House rules: What rebuilding River Murray shack owners need to know

New rules designed to protect shacks from future floods along the River Murray have been introduced by the state government. Here’s what owners need to know.

New rules designed to protect shacks from future floods along the River Murray have been introduced by the state government.

Planning Minister Nick Champion said it was “critical we learn lessons from the devastating flood event and build back better to mitigate future risk’’.

The floods which swept along the Murray in December and January inundated around 4000 properties, with many requiring a significant repair or complete rebuild.

In response, the state government will raise the maximum “finished floor level’’ requirements for building along the river from 2.5m to 3m.

In some places it will up to 4m, to be above the level of a one-in-100-year flood event, while the maximum overall building height will be increased to 8m, up from 7.5m, with a two-storey cap.

Planning minister Nick Champion said it was “critical we learn lessons from the devastating flood event and build back better”. NewsWire / David Mariuz

Many areas along the river currently do not have minimum heights for finished floor levels, but planning policy does dictate that dwellings are above a one-in-a-hundred-year flood event. It is believed most homes were built to withstand levels seen during the flood of 1974, which translated to the first floor of properties being about 2.5m above the ground.

“We have moved quickly to improve planning rules and help affected communities get back on their feet as soon as possible,’’ Mr Champion said.

He said the interim changes would come into effect from Thursday, and predicted would provide a quicker building approval process for the influx of applications expected.

Other changes will include the installation of roller doors or similar on all four sides of any enclosed area to ensure the free passage of floodwaters and a requirement to maintain open space areas around storage areas, with maximum storage area increased to 60 sqm, up from 15 sqm.

Shack settlements, including the flooded Paisley and Murbko communities will be rezoned to, to help development applications and rebuild efforts.

Mr Champion is introducing interim amendments to the Planning and Design Code, ahead of more consultation and an eventual River Murray Flood Resilience Code Amendment.

Loxton Waikerie District Council Mayor Trevor Norton said “responding so quickly and definitively will enable many to rebuild, reset their lives and avoid more duress’’.

Mid Murray Council Mayor Simone Bailey said “the policy strikes a good balance between flood mitigation strategies, as well as ensuring high quality building designs can still occur within the flood plain’’.

Mr Champion said the public could provide feedback on the proposed changes through the YourSAy site when it goes live this week.