GrainCorp’s Deniliquin site received 140mm of rain on Tuesday and has temporarily closed to allow ground to dry out. Image: @AdamDellwo

IN A STARTLING turnaround in the season, many parts of New South Wales that were blowing dust early this month are now too wet to continue harvest.

In areas where the NSW harvest is yet to finish, Deniliquin with 140mm had the highest registration for the week, and surface water has inundated GrainCorp’s site in the Riverina town.

GrainCorp said the Tuesday night downpour caused flooding around the covered bunkers.

“Harvest was only just getting under way in the area and we weren’t carrying much from last season so the bunker pads are largely empty,” a GrainCorp spokesperson said.

“Our local site experienced some flooding around the covered bunkers and our team is working to protect the grain stored and mitigate the floodwaters.”

GrainCorp is eastern Australia’s major bulk handler by far, and said Deniliquin was the only site to have been impacted by this week’s rain.

“We will be unlikely to reopen the site for receivals this week, and with the amount of rain received, it’s likely most headers won’t get going again for a few days.

“We’ll keep in close contact with local growers to let them know when we’re able to reopen.”

GrainCorp said its stackers and bunker equipment at Deniliquin were not damaged by the rain, but a large amount of water ran over parts of the adjacent railway line and may have had an impact.

“The rail siding will need to be assessed before we run trains to Deni again.”

Deniliquin sits at the northern end of a spur line which runs into the Victorian rail network.

GrainCorp has clarified that in the event of water damaging grain stored on site, growers would be paid for the quality and quantity of grain they delivered.

“GrainCorp underwrites all the grain we receive, so we wear the damage.”

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