Major landslip likely to close Lyell Highway north of New Norfolk

Glenora Road is expected to become the primary route beside the river Derwent within days after floodwaters badly undermined the Lyell Highway at a point 10 kilometres north of New Norfolk.

Due to a landslip caused by rain and floodwater, the Lyell Highway at the point has been been reduced to a single, signal-controlled lane.

The size of the landslip indicates a large amount of backfilling and weeks of work will be necessary to make it capable of supporting the number of heavy vehicles normally using the highway.

Further, the terrain on the opposite side of the highway is steep and inaccessible, making the roadway restoration even more difficult.

The Gazette late on Wednesday captured photographs of the large landslip under the river side of the highway, as well as work crews and police officers monitoring the single-lane traffic enforcement.

Meanwhile, while the cost of the flood that tore through the Derwent Valley in the past days is yet to be tallied, work crews from both state and local government are already making progress with repairs and restoration.

During a wide-ranging inspection around the municipality on Wednesday this week, Derwent Valley Council general manager Ron Sanderson told the Gazette he’d been particularly impressed by the fast, professional response from State Emergency Service personnel.

“A number of glowing reports have come to council about their response times and the work they did in protecting the community,” he said. 

“We’re also hugely gratified by the support we’ve had in providing emergency shelter and services,” he said, “particularly by council personnel from Brighton and other southern  municipalities.”

The operation of emergency shelters is determined by the state government, but staffed by municipal officers. Derwent Valley is continuing daytime services at its Memorial Hall and New Norfolk Sports Centre.     

Council’s own staff has also been singled out for praise from the Mayor, Michelle Dracoulis.

She told the Gazette that crews had been out from 6:00 am working to get clear debris left by the deluge, to ensure public parks and recreation areas are again safe, removing downed trees and repairing paths and roads.

“We were lucky in many ways,” said Mr Sanderson, “that the damage was largely confined to the Derwent and the low-lying areas along its length between Lake Meadowbank and New Norfolk.” 

The Gazette also spoke with newly arrived ‘guests’ at the Boyer Oval, the 26 residents of the New Norfolk Caravan Park who were forced to evacuate as the Derwent spilled over its banks and swamped the flats along the Esplanade, causing headaches for the Bowls Club as well.

Bruce and Jo Campbell said they’d been at the caravan park for three years, and this week was the first time they’d had to evacuate.

While Boyer Oval is able to offer toilets and showers, and a massive portable generator is keeping the lights on, the one convenience the Campbells had been without was a laundry.

“But you know what?”, says Jo Campbell. 

“A woman called Brooke turned up here at our caravan at the Oval, and just took care of our laundry… insisted on it. And brought some fresh flowers back with the fresh laundry, too.

“Events like this so often bring out the best in people. Thank you Brooke, thank you New Norfolk!”