‘Flood keeper’ calls rejected with major Riverland peak set to hit by Christmas

There is light at the end of the tunnel for river communities as updated modelling is revealed, while calls for Covid-style relief for impacted businesses have been shut down.

River Murray flood peaks are set to hit in coming days in Renmark and Berri, including Christmas Day and Boxing Day – but waters could subside earlier than predicted.

Emergency Minister Joe Szakacs confirmed that updated modelling predicted a Christmas inundation for communities, acknowledging the difficulty families and businesses in the region would face, but said wage relief was “already available” amid calls for ‘flood keeper’ subsidies.

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

An estimated 225 businesses and 4000 hectares of agricultural production are expected to be impacted by flood waters by the end of December.

But Mr Szakacs hit back at calls from Barker MP Tony Pasin to introduce a Covid JobKeeper-style support scheme for businesses hurt by the floods.

Mr Pasin said Riverland businesses must be given an urgent lifeline to survive in the wake of a snap ban on all non-essential aquatic activities on the river, during what should be tourist operators’ busiest time of the year.

Mr Szakacs said wage support was already available for those who need it through the region’s emergency relief centres – including early business closure grants of up to $20,000.

“There‘s been a very significant economic package already … but we’ve been very open that is our first and we’re currently finalising some further details regarding a joint state and federal package,” he said.

“It may have been easy for those calling for wage relief to have missed that there actually is wage relief available. The federal government is responsible for wage replacement, wage relief and wage subsidies. That‘s currently in place – 13 weeks,”

“If anybody hasn‘t yet accessed that, my strong urging and encouragement is to do so.”

In light of the state government’s announcement to ban on non-essential aquatic activities, Riverland Liberal MP Tim Whetstone criticised the approach and the communication from authorities.

“What struck me was when I spoke to the Premier about the announcement, there appeared to be a bit of a cookie-cutter approach,” he said.

“If we look at back waters and we look at some of those flood plains, they are where the experiences are and I would like to think that the government would give some consideration to allowing activities to happen on those back orders.

“The on-ground knowledge is critically important and it has been missing in some of these announcements … the messaging has been poor and it has been inaccurate and that has led to significant costs.”

Local Riverland MP Tim Whetstone has thrown his support behind a ‘flood keeper’ initiative for businesses in Riverland. Picture: Emma Brasier

Peak ‘within days’ and levees compromised, but some relief on the horizon

On Thursday morning, 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.

MAPPED: What Murray’s mega flows will do to river towns

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.

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.

River warning over men’s drunken escapade

Meanwhile, a ban on recreational activities in the flood-ravaged River Murray has already been breached, with two “drunk men” taking to the water in a bizarre escapade.

SA Police said two men had been caught on Wednesday, attempting to take blow-up mattresses into the water at Ponde.

Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott said the pair had been cautioned over the incident.

Emergency Minister Joe Szakacs slammed the actions of the “two idiots”, saying they had risked undue pressure on exhausted emergency services with their “silly behaviour”.

“Even in an event where there are not restrictions, that would still be dangerous behaviour and it would still be putting our emergency services under load with an expectation or possibility that they may need to respond to pull two idiots out of the water,” he said.

“I don’t expect communities to be doing the wrong thing. I have immense confidence that river communities and the whole of SA will be doing the right thing during this difficult time.”

Mr Szakacs reminded visitors that Lake Bonney remained fully exempt from recreation restrictions, urging tourists to visit the Barmera region as a “safe haven” from floodwaters if they wished to hit the water.

SA Health added the majority of the water was safe following concerns of contamination by blue-green algae.