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National
Tara Cosoleto and Mibenge Nsenduluka

Victorians brace for renewed flooding

Premier Daniel Andrews has warned of "significant challenges" as Victoria braces for more rain. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Children in flood-affected regional Victoria can go to kinder for free and high school students due to sit end-of-year exams will instead get derived scores.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced the relief measures for families on Tuesday, along with $5.5 million for food packages and a warning the flood crisis is not over.

"Significant challenges" lie ahead as Victoria braces for more extreme weather in coming days, Mr Andrews said.

"There is more rain on its way by the end of the week, particularly for northern Victoria," he told reporters on Tuesday.

"That'll see renewed water rising and flooding, potentially not exceeding the peaks we saw over the weekend, but still very significant challenges."

As some communities start the clean-up, extra support is being offered for families with children in kinder and schools.

Those directly impacted by floods can send their three and four-year-olds to kinder for free for term four.

At least $2 million in grants will be provided for damaged sessional kinder services.

Additionally, a $5.5 million food relief package is being offered to flood-affected families to ensure they don't experience food scarcity due to supply chain disruptions.

About $1 million will go towards regional food hubs and multicultural food providers for the state's most diverse communities.

As final VCE exams begin next week, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and Department of Education and Training will also provide support for students impacted by floods.

Derived Examination Scores will be available to ensure results accurately reflect levels of achievement that would be expected.

A dedicated hotline for schools and students will also be established.

Mr Andrews visited Shepparton on Tuesday morning, where floodwaters are finally receding.

It comes as several towns in Victoria's north continue to build sandbag walls, with the rising Murray River is expected to peak from Wednesday.

Evacuation warnings are in place for people in Echuca and other towns along the river.

Emergency services are concerned river levels could exceed the 94.77 metres recorded in Echuca during the 1993 floods.

More than 1000 Echuca properties were already inundated with floodwaters on Sunday after the Campaspe River broke its banks.

There are also concerns the rural town of Kerang, about 95 kilometres northwest of Echuca, will become isolated due to floodwaters.

Major flooding at Kerang along the Loddon River is expected overnight on Tuesday and into Wednesday, with the water forecast to peak around the January 2011 level soon after.

A sandbag levee is expected to help keep the majority of the town dry, but it could be cut off for up to seven days.

A warning has also been issued for the Wimmera River, with Horsham residents told major flooding is possible from Wednesday morning.

A new evacuation warning has been issued for the small town of Barmah near Shepparton, which is expected to be severely impacted by Wednesday afternoon.

With the crisis growing, the federal government on Tuesday expanded the one-off, non-means tested disaster recovery payment of $1000 per adult and $400 per child to the Benalla, Boroondara, Central Goldfields, Greater Bendigo, Loddon, Moonee Valley, Mount Alexander, Murrindindi and Yarra local governments.

The assistance was already open to those in the Campaspe, Greater Shepparton, Maribyrnong, Mitchell and Strathbogie councils.

The Melbourne council is not included, despite the suburb of Kensington getting flooded on Friday by the Maribyrnong River.

Lifeline 13 11 14

beyondblue 1300 22 4636

Lifeline 13 11 14

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)

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