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March 7th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda Updated
Julia Gillard reviews flood damage from a helicopter above Wagga Wagga.
Hundreds of people in southern New South Wales are spending the night away from their homes, with fears that low-lying parts of Griffith and towns downstream of Wagga Wagga could be inundated by floodwaters.
About 600 people have been evacuated from their homes in Griffith, while residents in Narrandera are also preparing for major flooding in coming days.
Wagga Wagga’s levee held through the flood’s peak yesterday and about 9,000 residents were given the all-clear to return to their homes and businesses this morning.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard visited the region this afternoon and was told by the SES that major flooding was forecast downstream of the Murrumbidgee River.
Food drops are being planned but Ms Gillard says she will wait for a request from the NSW Government for any further federal assistance.
The flood situation is also worsening in the central west, with the town of Forbes cut in half by the swollen Lachlan River, which is expected to peak on Friday morning, later than first thought.
SES spokesman Alex Chesser says the flooding is steadily swallowing parts of the town.
“The major flood level for that point is actually 10.4 metres and that was reached yesterday morning,” he said.
“We currently have a river height of about 10.53 metres which we expect to rise to 10.65 at its peak on Friday morning.”
Detective Inspector Paul Jones says police have stepped up patrols there to prevent empty homes from being looted.
“A number of houses have been evacuated, so we’re keeping an eye on those houses as well,” he said.
“At this stage there’s no reports of any looting or anything, but police are very mindful of that and that’s why we increase our patrols,” he said.
Yenda resident Paul Rogerson says he was surprised at how quickly the waters rose, even though people had been given plenty of warning.
“We had some sandbags there and we were ready to battle it but it was just amazing how quick it came up,” he said.
“We measured a two-inch rise in eight minutes. We got out when it was about knee deep.”
‘Heart-breaking’
While Wagga Wagga’s levee held, the flood-prone suburb of North Wagga remains a concern, with hundreds of homes inundated.
Ms Gillard predicted major economic damage for the region.
“This is the start of what is going to be many, many, many long months of recovery,” she said.
“Getting to see it from the air gives you a really good sense of the impact.
“And when you see a house that’s got floodwaters up to the eves, then you just know the damage that’s been done inside that home is truly devastating.
“So for people, when they’re able to get back to those homes and start the clean-up, it’s going to be a very heartbreaking time.”
As it meanders west through farmland, the swollen Murrumbidgee threatens not only homes in the region, but thousands of head of livestock.
Adrian Knobel, who is managing the Department of Primary Industry’s response, says thousands of animals have been killed.
“We’ve probably got around 2,300-odd sheep that have been deceased, over 100 lambs, one calf, but there are a number of more under threat – probably around 3,000 sheep still to report,” he said.
Damage bill
Ms Gillard also met local federal Nationals MP Michael McCormack, who says the damage bill will top $1 billion.
“Local councils are going to bear the brunt of a lot of it, and they’re very cash-strapped as we all know,” he said.
“Our State Government is going to have to pitch in and hopefully she’ll bring the cheque book, because the Federal Government is going to need to also provide some financial assistance.”
Ms Gillard says it will be some time before it is known how much damage has been done.
“Floodwaters are incredibly damaging; they do a lot of damage to infrastructure, to roads, to other forms of infrastructure,” she said.
“We know that in economic terms, floods do more damage than other natural disasters.”
floods,
wagga-wagga-2650,
griffith-2680,
yenda-2681,
nsw,
narrandera-2700,
forbes-2871
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