The 1934 flood on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp - report from The Argus of December 6, 1934

This report of the 1934 flood was in The Argus of December 6, 1934 (see here.) The reports from The Argus of  December 3, can be read here and from December 4 & 5, here.  There are photographs of the flood here, here and here.

The Argus, Thursday, December 6, 1934, see here.

DR. SHIELDS VISITS STRICKEN DISTRICTS

PROGRESS AT KOO-WEE-RUP

400 MEN CLEARING TOWNSHIP

2,000 Carcases Floated to Sea

Hundreds of dead cattle and sheep, ruined asparagus and potato crops, grazing lands covered with slime, bridges and plantations swept away, mud inches thick in houses, and business almost at a stand-still in the main street these are some of the impressions received by the Minister in Charge of Sustenance (Dr. Shields) when he visited Koo-wee-rup yesterday. "The trail of ruin left by the floods presented a terrible scene," he said. "It was difficult to believe that such devastation was possible."

Dr. Shields, who was accompanied by the secretary of the department (Mr. F. W. Frawley), went first to Bunyip, where he discussed the position with the municipal authorities. He found that 150 families were in distress, but they were all receiving, clothing, and shelter. Dr. Shields arranged for men to be employed cleaning out the houses and for the disposal of 200 head of dead stock.

Flood waters in the Bunyip River had caused great damage to bridges, Dr. Shields said. Banks 12ft. in height at either end of the bridge on the Nar-nar-goon road had been scoured away, leaving the bridge isolated in the middle of the torrent. Foundations around the piles of the Bunyip railway bridge had been washed away, making it unsafe for trains. Farm land near by was reappearing as the waters subsided. Many stories of bravery had been told. Two men had crawled across the flooded railway lines
with school children who had been cut off from the town on their backs.

At Bayles, Monomeith, and Lang Lang Dr. Shields found that the damage was less extensive. At Koo-wee-rup the flood had receded, and the town was free from water. Houses had been hosed out, and were drying before the return of their owners. Progress was so good tht it was expected the women and children, who were being given shelter in Dandenong, would be able to return by Saturday morning. About 400 men were cleaning shops and houses and removing dead stock.

"More than 2,000 carcases including cows sheep pigs goats and poultry have already been disposed of," he continued. "The carcases have been thrown into the main canal and floated down to Westernport. There are still about 1,000 dead animals in the district but some of these will have to be buried.

Feast for Sharks
The party was told that the carcases would be devoured readily by sharks which were plentiful in the northern end of Westernport. One resident said that they were so numerous that fishermen were afraid to put out in small craft. Countless hundreds of chickens and fowls have been destroyed by the floods. Only the dogs seem to have escaped. These are ravenously hungry and fight for scraps of food when it is thrown to them.

Water Supply in Danger
Serious difficulty had arisen over the town 's water supply Dr Shields said. The pump in the water tower on the main canal was three feet under water and could not be operated. Arrangements were being made to send two railway trucks with drinking water to-day. Supplies of firewood would also be sent as they were running short. All in need had received clothing and fresh food. Men on relief work rates would receive their first pay on Saturday by which time the stores would again be open. Dr Shields said that it was useless for other men to come to the town seeking work. All who were needed had been engaged and any who arrived would be ejected by the police.

Rates on Flooded land
Dr Shields said that a valuable asparagus crops which were worth £80 an acre had been ruined by the flood waters. The municipal valuation was £20 an acre and a rate of 4/3 in the £1 was imposed. Potato crops had been dug since the waters had receded and almost all were ruined. One farmer had lost 120 acres of potatoes As the yield was about six tons an acre and the product worth between £8 and £10 a ton the extent of the losses could be realised.

"The main canal at Koo wee rup which has always been regarded as safe against erosion because of the vegetation along its banks is showing signs of erosion." Dr Shields continued, "Siltation is occurring and in one place there is between 10 and 12 feet of sand."

The chairman of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (Mr R. H. Horsfield) estimated yesterday that the damage to the commissions works in the Koo wee rup district amounted to £5,000. One bridge, he said, over a large canal had been lifted bodily by the flood and deposited on a farm some distance away.