Australia- Victoria’s largest power plant evacuated as flood crisis continues

Ns News Online Desk: Victoria’s largest power plant has been evacuated as the state’s flooding crisis continues.
Three generators at the Yallourn Power Station, east of Trafalgar, were taken offline today after heavy rain caused flooding and landslides.
“The company was very concerned that if they had water ingress into their mine, they may damage equipment and endanger personnel,” Mark Richards from the CFMEU said.Unions said the power station had just three days of reserve supply and a small crew had been allowed back in.
The power station produces almost a quarter of Victoria’s electricity, but the government said there was enough reserve to meet the state’s winter demand.
“The long-term supply issues are what they’re trying to maintain, and as soon as the water stops flooding in, it’ll be a case of firing up the plant and getting the four units back up and running,” Mr Richards said.Unions said the power station had just three days of reserve supply and a small crew had been allowed back in.
Lisa Meier has lost 10 kilometers of fencing on her Caringal hazelnut farm.
“That’s eight years we’ve put into it and it’s just like, what do we do?” she told 9News.
More than 1800 trees have been damaged and she found one of her beloved sheep drowned.
Further south in Won Wron, Paul Mumford has taken on two of his neighbors’ herds.
“We don’t know how it’s gonna pan out but let’s give it a go … We have to look after our animals, they’re our life blood.”
Widespread flooding across much of Victoria is continuing.The dairy district is still off the grid and drenched farms are running off generators and manpower to milk and feed twice a day.
Overnight rainfall was less than forecast. An already soaked Sale received 32 millimeters, while 25 millimeters fell at Mount Dandenong. At Lilydale, the swollen Yarra River swamped the local airfield.