SA flooding: Farmers get 300mm of rain over the weekend

The record deluge has caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage – but some farmers are looking on the bright side, saying the big wet will be good for the cropping season.

Flooding rain left a torrent of water flowing across grain fields at Paul Schaefer’s 1500-hectare property at Pinkawillinie, about 40 kilometres west of Kimba.

Mr Schaefer said more than 150 hectares of his land remained flooded at depths of up to 16 feet.

“We actually only had about half of (the rain) some others got, but it’s all flowing down now on to our property,” he said.

He estimated the cost of the clean-up would be “in the tens of thousands”, but said the rain would prove beneficial for cropping.

Leigh Fitzgerald’s property at Emu Rocks, where they had 300mm of rain over the weekend. Picture: Leigh Fitzgerald

A girl in the water in the Gawler Ranges. Picture: Katrina Morris

“We’ve got a full profile of (soil) moisture, so that’s a pretty positive start to the year,” he said.

Among the group swimming in an inland sea was Mr Schaefer’s niece, five-year-old Sophie Fitzgerald, who splashed in the shallows with local dog Indy as her sister and cousin played in the deeper water with neighbours.

As the sun set, the group enjoyed jumping off a rubber mat, playing with inflatable toys and swimming down the torrent, while Indy jumped up on a paddle board for a ride around the new lake.

“I enjoy a bit of water skiing so that might be next,” Mr Schaefer joked.

Neighbour Dekota Woolford, 14, who spent the afternoon swimming in the water, said neither he, nor his parents or grandparents, had ever seen anything like it.

Milly Fitzgerald and Eve Schaefer play in the flooded wheat fields of Pinkawillinie, West of Kimba. Picture Emma Brasier

Flooded farmland near Kimba. Picture: Tara Kenny

Flooded farmland near Kimba. Picture: Tara Kenny

Flooding has caused road closures on the Stuart Highway near Marla. Picture: Janice/Marla Traveler's Rest

“I never thought I’d be swimming in my neighbour’s paddock,” he said.

“We’ve been out catching yabbies on the flooded road … it’s just crazy.”

More than 300 millimetres of rain was recorded over Saturday and Sunday with the Eyre Peninsula pummelled.

Among the locations hardest hit was Emu Rocks, north of Kimba, where the 320mm weekend rainfall exceeded the average annual figure of 300mm.

Kimba officially recorded 160mm in the 24 hours to 9am on Saturday – the most ever to fall in a single day.

Further north, chief executive of the Roxby Council, Roy Blight, said all sealed roads remained closed on Monday in and around Roxby Downs and unsealed roads were unpassable.

Samuel, Flynn and Patrick Fitzgerald playing in the floods. Picture: Leigh Fitzgerald

He said it was hard to assess whether the structure of the roads had been damaged from the rain.

“It’s a difficult time but we just ask for everyone’s patience while we sort this out,” he said.

He said once the moisture had cleared the rain was welcome in the town.

“It’s going to be a transformational rain event, and I’m really excited to see the landscape change,” Mr Blight said.

“We’re a very low rainfall area … and to get that much in one event is phenomenal.”

Premier Steven Marshall said it was too early to assess the total impact of the flood.

“Our priority is to get those roads and other critical infrastructure in place quickly or repaired and activated as quickly as possible,” he said.

“The critical thing is we want to get behind and support those communities who are most impacted both from an infrastructure perspective, but we’re also hearing about some soil erosion.”