River Murray Flood Experience doubles down on tourism plan to fly over floods

Luxury scenic flights over flood-affected areas of the Riverland have drawn criticism – but the tour operator behind the experience says it will benefit the local economy.

A tourism scheme which allows people to fly over flood affected areas of the Riverland has caused a stir online with some people have claimed the organisers are “cashing in on other’s misfortune”.

The River Murray Flood Experience offers luxe scenic flights over flood-affected areas of the Riverland starting at $250 for 30 minutes up to $395 for an hour-long session.

“It should appeal to the most discerning customer as we’ve got a beautiful aircraft with lovely comfortable leather seats and up to date headsets,” Kathy Elliott, who organised the scheme, said.

An aerial view of the flooding the Riverland. Picture: River Murray Flood Experience Facebook

Not everyone is on board with the scenic flights, which depart from Waikerie Airport and tour historic flooding in the Riverland.

“Do you also do flight experiences over bushfire affected areas?! Seems a little crass to me,” Christie Ramsey said on Facebook.

Another commenter, Andrew Bowell simply said, “Are you kidding?”

But Ms Elliott, who lives in Waikerie, has doubled down on the concept, which opened for bookings on Thursday.

Ms Elliott insisted the tourism scheme would benefit the local Riverland economy and drive people to an area desperate for a reprieve from the devastation.

“What we’re doing is trying to find another means of tourism because we’ve lost all the foot traffic from all the shops and people that come and camp,” Ms Elliott said.

River Murray Flood Experience is offering flights over flood-affected areas. Picture: Supplied

Bookings are handled by travel agent Yvette Kelly, who claimed organisers would not see profit.

“We’re not doing it for profit,” Ms Kelly said.

“We want the town to profit from this because they’re going to need it.”

The rationale behind the scenic flights is to view the floods in a different light to the destruction it has caused.

“We have a view of trying to turn a negative of all the flood drama and problems into a positive by being able to offer people the opportunity to see mother nature in her most glorious fashion,” Ms Elliott said.

“The flood plains and the river merging into each other at the moment just takes my breath away.”

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Disaster is not the term Ms Elliott would use to describe the flooding in the Riverland.

“I don’t see it as a disaster, this is a weather event and this is mother nature doing what it does,” she said.

“With the bird life and the ecology of the river, I know this must sound a little crazy, but it’s almost like the river is singing.”

The flooding will be a net positive outcome for the Riverland Ms Elliott said.

“To be able to get a flood like this that fills up all the aquifers and the Murray Darling Basin, all the benefits far outweigh the destruction.”

But despite the backlash there is demand for the service according to Ms Elliott.

“The minute we launched the website we had 100 inquiries.”