River Murray floods: Free ferry at Mannum set to help locals as high-water peak looms

Communities hit hard by the River Murray floods have been handed some help with a free ferry service set to be run from Mannum for locals.

A free ferry service will provide a reprieve for members in isolated flood-ravaged communities in the Mid-Murray who have been forced to drive up to 60km to access essential services Mannum.

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis announced on Friday that the ferry, which will run “as long as necessary”, would be launched on December 27, to help isolated locals move in and out of the town.

It comes after the ferry services in the town shut in recent weeks, cutting off residents who live on the other side of the River Murray.

For some residents, it turned a 2.3 km, 20 minute journey, into a 60km detour through Murray Bridge.

Mr Koutsantonis said this service would not be “ad hoc for tourists”, but for locals to run access health services, buy supplies or cross the river to see friends and family.

“It’s going to be a very tough Christmas for people across the river and the township of Mannum will be hit hard,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

“We want to make sure we can keep the community together through this ferry service.”

DECEMBER 23 FLOOD BRIEFING

The state government is expected to spend $250,000 on the service, which will be contracted to local family-run business, Four Knots Murray River Cruises.

Owner Chad Blatchford said he was excited to offer a critical service to the community.

“It’s going to bring people back together... for example in the mornings we’ll have farmers who will utilise the service,” he said.

“We’re thinking we can probably get an average of at least 10 to 15 people each one-way service.”

The vessel will operate eight hours a day with a maximum capacity of 20 passengers and two crew members.

He said the opportunity to offer the service was a “lifeline” for his own business.

“With the uncertain times of Covid, momentum is a huge thing in small business, and we’ve been shut down three times,” he said.

“This is just a great lifeline for a small little buisness.”

Mr Koutsantonis said the government would look at adding additional ferries in other areas along the river as the flood crisis continues.

“We will look at it upstream, we will look at it across the river where we can, but sometimes it’s just not feasible,” he said.

“This is no longer a private hire service, this is our customer service that’s free to the public. With that comes more regulations, more safety, and of course a level of infrastructure that’s required.”

It comes as deadly mosquito virus has been identified in a Riverland man, the first detected case in SA this mosquito season.

A man in his 80s is likely to have recently acquired the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and is currently recovering at home after being discharged from hospital.

40+ pictures: River locals show life amid floods

VIEW GALLERY

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said the man was in hospital for a number of days and experienced symptoms of confusion.

“In this case it resolved, but it doesn’t always resolve, it’s a very serious condition that can affect anybody of any age,” she said.

Professor Spurrier said the diagnosis was not unexpected due to increased mosquito population in flood-affected areas.

“The virus also infects water birds and we’ve had a lot of water birds,” she said.

She reiterated the importance of Riverland residents receiving the vaccine and advised emergency service workers undergoing an extended stint in the region are also eligible.

“We’ve got around 26,000 in total, there’s still lot’s of vaccine,” she said.

“It’s no good sitting in the fridge, it needs to go in people’s arms.”

Emergency services are working overtime to prepare Riverland communities for the looming flows of 190GL/day to 220GL/day.

On Thursday, flows clocked in at 187GL across the border into SA, with peak waters expected to hit Renmark and Berri within days, moving to Loxton “within a week”.

Predicted flows remain between 190GL/day to 220GL/day, but the height of the river is expected to be comparable to the 1931 flood event.

But there is good news, with water expected to subside to 150GL/day by mid-January and down to 100GL/day into February.

More than 1100 Riverland properties have been inundated so far, with that figure expected to rise to 4000 when peak flows arrive.

SES chief officer Chris Beattie said 14 active warnings were currently in place for flood-affected regions, in addition to 3160 properties disconnected by SA Power Networks.

That number is expected to rise to about 4000 when flood peaks hit.

SA SES personnel constructing more than 200 meters of the DEFENCELL flood barrier technology in the township of Mannum. Picture: SA Government

Mr Beattie said 14 major levee breaches had now been deemed irreparable – including Gurra Gurra, which resulted in 14 homes becoming isolated.

An additional 18 major defects were being attended to by authorities, with assessments underway for remediation, 36 moderate defects and 52 minor defects.

“We can expect to see the number of defects increase as that peak scales up – and indeed as it scales down as well,” he said.

“It’s inevitable that we’re going to see levees fail … it’s important for people that live in flood-risk areas that they have their plan prepared and understand when they will have to leave.”

A number of defects had been identified in large levees protecting townships and homes, Mr Beattie said.

Kingston Road at Moorook was closed to all vehicles from 7am on Thursday to allow the District Council of Loxton and Waikerie to construct a levee bank.

Light vehicles are required to detour via Drogemuller Road and Heinrich Road to and from the Sturt Highway.

A section of Taylorville Rd, adjacent Ross Lagoon and north of the Waikerie Ferry, remains at risk of closure within the next week.