News

‘It’s a beautiful garden but it might not be in a day or two,’ Rochester local says

By Daneka Hill

Oct 13, 2022

Peter Atley in his garden which overlooks the Campaspe River. “We moved here from Shepparton. We dairy farmed out here and now we’ve come back after running a newsagency in Shepparton for 13 years,” he says. Photo by Daneka Hill

Retired dairy farmer and newsagency owner Peter Atley lives on the banks of the Camaspe River in Rochester.

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Mr Atley spends his days gardening, birdwatching and hosting a neighbour’s guinea fowl flock.

“I love living on the river,” Mr Atley said on Wednesday, October 13, right as the rain began to fall.

“It’s a beautiful garden but it might not be in a day or two. I’m worried a bit because last flood (2011) water got into the garage. I’ve already lifted everything that needs to be lifted.”

A day after Country News spoke with Mr Atley, a flood watch warning was issued for the Campaspe River with emergency services declaring major flooding was “likely” in the Rochester township from Friday morning.

Luckily, Mr Atley’s brick house on the Spencer St cul-de-sac sits up on foundations, which gives him an extra 50cm of grace.

The river also has to climb about 3.5m to get over the bank and spill into Spencer St.