More than a dozen vehicles were rescued from the ocean after being swept away during severe flooding! This dramatic event unfolded last week along the Great Ocean Road, where flash floods impacted campgrounds and forced numerous visitors to evacuate. As waters surged through the Cumberland and Wye rivers, they also affected the Erskine River at Lorne and Separation Creek, resulting in multiple flood rescues.
A helicopter was deployed to recover over a dozen cars that had been carried out to sea, and the Great Ocean Road was temporarily closed between Lorne and Skenes Creek on Thursday morning while this operation took place. Thankfully, the road has since reopened for traffic.
According to Chris Longmore, operations manager for VicSES, a specialized team that included a Black Hawk helicopter and marine salvage experts was called in to safely retrieve the vehicles, which were scattered across rocks, the beach, and even out in the water. Longmore explained that using a helicopter was crucial for preserving the coastal environment and the cultural significance of the beaches, avoiding the potential damage of dragging the vehicles up the sand.
"Some vehicles were relatively easy to recover as they were mostly buoyed by water, but others were heavily obstructed by large boulders, sand, and debris accumulated over the week in those harsh conditions," he noted. In total, about a dozen cars were retrieved from the Cumberland River, with two more from Wye River, leaving only one caravan still stuck at Cumberland River.
Colac Otway Shire Mayor Jason Schram expressed relief at the successful recovery of the vehicles, remarking, "It’s a great outcome to have the cars out of the ocean and the Great Ocean Road open again, allowing us to welcome tourists back." He emphasized how devastating the flooding had been for the small towns that rely on holidaymakers for their economic survival, saying, "You can’t fight mother nature. It was a massive flood that washed away an incredible amount of debris, including trees, earth, personal belongings, and indeed, vehicles."
Now that the coastal areas affected by the flooding are safe again, residents and visitors alike can return to enjoy the beaches. Additionally, the Environment Protection Authority has lifted the previous water quality advisory for the beaches along the Great Ocean Road. Just earlier this week, they had warned of poor water conditions at Lorne, Wye River, and Kennett River due to the flooding impacts.
Stay informed with the latest breaking news, entertainment suggestions, and in-depth articles by signing up for our Evening Edition newsletter.
Benjamin Preiss serves as The Age's regional editor, previously covering state news and education. Connect with him via Twitter or email for further conversation.
