City flooded with service requests, while train clean-up continues

RIVERSIDE parks and trails were again underwater across Geelong as the city was hit with another flood early this week.

Crews have also started clearing the wreckage of a train that spectacularly derailed at Inverleigh on Monday morning, which will likely take until early next week to be cleared.

Further flooding impacts have prompted the City of Greater Geelong to urge patience from local residents after reporting that its staff had copped abuse from frustrated community member logging a high volume of service requests.

City-owned recreation facilities near waterways, including Barwon valley Golf Club, Lara Golf Club and Barwon Valley Activity Centre were closed earlier this week.

Corangamite Catchment Management Authority also advised that access to the Barwon River in Geelong was closed for public health reasons.

Belmont Dog Park remains closed from last month’s floods and Queens Park Golf Club was reduced to nine holes this week.

VicRoads provides live traffic and road closure updates: http://traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/

COGG also evacuated staff from its Belmont Depot on Tuesday after it was inundated.

Mayor Trent Sullivan urged residents to also take care with their safety.

“The continued heavy rain is creating further stress for the community, particularly those with homes and businesses in low lying areas.

“We ask that everyone look after yourselves and your family members by obeying road closure signs and never attempting to drive, walk or cycle through floodwaters.”

Cr Sullivan also called for understanding from Geelong residents after customer service line operators have complained of abuse while managing a host of requests for help such as for damaged roads.

“Please be kind, both to our customer service staff on the phone and to our crews out on the road – they’re doing the absolute best they can in very difficult circumstances,” he said.

Meanwhile, crews yesterday cleared a train wreckage from Inverleigh after a derailment Monday, but the track is not expected to reopen for several more days.

A crew of 30 and machinery moved into the site to remove the 16 carriages that piled up when the 1.7-kilometre train left its tracks.

Assessments this week showed that one kilometre of track had been damaged, with authorities unsure when the Adelaide-to-Melbourne rail corridor would reopen.