Some of their properties are still heavily impacted by standing water from last Wednesday’s flash flooding.
They say this has been exacerbated by water run-off from the Saleyards Rd industrial area and Racecourse Rd area, and due to blockages and maintenance issues in the pathways that should assist the town’s storm water escape.
And those whose homes that are starting to see water dissipate say it is mostly due to this week’s warm weather, saying their calls for assistance to pump water out of the area have been largely ignored.
Barham Rd home owner Gerald Thommers said they started calling council Friday last week when they realised the water was not receding on its own.
Speaking to the Pastoral Times on Wednesday, Mr Thommers said while the water is starting to disappear on its own on his property - which he mostly attributes to evaporation from the warmer conditions - he said some of his neighbours are still significantly affected and that there is “sewerage floating around”.
“For two days we watched and could do nothing while water came across the road from the saleyards area and into our front yard,” Mr Thommers said.
“The water thankfully did not come into the house. We’re up on stumps and it came in under the house and flooded our chook yard and sheds though.
“I also had our party barge in the backyard for maintenance, and it went floating and I had to retrieve it.
“But everyone out here (on Barham Rd) copped it.
“We requested help to get the water away, especially after we had heard that one of the pumps in town was switched off and just sitting there. At first nothing happened.
“A pump has since been moved closer to us and it must have made a bit of a difference, but my neighbours still have a lot of water in their yards.”
Mr Thommers said it was time to “get these drains sorted”.
“In 34 years I have never personally seen any maintenance to the drainage route on Barham Rd, and it needs a good clean out,” he said.
Riverview Estate residents have also called on Edward River Council to do more work on the drainage system and how it feeds into their private water scheme, after the town’s run-off inundated their properties after the rain event.
Councillor Shirlee Burge has also flagged a need to look at the management and maintenance of the town’s storm water drainage system, particularly the lagoons, after being approached by residents from Riverview Estate and the west end of Deniliquin about whether the severity of inundation could have been lessened.
Last week’s record rainfall, which was described as patchy by emergency services, has been estimated at up to 200mm in some areas.
The rain was unable to get away quick enough in many parts of Deniliquin, resulting in road and property inundation.
The State Emergency Services said “four to five” homes suffered over floor flooding.
At least 20 other homes and businesses suffered water damage.
