Course Flood Update – 10th January 2024

Course flood update – Day 2

Dear Members,

Further to yesterday’s update, it is encouraging to notify you that water from the river has ceased coming into the course, and flood waters have started receding.

Since we reported to you yesterday, the river has dropped by 1 metre to currently sit at 3.2 metres, which is still above the moderate flood level. However, this has allowed us to open the flood valves, which will assist in removing water from the course at a greater rate.  

Melbourne Water has released the following information relevant to our situation. 

Yarra River from Warrandyte to Abbotsford:

• The level of the Yarra River at Heidelberg is currently at 6.49 metres, exceeding the Minor Flood Level (6.00 metres) and falling slowly. It is expected to remain above the Minor Flood Level until Thursday, 11 January. 
• The level of the Yarra River at Alphington is currently at 3.34 metres, exceeding the Minor Flood Level (3.00 metres) and falling slowly. It peaked at 4.13 metres yesterday, above the Minor Flood Level. It is expected to remain above the minor flood level until Thursday, 11 January.  
• The level of the Yarra River at Abbotsford is currently at 3.44 metres, exceeding the Minor Flood Level (2.70 metres) and falling slowly. It peaked at 4.21 metres yesterday, above the Minor Flood Level. It is expected to remain above the minor flood level until Thursday, 11 January.    

The good news is that all greens (with the exception of the front 3rd of the 11th green) are now above flood waters and have all been washed to remove silt deposits. The greens and the subsurface are obviously still very wet, but the removal of silt is a big advantage in the recovery of the green’s surface.   

Staff can now take vehicles along the maintenance track up to the 15th tee and the 2nd green, allowing us to get onto the greens and start the cleanup process. There is still a lot of water on the course; however, we are encouraged by how the water is subsiding, which will reveal the extent of the damage and what lies ahead by way of rectification of the turf surfaces and bunkers in the coming days.   

Our biggest issue is the silt deposit left behind on all turf surfaces and in the bunkers. In some cases, especially the bunkers, this will need to be removed by hand, which, as you can understand, will be quite laborious.       

It is still too early to suggest when the course will reopen but I want to assure you that the staff are resolute in preparing the course for play as soon as possible.  

View a flyover video and more photos from today below.