Race against time to extend or build new Riverland levees as floodwaters rise

Riverland communities are racing to build new levees alongside caravan parks and towns, or extend existing ones, as the River Murray rises.

A new levee being built in Morgan has caravan park owner Leigh Cock more hopeful he can keep trading as the River Murray continues to rise.

“I guess it’s put a positive aspect that there looks like there’s potential for future trading that we didn’t think we’d had five days ago,’’ said the Morgan Riverside Caravan Park owner.

However, Mr Cock said he was still seeking some clarity as it was possible the SES could declare an “exclusion zone’’ behind the reconstructed levee, depending on how high the river rose. Such a declaration could force Mr Cock to close his business.

Mid Murray Council chief executive Ben Scales said the levee was being built to withstand a daily flow rate of 250GL but was uncertain at what level the “exclusion zone’’ would be enforced. He said it would be when a “significant load’’ was placed on the flood bank.

A drone photo of the levee being built along on the banks of the Murray at Mannum. Photo: Dave Hartley – Mannum Motel/River Shack Rentals

A levee being built at the side of the Morgan Riverside Caravan Park. Picture: Supplied

“We will work, as will the SES, with Leigh to try to ensure that he can operate as much as he can, but there may be a time because of safety reasons that he may not be able to operate,’’ Mr Scales said.

A new levee is built at Morgan, and the existing one extended at Morgan Riverside Caravan Park Picture: Supplied

An extra 2m is being built on top of the existing levee outside the Morgan caravan park, while a new 4m bank is being built from the southern edge of the park to the cliff face and is expected to take three weeks to complete.

“We don’t expect it to get that high, (to 250GL), but we want to plan for if it does,’’ he said.

Mr Scales also said it was “full-steam ahead’’ in building the new temporary levee at Mannum, which will divide the town’s main street, but will also protect the town for flow rates up to 250GL.

A new levy to hold back floodwaters at Waikerie has been completed.

District Council of Loxton-Waikerie chief executive officer David Beaton said the levy would provide flood protection for the football club, the old bond store, the caravan park and other facilities.

Mr Beaton said the levy would likely remain in place for at least a year after floodwaters had receded.

The levee construction at Waikerie in progress. Picture: Connie Little

The levee under construction at Mannum. Picture: Dave Hartley – Mannum Motel/River Shack Rentals

Mid-Murray Council Mayor Simone Bailey at the levy being built at Mary Ann reserve in Mannum. Picture: Tom Huntley

New pictures: Rising River Murray at Mannum, Loxton

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“I think you’d want to be sure that La Nina was well and truly over and you weren’t going to get another flood year before you took it away,” Mr Beaton said.

He said the citizens of the area had shown a lot of resilience in the face of the rising floodwaters, but said there was a long way to go.

“This is going to go on for months and months and it will get hard,” Mr Beaton said.

“But the recovery is going to be the big thing. A lot of roads and infrastructure are going to be affected.”