Rivulet Rising

We live in South Hobart overlooking the Hobart Rivulet and on that fateful night we watched the water rise several metres as the rain, thunder and lightning exploded around us. We could see, as the rocks were covered, and the water came pouring down, that it would not be able to fit under the tiny entrance to the tunnel under Campbell Street near the hospital, laden as it was with rubbish bins, concrete culverts that had broken off and trees and other debris that were being hurled down the Rivulet with the water.

We were grateful that our house was high above the water, but others were not so lucky.

On the following weekend, as we helped with the clean up, we found bin lids, concrete blocks, clothing and tree branches lodged high in the trees that were still standing by the Rivulet. Old walls were smashed, banks were muddy and not always from the waters of the Rivulet. Houses on the hills nearby were filled with mud from the hillsides which poured onto the roads adjoining the Rivulet. Several months later, the previously grassy hillsides were still being strengthened with rocks and houses were being restored.

There have always been floods on the Rivulet, and there will be more...