Flood recovery costs crippling ‘unsustainable’ Mid Murray Council

The cost of flood recovery is compounding the financial woes of an already embattled South Australian local council, according to its Mayor.

The cost of flood recovery is compounding the financial woes of an already embattled South Australian local council, according to its Mayor.

The Mid Murray Council was hit hard by the historic River Murray floods and while the water has receded the costs of the clean up are being added up and have put pressure on a financially vulnerable council.

An Essential Services Commission report released last month declared Mid Murray Council’s current financial position “potentially unsustainable”, citing recurring operating deficits resulting from its revenue base, being unable to meet the ongoing service level requirements of its infrastructure base.

Mid Murray Mayor Simone Bailey said Mannum's Sturt Reserve is in a state of disrepair and the council has very little funding to fix it.

The Mid Murray Council has run recurring operating deficits from 2013-14 to 2020-21 and its operating surplus ratio is not forecast to be positive again until 2028-29.

Mid Murray councillors were briefed on the Commission report on Tuesday and Mayor Simone Bailey said dealing with the impacts of a natural disaster while combating a “challenging financial position” was tough.

Mayor Bailey visited Mannum’s Mary Ann Reserve on Friday, the site of the temporary levee constructed to keep the town out of harm’s way during the flood’s peak. The wall has been taken down but the reserve is far from the picturesque public facility it was previously.

She said with the water back to its normal level, there was a misconception the flood event was over and everything was back to normal, but the battle still lay ahead for the council.

“For us, the impact of seeing our reserve like this and knowing we don’t have a lot of funds to do a great heap is tough,” she said.

“We are having to look at the infrastructure around the reserve now, the rowing club has had some inundation underneath the concrete slab so we are working hard but we do have limited resources and limited funds.

“Many reserves over our 440km of riverfront need a lot of work and it is sad.”

However, she said the real devastation was for ratepayers who were still contesting road closures and service restrictions while the clean up continues.

“2500 dwellings have been impacted in our council area – we must not forget what they have been through and are going through,” she said.

“In some areas it looks like the flood hasn’t happened but in Mid Murray it doesn’t matter where you go, the effect of the devastation and impact is there and it hits hard.”