"ALARMED" residents in the Robinvale-Euston area have intensified efforts to prepare for major flooding as water levels continue to rise.
The Bureau of Meteorology on Saturday issued a moderate to major flood warning for Boundary Bend, Mildura, Wentworth and Euston, stating the Murray River's levels were expected to to rise higher than the 1975 flood.
The bureau reported that the Murray River at Boundary Bend could exceed the major flood level of nine metres about Friday, with further rises expected.
The Murray River at Euston was predicted to exceed the minor flood level early this week, but could reach a moderate level from November 12 to 16 and a major level from November 18 to 22.
Robinvale-based Swan Hill councillor Jade Benham said water levels were originally predicted to peak on Wednesday, but had risen a lot quicker than the town expected.
"I think it has come along a lot quicker than we thought because of events that have happened upstream," she said.
"We have had plenty of time to plan and prepare, but I think even after the flood briefing we had in Robinvale last week, it has come on quicker than they thought it would."
Ms Benham said she was on her way to help fill sandbags at a working bee in Boundary Bend on Sunday, as the town aimed to protect itself from the incoming flood waters.
"As far as the Robinvale township itself is concerned, everything should be OK, the levees have been inspected and everything should be OK but it’s the outlying areas, particularly the NSW side, as that is where the water flows to most," she said.
Ms Benham said she had spoken to some people in outlying areas, whose homes were already cut off due to water levels.
The flood warnings have been issued due to significant breakout flows from Torrumbarry that spilled into the Wakool River.
Vic Emergency said the flows, combined with flows from the Murray and Edwards rivers, were likely to cause major flooding at Wakool Junction.
Ms Benham said her husband, who grew up in Robinvale, said he had "never seen water like it before".
"There are a couple other people on the NSW side that are saying that as well," she said.
"They have just never seen it creep up as high as it is now on the Euston side."
Ms Benham said she understood why people were starting to become alarmed.
"People are moving from 'we are being alert but not alarmed' ... now they are kind of going to alarmed," she said.
"You can understand why from seeing water where it is not supposed to be and the river where it is not meant to be."
Ms Benham said there would be flow-on effects from the flooding and urged people to be kind to each other.
"We have stone-fruit growers in Piangil that have got early stone fruit, they are having trouble getting tractors in," she said.
"We just need to be kind to one another because everyone is going to be under a hell of a lot of stress for the next few months."
At a Mildura emergency community meeting held late on Sunday, community members expressed concerns about how Mildura would be affected by waters coming downstream.
Vic Emergency said the Murray River at the Mildura Weir might exceed the minor flood level of 36m on Monday. The river level may exceed the moderate flood level from November 21 to 25 and may reach the major flood level about the end of the month.
The Murray River at Wentworth is likely to exceed the moderate flood level on Monday. The river level may reach the major flood level about the first week of December.
Colignan is at a minor flood level, at 8.03m.
It was announced at the meeting that an incident control centre would open on Monday, and a range of services, including extra police, would come to Mildura over the next few weeks.
Mildura Council general manager of development Daryl Morgan said the council, which is assisting as the SES lead flood action, were working to protect the community's infrastructure over the coming weeks.
Mr Morgan said the council would protect public infrastructure by moving things away from floodwaters, deactivating septic systems in at-risk public toilets, ensuring kerbside rubbish collection and access to landfill remained, completing assessments, as well as closing roads and footpaths and assessing drainage systems.
"Please observe (road closure) signs," he said.
"Please don’t drive past it ... you don't know what's over the crest of the hill."
Victoria Police superintendent John O'Connor advised community members not to drive through floodwaters over the coming months.
"It only has to be 15cm of fast-moving water and it might be the last time you take a drive," Supt O'Connor said.
"People are thinking they will drive through in their little Hyundai or even big four-wheel-drives and they get stuck."
He also asked people not to call 000 to check river levels.