Allford family."

Meanwhile the Mersey Yacht Club at nearby Devonport is beginning to count the cost of damage done to its marina.

Club member Jacques Sapir said three-quarters of the marina infrastructure broke off and disappeared at the height of the floods, taking with it nearly 20 boats.

"We don't know how many boats are completely lost at the moment - at least seven or eight have sunk," he said.

"We've got probably a good half dozen seriously damaged, we've got four lost at sea that we can't find and we've got five on the eastern beaches here."

More than 100 roads across the state are closed due to flooding and bridge damage.

The Spirit of Tasmania service between Victoria and Tasmania has been cancelled until further notice.

Operator TT-Line said sailings out of Devonport will resume once debris is cleared from the Mersey River.

Affected passengers are being transferred onto two additional day sailings, from Devonport and Melbourne on Sunday.

Topics: weather, floods, launceston-7250, longford-7301

First posted