Riverland businesses have had to adjust to the closure of a major road due to flooding

The closure of a major thoroughfare connecting Riverland towns has caused a headache for businesses and residents, with some forced to travel as much as nine extra hours per week.

Jorja Bradley, 21, and Nuntiya Hantachan, 39, from Loxton work at Pen & Lu Lifestyle Store and have updated their opening hours to accommodate for the delays on the road to Berri. Picture: Morgan Sette

A major road connecting Riverland towns is expected to be closed for months due to flooding, causing businesses to lose customers who have been reluctant to travel along the extended detour.

Bookpurnong Rd, which connects the towns of Berri and Loxton, has been closed since December 1.

The detour, via Stanitzki Rd to Sturt Hwy, through Paringa and Renmark and onto Old Sturt Hwy, Berri, takes twice as long and has been a thorn in the side of Loxton businesses who have had their profits slashed.

Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone said the detour was adding as much as nine extra hours travelling per week. “There’s a lot of hardship out there,” he said. “It’s got to a point where we don’t know where the end is in store.”

Berry Barmera Council Mayor Ella Winnall said the impact of the road closure had been unparalleled.

“The extra commute is more than just a bit of an inconvenience, it separates the region in a way not seen for decades,” Ms Winnall said.

Loxton Waikerie Council chief executive David Beaton said the road may not be open even when the water subsided.

“The water may well recede to a stage in January where it will dry out but there will be damage to the road,” Mr Beaton said.

“When the ferry opens back up that will make things easier.”

Worker at Pen and Lu coffee shop in Loxton Jorja Bradley, 21, said the business has had to open earlier to combat a drop in commuters, but had still seen a decline in customers.

Flooding at Berri. Picture: Dean Martin

“People don’t want to come because it’s not a 15 minute drive anymore,” Ms Bradley said.

Mr Whetstone said the closure was also affecting the health sector.

“Those frontline health workers have a significant detour to the main hospital,” he said.

Chief executive of disability support operator Lifestyle Assistance and Accommodation, Philip Brookes, 51, who operates out of Loxton, said there were concerns his employees would not be able to make it to work.

“We were concerned people wouldn’t turn up to their floor shift,” Mr Brookes said. “We pay them extra for fuel.”

Mr Whetstone said he was subsidising his trainee’s petrol costs out of his own pocket.

He had previously called for the government to offer financial aid to those who could not afford the extra cost associated with extended travel.

This was despite on Monday Premier Peter Malinauskas announcing low-income earners and pensioners impacted by the floods crisis could apply for a $300 travel assistance package.

The grants can be applied for at the flood-relief centres at Berri, Mannum and Murray Bridge, with more information via the flood hotline – 1800 302 787 – or online.

To be eligible, residents of the nine flood-affected local government areas need to show that ferry and road closures as a result of floodwaters would add an extra 30 minutes to their travel time, at least three times per week.

The government also left the door open to increase grants.

“The government appreciates that road and ferry closures and lengthy detours are a significant impost and is seeking to ameliorate the impact of that where possible,” a spokesman said, indicating additional financial assistance may become available in the future. “We will assess further responses once we have a clearer view of how long these changes will be in place.”

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport said it had been keeping a close eye on the situation along Bookpurnong Rd, but was unable to say when it might re-open.

It said while “water has receded slightly, the road remains heavily inundated.”

“As flood waters further recede in the coming weeks, the Department, along with its contractors, will be able to inspect this and other closed roads to determine the best strategy to safely re-open them,” it said.