Assisting the emergency response in flood-affected areas across the North-West, Mildura Police detective senior sergeant Scott Anderson yesterday urged motorists not to flout important road closure warnings along major highways and roads.

“It seems some people have been ignoring road closures and taking the punt, only to find themselves in a bit of difficulty,” he said.

“I would certainly urge people to take notice of the VicRoads website for details on road closures and take another route or put off the trip altogether for a little while.”

Yesterday, flooding forced road closures along the Calder Highway, north of Charlton and through the main township, with traffic diverted via Wycherproof along St Arnaud Road and the Borung Highway.

V/Line services also fell victim to the crisis, as coach services to Benalla were cancelled, with no alternative transport offered to customers travelling to Tarnagulla, Dunolly, St Arnaud, Marnoo and Rupanyup “due to the nature of the road closures”.

Det Sgt Anderson said Charlton, near Bendigo, was yesterday a key area for concern following the weekend falls, with several people evacuated yesterday, including staff from Charlton Police Station.

Local businesses said floodwater had devastated the town and affected most of its 1100 residents.

Charlton supermarket staff said the small town had not withstood such severe flooding in more than 60 years.

“The water is right up to our door step and we’ve got sandbags stacked up at the front door,” a spokesperson for Charlton’s IGA said. “The SES have been here since Sunday and there’s a lot of police and the community are all helping.”

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