Footage shows river at Murray Bridge transformed into vast lake following multiple levee breaches

Extraordinary footage has revealed how the failure of multiple levees in the past 48 hours turned the river into a vast lake. Watch the video.

Breaches to multiple levees in the past 48 hours have turned the river at Murray Bridge into a vast lake, with the rapid inundation transforming the town with a mass of water not seen since the epic 1956 floods.

Drone footage shot by Mark Pearsons shows water completely engulfing the dairy flats that line the river on one side of the town, with a narrow tree line showing where the river’s banks previously stood.

Murray Bridge’s road and rail bridges, which run alongside each other, show water covering the entire Burdett flood plain on the eastside of the town.

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Mr Pearsons also captured incredible footage of one of the levees near the town bursting, which contributed to the inundation of the surrounding dairy flats and flood plains.

Murray Bridge Mayor Wayne Thorley said he had taken to the skies himself to soak in the views of the river in “all its glory”.

He said the regional river centre currently resembled more of a lake town and the town had not witnessed such scenes since the 1956 flood.

Water completely engulfing dairy flats next to the river in Murray Bridge. Picture: Mark Pearsons

Water completely engulfing dairy flats next to the river in Murray Bridge. Picture: Mark Pearsons.

“I went for a flight with the SES in a helicopter over our part of the world and while it has its tragic side, it’s a pretty spectacular sight to see the river in full force and so much water around.” Mayor Thorley said.

“It’s highly attractive from a view of nature … there have been a lot of people who come up to look at it from elsewhere and they should feel welcome and take the opportunity to view it while it’s there, it’s a twice a century type of event.”

Mayor Thorley said the influx of visitors had helped the local businesses who were set to suffer with the river out of action for recreational purposes.

Adam Bruce - who is set to develop Murray Bridge land currently totally inundated by flood water into a multimillion-dollar watersport park - said the sight came as a shock.

Bridge Watersport Park concept images of its much anticipated Murray Bridge project.

Bridge Watersport Park released concept images of its much anticipated Murray Bridge project.

“It’s something I didn’t expect I’d ever see … I really feel for all the home owners, farmers and businesses affected by the flooding,” he said.

Mr Bruce’s vision to build a water sport park was set to get off the ground this year after receiving official planning approval in 2021.

However, the flood event is set to delay the process.

“We have known for months this was coming but it’s been difficult to predict how much it would affect us until the last few weeks,” he said.

“We knew it would go close but hoped we might just hold on … this will obviously delay the development, but it’s too early to say for how long.”

Mr Bruce also owns and operates a water sport shop in Murray Bridge and said times had been tough for the industry.

“It’s been a rough summer for anyone who relies on the river for business,” he said.

“Community and customer support has been great, business is significantly down but we will be ok, there are a lot more people doing it tougher with homes, properties and businesses damaged or lost.”

The footage comes as Emergency Minister Joe Szakacs said floodwaters were expected to peak in Mannum between January 6-9, Murray Bridge between January 7-10 and Lower Lakes between January 9-13.