Rising river levels in the Murray, but swimmers, boaties just enjoying the sun

MURRAY River shack owners are warily monitoring rising water levels but the predicted threat did not stop holiday-makers enjoying sun-soaked fun at the weekend.

Brothers Jeremy and Lyam Marshall, aged 3 and 8, enjoy the river at the front of their Bowhill shack. Photo: Tom Huntley

MURRAY River shack owners are warily monitoring rising water levels but the predicted threat did not stop holiday-makers enjoying sun-soaked fun at the weekend.

Water levels are expected to reach 65 GL/day this week, and the State Emergency Service has warned that predicted water levels are likely to cause minor flooding in the shack areas between Cadell and Mannum.

Water was yesterday lapping at two remote shacks at Swan Reach, and jetty’s in the Walker Flat and Bow Hill area.

It is understood the ferry service at Walker Flat will not be affected by the rising tides, which are likely to be impacted as flows remain high into December.

At Bow Hill, shack residents said they had considered sand bagging, but were yet to take action.

A few had started moving appliances, such as washing machines and fridges, off the ground in case their garages become inundated with water.

However, others said they didn’t believe the water would reach as high as predicted, and they were trusting permanent residents to alert them if their shack was under threat.

Murray Bridge father of two Jayme Marshall, 39, has been coming to a family shack at Bow Hill for more than 30 years.

He said the water was about two feet higher than usual but their shack had always escaped rising water levels unscathed.

“We’ve never had any issues with flooding here at all,” Mr Marshall said.

“It’s threatened to a couple of times they’ve had warnings. The biggest drama we’ve had with river levels was when it was really low.”

But while shack-goers and local tourism enjoy the benefits that increased flows deliver to the environment — including birds, fish and frog species, which are thriving in the conditions — the Coorong and Lower Lakes are not going to benefit, according to University of Adelaide associate professor David Paton.

He said that although the increased flows would be great for the river, it would have no long-term benefit on the Coorong and southern lakes because barrage controls meant that at the end of December, there would be little water from the Murray and aquatic plants would be exposed.

“There will be responses along the river and flood plains,” Mr Paton said.

“The will be no substantial change to the southern end, while sediments left from the water could help the mud flaps at the top of the Coorong. But it’s not going to provide any immediate recovery or lasting recovery.”