Mannum businesses Pretoria Hotel, Deja Vu Ski Shop, Mannum Anchorage, Forty Four on Randell and Mannum Old Wares set to go under in floods

Businesses stuck on the wrong side of a temporary levee bank set to divide Mannum’s main street are clearing out their shops and shutting the doors. See the maps of the buildings set to go under.

Mannum businesses stuck on the wrong side of a temporary levee bank set to divide the town’s main street have started to clear out their shops and shut up the doors.

Mapping of the Mid Murray Council’s temporary levee bank, made public on Monday evening, reveals the Mannum Caravan Park, much of Mary Ann Reserve and the Mannum Rowing Club would be protected by the temporary wall.

Mannum lawn bowls Pam Bormann, Sue Jones and Lynton Jones on the newly refurbished Mannum Bowling Club greens which could be in the flood's path. Picture: Dylan Hogarth.

Projected flooding set to inundate Mannum businesses on the wrong side of the levee. Picture supplied

However, the businesses unable to be protected include the iconic Pretoria Hotel, the Deja Vu Ski Shop, the Mannum Anchorage, Forty Four on Randell and Mannum Old Wares - a business in the historic old butter factory.

Mid Murray Council chief executive officer Ben Scales said the levee banks would be built to withstand flows of 250GL following the increasing flow projections reaching 175GL with a moderate chance of 200GL.

Mr Scales said construction of the levee bank could start at any time from now as the council’s team worked to beat the water approaching from interstate and warned businesses and residents in the impacted areas to act now.

He told concerned residents at Monday’s public meeting, the levee path was the only practical flood mitigation solution and that not all areas could be protected.

Mannum Old Wares owner Trudy Fischer is packing up and moving all the stock out of her business as the flood waters approach. Picture: Dylan Hogarth

Mannum Old Wares owner Trudy Fischer - who was busy packing up her shop said she was disappointed the levee would not protect her business and the neighbouring shops.

“They are protecting a couple buildings down the bottom here, but they are leaving this area without protection so that was a bit of a shock,” she said.

“I think they can do more … I think there is room to put a bank behind the store and they are taking the easy way out.”

Ms Fischer - who has only owned the 35-year-old business for seven months - said she had faced adversity with a previous business venture through COVID and made the move to the country for a fresh star and to be out of action so soon was “devastating”.

However, she paid tribute to community members who had been volunteering to help her clear out her store this week and made a special shout out to new Mayor-elect Simone Bailey, who is storing some of her stock on her property.

Mannum riverfront home owner Mick Ewens in front of his houseboat.

At the public meeting on Monday, council staff revealed they understood the Pretoria Hotel had engaged with a contractor and were planning to undertake its own protection works.

At the meeting, Pretoria Hotel manager Brad Harper asked about protection for access to the Pretoria and neighbouring Mannum Bowling Club.

“Was there no chance to have consultation to see if your works could tie in with ours to protect the bowling green or access to the bowling green and the Pretoria,” he said.

Mr Scales said the council had engaged with the pub’s contractor to discuss their private works.

Mr Harper told The Messenger it was too soon to comment on if and how the pub would be protected and what the staff’s next actions would be.

Mannum Bowling Club greens keeper Lynton Jones said the club’s playing surface recently got a $380,000 upgrade and flooding could potentially ruin it completely.

“The club is set to host this year’s Lower Murray grand finals … I think they’ll be looking for an alternative venue,” he said.

“But it might not get up that high, we hope not, we’ll wait and see.”

While businesses began to shut their doors, residents were on the move too.

Mannum resident Mike Ewens - who has had his Randell Street property for 10 years - was busy packing up his home on Tuesday and said he was preparing for inundation for weeks.

He said he expected the water to rise high into his ground floor of the two-storey home and while he had time to move all furniture and valuables, he had a houseboat moored on his block he was concerned about.

Mr Ewens said he understood the council’s positioning of the levee, which leaves his property in the flood’s path.

“I don’t think a levee (on the river-side of my property) was feasible - when you buy a place on a riverfront, you expect to be flooded, when I lived near Stirling, I had a fire bunker,” he said.

He said he expected not to be able to access his property for at least three months.

Levee modulling of Mannum's township. Picture: Supplied

A levee bank in Mannum's main street during the 1975 flood. Picture Supplied