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A 1 in100 year flood in Busselton followed an overnightfall of 66mm of rain - more than half the 117m August average & close to the August 10, 1973, record 71.4mm (see ID 6788). The coastal town of Busselton received more than half (66mm) its rainfall for the entire month, dumped in a few hours,which burst the banks of the Vasse River diversion drain & forced the evacuation of nearby businesses, houses & 2 primary schools (800 pupils) upstream as fears that more of the drain could give way. Emergency workers struggled to contain the bursting drain banks using heavy machinery, sandbags & boulders. A 20m section of the diversion drain - built for such an event - gave way under the strain. The drain was built to prevent flooding in central Busselton. WA Waters & Rivers' Commission guaging station in the Busselton drain's catchment showed levels recorded during the flood's peak were above the one-to-100-year design level. Other south-west WA towns were also affectedt by the wet conditions but avoided major flood damage. |
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