SES steps up flood response as Riverbend Caravan Park visitors and residents told to leave after fears of private levee failure
The SES has stepped up its flood response, doorknocking thousands of properties and 530 houseboats in Riverland areas set to be inundated by water.
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The SES has doorknocked 5000 properties and 530 houseboats in Riverland areas set to be inundated by water as it steps up its flood response.
About 200 personnel from several organsaions are going door-to-door in a co-ordinated response to increase public awareness.
And more than 200m of DefenCELL water protection technology was built earlier this week to protect Mannum from the rising flood waters.
“Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of South Australians impacted by this declared major emergency,’’ SES chief executive Chris Beatie said.
“We are ensuring people have the information they need to make informed decisions about how and when they will respond.”
Mr Beattie said regular community meetings would continue across River Murray communities.
The SES is also bracing for more “inevitable” levee failures after a Renmark caravan park was evacuated on Tuesday night.
An emergency warning message was issued for the Riverbend Caravan Park just before 10pm on Tuesday, after a “large” number of defects were identified in a private levee.
Six people were ordered to evacuate immediately, with four of those moved to temporary emergency accommodation.
Mr Beattie said crews attended the caravan park early Tuesday evening after initial reports of levee failure and evacuation began after assessment was finished.
“Yesterday, we assisted in evacuating people from a caravan park in Renmark after identifying a number of defects in the privately constructed levee,” he said.
“We continue to work closely with the Department of Environment and Water and local councils to inspect levees protecting townships, critical infrastructure, businesses and people’s homes along the River Murray.”
Mr Beattie said there were “a range of issues with the levee” including fractures of the levee face, water penetration and groundwater seepage, which made the adjacent pavement unstable.
“The site was deemed unsafe and we took immediate action in the interests of community safety to ensure residents were doorknocked and supported in their evacuation,” Mr Beattie said.
Mr Beattie said it was inevitable other private levees would have defects and fail as the flood crisis worsened.
“The standard of those levees vary considerably … we have been working closely with those levy owners with regards to design standards,” Mr Beattie said.
“We will be working with those primary levees of concern and ensuring levee owners undertake their routine inspections.
“If the engineers assess that the levees present a risk of catastrophic failure and inundation, we’ll need to move people out of the way. Levees don’t fail overnight – there are telltale signs of emerging defects and that’s what (assessors) will be looking out for.”
The Riverbend Caravan Park has been closed until further notice.
Liberal MP for Chaffey Tim Whetstone said the Big 4 caravan park at Renmark remained open and safe to visitors.
“Anyone considering coming up to have a look, please do so - check the warnings, check all the safety aspects, but the Riverland is still open for business, and we are still accepting visitors to come up and experience what will potentially be a one in 70-year event,” Mr Whetstone told ABC Radio.
Emergency crews responded to another levee breach in the vicinity of Plush Bend Rd and Crescent St, South of Renmark on Tuesday, with one resident ordered to evacuate.
In a post to Facebook, the Riverbend Caravan Park said the decision by the SES was “precautionary”.
“It is important to correct that the levees did not break nor was the park inundated with water,” the post read.
“We have been working tirelessly with the authorities on the engineering of our levees and have been conducting regular inspections with them to ensure the continued safety of our guests.
“This was a precautionary decision in the best interest of our guests.”
It is understood all guests were given notice before the evacuation was activated.
“Unfortunately, the hour of this decision meant upcoming guests weren’t contacted prior to the public announcement,” the post continued.
“All guests with upcoming bookings will be contacted in the coming days to discuss rebooking their well deserved holiday.
“We thank all our guest for their support, concern, well wishes and patience as we continue working towards protecting the Park.”
The 2m-high levee at the park was still being built when The Advertiser visited the park last week.
In early November, Riverbend Caravan Park manager Craig von Bertouch told The Advertiser he was confident most of the park would be safe from flooding.
“I would sort of think it will flood up to that section but the rest of the park will remain open,” he said.
If people require relief assistance and temporary accommodation an emergency relief centre is open at Berri Senior Citizens Hall on 9 Crawford Terrace, at Berri.
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