Rising River Murray shuts down houseboat industry as water levels rise at Murray Bridge

Rising river levels will be disastrous for the houseboat industry as flooding reaches Murray Bridge, closing reserves, jetties and roads. See the latest drone footage. 

High river levels will ground one of the largest fleets of houseboats on the Murray from next week as the rising water reaches Murray Bridge and the region braces for peak flows.

Oz Houseboats owner Peter Sommers said the incoming water would be disastrous for his business during the industry’s busiest time of the year.

“We have 18 hire boats in the fleet and we have our last boats going out (on Friday) and coming in Monday and when they come in, that’s us closed,” he said.

“It's absolutely disastrous for everyone and it will be going on, we believe, for a couple of months in which is of course peak season for the industry.

“It’s really not good, we will go on the dole line, I guess.”

THIS WEEKEND ON ADVERTISER.COM.AU AND THE SUNDAY MAIL: 12-PAGE RIVER MURRAY FLOODS SPECIAL REPORT

Mr Sommers said Oz Houseboats – which operates out of the Murray Bridge Marina – was forced to make the difficult decision to close as it would be unsafe to operate.

“Mooring spots are going underwater and the river is quicker and there is a lot more debris coming down,” he said.

“And from a marina point of view, they are removing their fuel bowsers next week, taking them completely out so we can't fuel the rights even if we put them out because the marina can't have water inundating fuel pumping equipment.’

Oz Houseboats owner and manager Peter Sommers with one of his fleet at Murray Bridge Marina. picture Dylan Hogarth

He said while it was his workforce grounded, the flow on effect for the region would be massive.

“We have about eight casual cleaning staff, service staff of another four but the related industries, houseboat servicing, the lack of tourists, retail and for the overall economy of the town; the impacts are pretty big,” he said.

A recent submission to the Rural City of Murray Bridge council by the Boating Industry Association’s George Bolton estimated the 18 hire houseboats operated by Oz Houseboats in Murray Bridge at 65 per cent occupancy per year would equal 46,865 bed nights, which would generate in excess of $3.5 million into the local economy to hire, provision and service the houseboats.

River levels in Murray Bridge

Mr Bolton said between lock one at Blanchetown to the border, almost all houseboat operations had stopped and below lock one, he expected fleets to all stop within the next couple weeks for a period of a few months.

However, Mr Sommers remained hopeful the industry could salvage some trade and be active in the later warmer months.

“Although the high water is going to dramatically effect out peak periods of December and January, the industry will be ready and raring to go hopefully in early February.”

The grounding of the houseboat fleet comes after the Murray Bridge council closed key riverfront reserves, jetties and boat ramps in an effort to protect residents and infrastructure.

Rural City of Murray Bridge chief executive officer Michael Sedgman said recent weather had pushed river levels up quicker than first expected but the council had been working with emergency services in recent weeks and was adequately prepared.

“There is some minor flooding in our riverfront reserves and more closures will follow as we feel it becomes appropriate,” Mr Sedgman said.

“On Tuesday night the power at Avoca Dell was isolated and the reserve was closed due to inundation and yesterday we were sandbagging at Riverglen to ensure our Community Community Wastewater Management System is protected.”

“(The council) closed the road to Hill Road Reserve, the Sailability Jetty at Sturt Reserve, the boardwalk and loop path at Swanport Wetlands, the boat ramp and reserve at Bells Landing and the road to and reserve at Hume Reserve. “

White Sands Caravan Park’s Tom Hines – whose family runs and operates the popular skiing location – said while the buildings and shacks of the park would stay out of harm’s way, the high flows would be bad for business.

Flood water at Sturt Reserve in Murray Bridge on Tuesday, November 1. Photo: Facebook.

“The Murray Bridge area is fortunate the width and depth of the river can handle a fair bit of flow, we're not going to see the rises that you do above the locks,” he said.

“What it will impact is the riverfront area and our ability to have any boats operate from the park during peak flows ... between the middle of December and into January is peak season for every caravan park around the area so it‘s not ideal for us.

“It'll hurt us financially but at this stage, damage wise and anything like that will stay out of harm’s way, it’s a major, major nuisance for us but we were lucky though.”