Premier confirms funding for temporary levee in flood-threatened Murraylands town

Plans to dig up the bitumen on Mannum’s main street and build a temporary levee bank were revealed at a community meeting on Monday night.

Plans to dig up the bitumen on Mannum’s main street and build a temporary levee bank were revealed at a community meeting on Monday night.

Mannum residents were briefed on a council plan to build a levee bank in the middle of Randell St, similar to scenes in 1975 when flood waters reached the main street.

The temporary levee bank would protect assets and stop mass flooding for large areas of Mannum. However, businesses and homes – including the Pretoria Hotel, the Mannum Bowling Club and a host of other businesses – would remain in harm’s way.

The levee bank would go down parts of Randell St, River Lane and Mary Ann Reserve.

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

A community meeting in Mannum, Nov 21, 2022. Picture: Dylan Hogarth

The state government is set to fund a temporary levee down the middle of Mannum’s main street as up to 4000 properties are expected to be inundated by flood waters.

Premier Peter Malinauskas told ABC Radio Adelaide, Mannum alongside Renmark, are the two communities most at risk.

Mr Malinauskas reiterated a “substantial effort” is already underway in Renmark, however the Mid Murray Council will put forward a cost proposal for a temporary levee in Mannum using traditional and new technology.

“My government will be funding that, it’s something that needs to be done as quickly as possible,” Mr Malinauskas said.

Mr Malinauskas gave a special floods update after meeting with the Emergency Management Committee on Monday, announcing Police Commissioner Grant Stevens would be given extra powers to help co-ordinate a response to rising Murray flows, as a flood emergency was declared and the date for a second peak was revealed.

WATCH THE SPECIAL FLOODS ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW

Mayor-elect for the Mid-Murray Council, Simone Bailey said the council has been working with the state government on different contingencies for flood mitigation and are in the process of finalising decision making.

The council is holding a community meeting on Monday night to discuss its proposed flood mitigation measures and is urging business and property owners to go to Mannum Leisure Centre at 6pm to hear the latest flood response information.

Mr Malinauskas went on to say he believes temporary living arrangements will protect most, but not all of the township.

“There will still be a need to cut off approximately 3500 – 4000 properties from the main power grid for obvious reasons in a flooding environment,” he said.

“Doing that in a co-ordinated way, is something that the government can intervene in and the Department of Environment and Water is working with SA Power Networks about precisely that issue.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas is set to return to the Riverland with his cabinet on Tuesday amid rising flood waters. Picture: SA Government

SA Power Networks head of corporate affairs Paul Roberts said the provider was trying to avoid disconnections, but stressed there is a genuine safety risk with power and water.

“The reality is we’ve already got Stobie poles standing in water that supply to various parts of the Riverland,” he said.

“There’s about four or five places where we have a significant power line crossing the river and we are required under legislation to ensure a specific clearance for protection.

“Where we can we are adding cutting breaks to reduce the number of people affected … but we do not want people still receiving electricity supply with a foot of water in their house or in their power shed.”

Mr Roberts added irrigators also had a responsibility in the state’s flood water management.

When questioned if funding for flood recovery efforts was being subsidised by the Federal Government Mr Malinauskas said there are a range of arrangements, but his administration’s top priority is to “do everything we can while we have time to do it and we’ll worry about who pays what, when and where, later.”

Opposition leader David Spiers said the focus should be on the being prepared as opposed to “the mop and bucket recovery”.

“Recovery will be important, but we might not even need some aspects of the recovery if we get the preparedness right,” he said.

Power is expected to be cut from 3500 – 4000 properties as water levels in the River Murray peak. Picture: SA Government

Meanwhile the state government have said that it is “likely” to release multiple stages of compensation packages for flood-relief in the Riverland, with the first to be announced early in the week.

Mr Malinauskas and his cabinet will travel to the Riverland on Tuesday as more agencies become involved in flood management operations.

On Sunday, Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs did not reveal what would be in the package but said it could be the first of multiple.

“The announcement on Tuesday that the Premier will be making around the emergency relief package is one piece to the puzzle,” he said.

“It is likely that it will not be the last emergency package that is announced by the premier in support of our Riverland communities.

Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Emma Brasier

“We’re committed to ensure that we will be adaptive, and that this is not likely to be the last emergency package to be announced.

The package to be announced is in addition to a $4.8 million announced for flood defence resources on Sunday, which will pay for 1.5 million sandbags to build at least 8 km of flood barriers.

The announcement comes amid an escalation to resources needed to protect communities and mitigate flood damage, as current forecasts show peak flows of 175 gigalitres a day next month.

Ms Bailey told The Advertiser that the impact on businesses and agriculture was “concerning” as the aftermath would see “months and months” of recovery efforts.

“It will take some time to recover and on the back of Covid, businesses were looking forward to a normal summer so support for businesses,” she said.

Sandbags at Renmark Bakery in an attempt to stop Riverland floodwaters.

“I’ve also had some farmers contact me and they’re going to be impacted by power outages and increased costs due to road closures and ferry closures.”

Ms Bailey said recovery support for businesses such as caravan parks and houseboat operators would also go a long way as many have lost all their income.

Business SA chief executive Andrew Kay said any support package from the government “must be simple and accessible”.

Amazing pictures: More than 60 incredible drone shots of the River Murray floods

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“We hear a lot about the effect it will have on tourism, but this will be felt across all businesses in the region well into 2023,” he said.

“The clear message they want conveyed to government is that while they welcome support, they need it now in real time.

“If the government waits until after the damage has been done, it will be too late for many businesses, and they simply won’t survive.”