One year on
June 6, 2016, is a day that will forever be remembered in Tasmania.
Countless homes were flooded and businesses destroyed when the state was hit by the worst floods in 100 years.
In a turn of events labelled unprecedented by the Bureau of Meteorology, the state’s major rivers - the North Esk, South Esk, Meander, Mersey, Forth, Macquarie and Derwent rivers - were simultaneously placed on major flood alerts.
More than 100 homes across the North and North-West were inundated with floodwater, causing State Emergency Service crews to evacuate residents at Newstead, Latrobe and Wynyard.
The North Esk River overflows into a residence on Glenwood Road at St Leonards. Picture: Paul Scambler
East Coast residents also felt the treacherous conditions as the Scamander River broke its banks early on June 6.
Tasmanians showed their true grit as they risked their lives to protect family, friends, neighbours, pets and livestock.
St Leonards man Phil Boxhall trudged through rising waters to help rescue his friend’s neighbour’s sheep.
“They were pretty scared, they kept running away but they’d get tangled up [in the debris]. Once they got back on dry land they were okay, I think they were happy to be out of it,” Mr Boxhall said at the time.
A residence on Glenwood Road at St Leonards inundated by water spilling from the North Esk River. Picture: Paul Scambler
Search crews worked day and night to locate three people declared missing during the floods.
Tragic news of missing man Peter Watson’s final moments before being swept away in floodwaters shook the community.
The 63-year-old, of Scottsdale, was delivering papers with his partner when his van was inundated by surging waters at Evandale about 3am on June 7.
Mr Watson’s partner, Karen Cassidy, was plucked from the water by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter at first light.
Crews worked around the clock. Picture: Scott Gelston
Sadly, police located the body of 75-year-old woman Mary Kathleen Allford at her Shale Road home at Latrobe.
Nearly a month of extensive searching by Tasmania Police and SES crews failed to locate Ouse man Trevor Foster who was swept away in floodwaters on June 6, 2016.
The South Esk River peaked overnight, with authorities confirming the waterflow in the North Esk River on June 7 exceeded that seen during Tasmania’s 1929 floods that killed 100 people.
The waterflow in some catchments was described by SES Northern manager Mhairi Revie as being the equivalent of 2800 small cars filled with water travelling downstream every second.
SES Northern manager Mhairi Revie addressing the media on June 7, 2016.
An eerie feeling blanketed the North as floodgates were installed on the Charles Street Bridge at 7pm on June 7.
Emergency crews worked around the clock to assist hundreds of Tasmanians.
Northern Tasmanians armed their homes and businesses with sandbags in an attempt to secure their property. Picture: Scott Gelston
Forth vegetable producer Harvest Moon was hit with hundreds of thousands of dollars damage from floodwaters.
Harvest Moon leek crops were ruined in by floodwaters. Picture: Cordell Richardson
Their offices along with more than 120 hectares of land was submerged.
Farmers were given momentary relief thanks to a $25,000 donation from the state government to the Rural Relief Fund.
Premier Will Hodgman and Tasmania Police Commander Brett Smith at the SES headquarters, Youngtown. Picture: Scott Gelston
Premier Will Hodgman announced $750 in emergency aid would be available to families affected by the state’s floods through Service Tasmania.
