Warrnambool Restaurant Owners Face Nervous Wait for Hopkins River Mouth to Open

Residents and businesses along Warrnambool's Hopkins River are bracing for flooding after record rainfall in the area. The Gleesons, owners of Proudfoots restaurant, have been waiting for their chance to trade, but with the river mouth still closed, they face an uncertain future. Despite the council's best efforts to open the river mouth, the owners remain skeptical about their prospects, considering the significant rainfall and its potential impact on their business.

Key Takeaways:

• The Gleesons, owners of Proudfoots restaurant, have been waiting for the Hopkins River mouth to open after record rainfall in the area, with 71.6mm of rain recorded in Warrnambool since Friday.
• The restaurant has been preparing for the worst, with owners Jack and Kez Gleeson saying they will have to make a call on whether to open for lunch on Wednesday, depending on the river level.
• The council has been attempting to open the river mouth after getting the all-clear from the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority, with the spokesperson stating that Tuesday had a better chance of success based on ocean and tidal conditions.
• The river level is currently 10cm to 15cm higher than the owners have ever seen it in their seven years of operating the business.
• The restaurant has been preparing for the possibility of flooding, with co-owner John Houston saying everything that could be removed or raised from the function room has been moved.
• The Gleesons have been operating their business from the council-owned facility for more than seven years, with Jack Gleeson saying this is the first time they have seen the river so high.
• The owners are waiting for the river to drop before making a decision on whether to open for business, with Mr. Gleeson stating, "Hopefully come in the morning and it's down and then we can reset and restock."

Statistics:

• 39mm of rain was recorded on Tuesday.
• 71.6mm of rain has fallen in Warrnambool since Friday.
• Mortlake has received 81mm of rain.
• Hamilton has received 43mm of rain.
• The water level in the river is currently 10cm to 15cm higher than the owners have ever seen it.

Sources:

• "Warrnambool residents wait for Hopkins River to rise before assessing damage." (no date listed).
• "Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority" (no date listed).
• "Warrnambool". (no date listed).