SA floods: Waikerie ferry to temporarily shut to help long-term flood access
The Premier has announced a huge funding package for Murray communities affected by widespread flooding – with families eligible to snag up to $1000. Watch replay of the announcement.
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Premier Peter Malinauskas has announced a multimillion dollar funding package for River Murray communities.
As previewed by The Advertiser on Monday, the $51.6 million financial assistance aims to help communities impacted by floodwaters in the coming month.
Individuals and families affected by large-scale River Murray flooding will be eligible for grants of up to $1000 under the assistance package jointly funded by the state and federal governments.
The package includes grants of up to $400 for an individual or $1000 for families displaced from their homes in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
Up to two weeks’ emergency accommodation will be provided for those unable to return to their homes.
Riverland and Murraylands businesses will be eligible for grants of up to $50,000 to assist with costs of private levy works, while rental assistance of up to $2000 for singles and $5000 for uninsured families will be available for those unable to return to their homes.
The SA Housing Authority’s bond guarantee program will be extended for homeowners required to relocate due to power outages and generator purchase grants of $500 for individuals and $4000 for businesses will be on offer for those switched off from the grid.
Early Business Closure Grants of $10,000 for non-employing businesses and $20,000 for employing businesses will be available for those forced to cease trading prior to when floodwaters hit.
The package also includes a bumper tourism boost, with $3m pumped into three rounds of $200 accommodation and experience vouchers to be handed out once waters recede and $1.1m committed to a “Book Them Out”-style marketing campaign.
Additional funding includes:
- $3m to meet the costs of relocating or re-establishing pumping and generator infrastructure for irrigators
- $501,000 to reinforce houseboat moorings and pump stormwater
- $1m for mental health support
- $2m preparedness fund to be administered by flood recovery co-ordinator Alex Zimmermann
- Government fees and charges waived for houseboat and tourism operators
- $10m to remediate critical infrastructure, including roads, ferries and essential services
Mr Malinauskas said the funding would help the government “get ahead of the game” in its flood recovery efforts, pledging to help the region’s tourism industry back on its feet once the devastation subsided.
“We’re seeking to support those businesses that are most affected,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“We want to provide support for households ... but we also want to make sure the state government stands by those industries that will be affected hardest by this emergency.
“We hope there will be a massive surge in demand to get out and support the Riverland community.”
The premier said further funding was on the cards in coming months, with high river flows expected to continue into early 2023.
“The government stands ready to do what is necessary to support those most in need,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“We have got a journey ahead of us and we are all determined to work together.”
Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said individuals and businesses would be able to access payments via a hotline and relief centres, which would be established in Berri and River Murray communities in coming days.
Mr Mullighan said representatives from PIRSA, the Department for Industry and the Department of Environment and Water would be stationed at relief centres to assist with access to grants.
“We’re not sure exactly how many businesses will qualify for this but we’re allowing for it get into the hundreds, with similar numbers for households,” he said.
Business SA welcomed the relief package, which chief executive Andrew Kay said was reflective of the urgency of the situation.
“When emergency situations like this happen, the business community need support that is simple to obtain and readily accessible for a broad range of operators,” he said.
“The grants of up to $50,000 for business owners should be delivered immediately and without unnecessary red tape to support businesses with the costs of bringing levees up to a certified engineering standard.”
CRITICAL FERRY TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE
Earlier on Tuesday, he said “preventing what is preventable” must be top priority as the Riverland prepares for further flooding.
Mr Malinauskas, the Cabinet and government officials met with council representatives at the Berri Barmera Council chambers to discuss preparations as the River Murray continues to swell.
He said the current flooding event was unique to others that have come before it.
“Clearly the first order of business is preparing as best we possibly can, with a view to prevent what is preventable,” he said.
“We know that, at this stage, 3500-4000 properties are set to be inundated on the models that we have available as things currently stand.”
The meeting, which was open to the media for a brief period, also heard from emergency services including the SES and police, as well as SA Power Networks.
On Tuesday morning, Mr Malinauskas inspected rising water levels at Waikerie, where the ferry will temporarily shut so that the landing ramp can be shifted to higher ground.
On the first stop of his trip to the Riverland, Mr Malinauskas spoke with locals and officials about the flooding situation and viewed the water peaks of previous floods.
He was joined by Deputy Premier Susan Close, Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs and Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis, as well as Department for Infrastructure and Transport chief executive Jon Whelan.
Mr Whelan said the Waikerie ferry would close for 24 hours on Wednesday while the ramp is moved.
“That will enable us to continue operation of the ferry, so we ask for the patience of people,” he said.
Following that, the ferry will first reopen to light vehicles before it is opened to trucks after a few days.
The last time the high-water landings were used was in 1993.
“Waikerie ferry is a critical one to our operations and it’s important that we can keep it operating,” Mr Whelan said.
“That will be really important to our communities, we’ll be able to keep their access running so they can avoid long detours.”
Waiting to cross the river on Tuesday morning was Mark Johnson, an electrician who was going to a job site.
He said he lives across the river and uses the ferry every day.
“We will make sure we get across before it shuts at 9am tomorrow,” he said.
Mr Johnson said the owners of several properties around his have had to raise their river pumps for domestic water supply.
“Obviously the irrigators are also struggling with that as well, but now it’s actually starting to kick people out of their homes, which is very sad,” he said.
“Our pump is relatively high but if it comes up as high as they’re telling us then I’ll have to make some other arrangements once we’re at the peak.”
He said there was a mixture of feelings within the community about the rising water levels.
“Most of us have seen it before so we’re relatively confident that we can come through and go out the other side,” he said.
“But I’ve been here 27 years, this might be the biggest one I’ve seen since I’ve been here, depending on how high it gets.”
Mr Malinauskas spoke with ferry operator, Luke Waye, who said he expected more people would use the Waikerie ferry once the service at Morgan was forced to close.
“I’m sure we’ll get busier,” he told the Premier.
He also spoke with Anthony Bergen, owner of Cadell General Store, who said business had slowed because owners of local shacks had not been staying in the town.
“Their road is still open but it will be covered by water by the end of the week,” he said.
“Plus, all the camping grounds have shut down, so that’s slowed us down. We rely on the campers coming up and we’ll lose that this year.”
However, he also expected the temporary closures of other river ferries would mean more people would come to Cadell to use that service.
Mr Bergen said, at the moment, it was expected that one home at Cadell would be submerged in floodwater.
“It’s one of those things. The levels have been changed and so no one really knows what’s going to happen,” he said.
He encouraged tourists to continue to visit the area.
“If you’ve never seen the Murray before, you wouldn’t think it’s flooded. It looks magnificent with all the backwaters filled for a change. The wildlife is still hanging around,” he said.
“It’s a great time to see the river.”
Mr Malinauskas and the Cabinet will also visit Berri, Barmera and Mannum during the day trip.
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