Australia: Floods cause evacuations in Victoria

The Victoria State Emergency Service website.

Residents in Melbourne's north are being warned their homes may be flooded as the Maribyrnong River rises with recent heavy rainfall.

The SES is doorknocking homes in nearby Chifley Drive and Anglers Way with the Maribyrnong expected to peak at 6pm, a SES spokeswoman said.

A moderate flood warning has been issued for the Maribyrnong river catchment, which has received an average rainfall of 43.7mm since 9am on Thursday.

There have also been reports that sections of the Yarra River near Rod Laver Arena have flowed over the banks and onto the running track.

More than 350 people have been evacuated from their homes as torrential rain falls over western Victoria.

The State Emergency Service (SES) has issued evacuation warnings for Halls Gap, Beaufort, Great Western, Charlton and Glenorchy.

Meanwhile, the Loddon, Campaspe, Avoca and Wimmera rivers are on major flood warnings.

An SES spokeswoman said about 365 people had been evacuated from their homes and taken to relief centres across the state, with more evacuations likely.

Around 100 of those were evacuated in Halls Gap and moved to shelter in Stawell as 85mm of rain hit the region overnight.

In Charlton, about 2000 phone and text messages have been sent to residents advising them to go to the relief centre at the local sports stadium.

Much of Victoria has experienced heavy rain in recent days.

Over the next two to three hours, 20-30mm of rain was expected to fall on the Campaspe River, affecting townships along it.

About 20mm of rain was also expected to fall in the areas of Kerang and Charlton, the spokeswoman said.

Meanwhile, rain was easing up in the Halls Gap and Horsham areas.

In the small western Victorian town of Natimuk, milk bar owner Rhonda Holden was cleaning up after 150mm of water poured through the shop on Thursday.

She said carpets, cupboards, benches and $5,000 worth of stock had been ruined.

"We'd just finished renovating the shop," she told AAP.

"It's not as bad as Queensland but it has set us back $20,000 to $30,000."

The SES says more evacuations are likely on Friday.

"The areas we're watching at the moment are those townships around the Campaspe and Avoca (rivers)," the spokeswoman said.

She said people should listen to the local radio and log onto www.ses.vic.gov.au for the latest updates.

Meanwhile, in Gordon, near Ballarat, a 14-year-old boy riding his motorbike had to be rescued by the SES and CFA from a flooded drain after he drove through high waters on Thursday night.

Also, a man was rescued in Rockbank, west of Melbourne, when his ute got stuck in flood waters on Sinclairs Road.

A swathe of flood watches are in place for many catchments in the state's northeast, also hard-hit in the September floods, and the southwest.

Rain which may lead to flash flooding is forecast for the north-central, northern country, central and northeast forecast districts and parts of the west and south Gippsland forecast district, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

The SES advises that people in flood-prone areas should store loose items around the house, keep clear of fallen power lines, never drive, ride or walk through flood water, keep clear of creeks and storm drains and move vehicles under cover or away from trees.

More information can be obtained by phoning 1300 VIC SES or 1300 842 737.

- AAP