Biggest ever disaster cash splash unleashed for flood hit towns along River Murray

River communities in SA are now in line for the largest disaster assistance package in the state’s history as they confront the worst floods since 1956.

River Murray communities will benefit from the largest disaster assistance package in South Australia’s history to help them recover from the state’s biggest flood since 1956 - and the bill could get higher.

It comes after the federal and state government announced a jointly-funded injection of $126.25m on Wednesday, taking the total financial assistance package to about $192m.

The financial support tops the $169m that was distributed to affected communities during the devastating Hills and Kangaroo Island bushfires in the summer of 2019/2020.

Further funding is anticipated in the coming months as the state government assesses the damaged caused to key infrastructure when floodwaters recede.

The latest allocation includes $9.3m for small businesses, with $50,000 grants available for each individual enterprise, which can be accessed in addition to the $10,000 already on the table.

Brad and Nicole Flowers Owners of the Overland Corner Hotel at Overland Corner on the River Murray in the Riverland. Picture: Emma Brasier

But federal Emergency Management Minister Senator Murray Watt said the latest grants will be for businesses directly impacted by floodwaters.

“The assistance that the state government had already announced from my understanding was more directed towards businesses who may not have been directly flood inundated, but have suffered some sort of financial loss as a result of those floods,” he said.

“The bigger grants that are being announced today... are particularly for businesses who have actually received floodwaters into their business.”

Historic Overland Corner Hotel owner Brad Flowers said the grant would help them get on the front foot in their road to recovery.

“We’re hopeful it will get us across the line... we have a big clean-up ahead that will include repairing infrastructure, clearing residual rubbish and restoring our existing levees,” he said.

“It’s a much-appreciated boost and we’re grateful the process to help businesses like ours hasn’t been dragged out so that we can get on with the recovery.”

Mr Flowers said spirits remained high, despite a “gut-wrenching” period.

“We cancelled hundreds of bookings, but the emotional outpouring of support has been amazing, everyone has chipped in to offer help to us,” he said.

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“We’re looking forward to the day we can swing our doors open again.”

A further $45.9m will be available for the clean-up and reinstatement of primary producer businesses and $60m will be used for an overall waste management program.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the package demonstrated the commitment of both governments to helping communities recover.

“We are actively turning our minds to recovery because we do know it’s going to be a very substantial undertaking,” he said.

The flood’s peak is still passing through Riverland communities and will subsequently impact downriver areas in the coming weeks.

Mr Malinauskas said a further financial injection may be required, particularly when it comes to impacted infrastructure.

Premier Peter Malinauskas with SES Chief Chris Beattie, Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt and Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs. Picture: Emma Brasier

“I think it will take some time before we start to get a true picture of how much funding will be required to fix the infrastructure,” he said.

“We literally have no idea how much damage has been done to the state government and federal government roads, that just can’t be seen because they’re inundated.”

Water Resources Shadow Minister Nicola Centofanti welcomed the package and said it was critical those affected get the support they need.

“Funding is a good start, but it’s the on the ground delivery of the assistance package which will be the most important thing.

The State Emergency Service is also preparing for the recovery phase, including the development of a framework to reintegrate water activities in the river.

Chief executive Chris Beattie said an announcement was expected on Wednesday.

“We’ve been working very closely over the last four or five days with South Australian Police and officers from the Department of Infrastructure and Transport,” he said,

“We hope to make some announcements about tomorrow in relation to how that’s going to be managed.”