Mannum Hotel ‘in trouble’ after River Murray floods send sales plummeting – as emergency declaration ends

Just a few hours after The Advertiser reported a Mannum pub was set to close because it had been ignored by the state government, things changed.

The owners of the Mannum Hotel, who feared they would go out of business, have been notified of a $20,000 government grant – but only after inquiries by The Advertiser.

As the state’s flood Emergency Management Declaration was revoked on Thursday, Mannum Hotel owners Linda and Peter Raison said they lost 70 per cent of usual revenue after being effectively shut down over the busy festive period.

Despite being physically open for all but a short time when the cellar flooded, Ms Raison said “they might as well be closed” as the floods shut down Mannum’s main street.

“People just automatically presumed we were closed,” she said.

The pub’s sales “plummeted” and a usual $25,000 week barely hit $8000 in turnover. They were also set back $4900 for a second-hand generator when the power went down.

“They (the government) have been prancing around on television saying they are going to help us – that makes me angry,” Ms Raison said.

Peter and Linda Raison, owners of The Mannum Hotel. Picture: Supplied

Emergency crews outside the Mannum Hotel after the basement was flooded with water on New Year’s Eve. Picture: 7NEWS

“Because by the time they come to our rescue, it’s already too late. I’ve got another, probably, two weeks of operating to be honest. I’m really in trouble if I don’t get some funding.”

Ms Raison applied in mid-December for a $4000 grant towards the generator and in late January for a separate $20,000 grant as an affected business. She has heard nothing from the government.

“For it to be emergency funding, which they (the government) are claiming it to be … they aren’t moving very quickly on it,” Ms Raison said.

“We just got through Covid, we had a drought … we had a few hiccups along the way and we managed to get through it.

Peter Raison, owner of The Mannum Hotel. Picture: Supplied

Closed sign on the Mannum Hotel. Picture: Ben Clark

“This would have to be the toughest, even tougher than Covid.”

Barker MP Tony Pasin said: “It’s disappointing that the rhetoric heard in Adelaide regarding financial support for individuals and businesses impacted by the flood in the Riverland and Murraylands is not being matched by actions on the ground.”

On Thursday evening, after the story ran on Advertiser.com.au, Ms Raison said she had received a government email saying the $20,000 grant would be paid within five days.

A government spokeswoman said the Industry Department had “assessed and recently approved” that grant.

She said it had been working with the Raisons on the generator grant since the application was lodged “to ensure the department has the required documentation supporting the purchase”.

She said 100 businesses had received financial assistance, while 217 generator grants had been approved.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has lifted the emergency declaration, the second longest of its kind in the state’s history.

Bans on swimming, kayaking and jet skiing have been lifted for almost all of the river, with limits lifted from the border to the downriver side of the Wellington ferry crossing.

Some restrictions still remain in place in Zones A. B. C. D. E and F. including operating a human-powered vessel and swimming, bathing or diving within 250 metres of a lock or weir, being within 50 metres from any point along the length of an overhead power line, if in or on a flood plain and towing a person from the vessel.

Prohibitions remain for the entire river on entering or remaining on an engaged levee, anchoring or mooring a vessel against an engaged levee and operating a vessel over four knots within 250m of a submerged dwelling or structure.

The aftermath and debris left behind as the Murray River Flood waters recede at Foxtale Houseboats house and property in the Riverland town of Morgan SA. Picture Emma Brasier

In Zone G, which runs from the downriver side of the Wellington ferry crossing to Lake Alexandrina, the Coorong, the Lower Lakes and the Murray Mouth, swimming and human-powered vessels are banned within 750m of the Murray Mouth and 250m of barrages.

SES chief executive Chris Beattie said the presence of emergency services would be scaled back in coming days.

Just four levees remain that are actively protecting properties at the Morgan Caravan Park and Mannum.

Fewer than 25 people remain in state government-funded emergency housing, with about 3700 nights of accommodation used out of the 25,000 booked by authorities as a contingency, Mr Beattie said.