SA Murray towns ready defences with two weeks til peak flows

The highest river flows in a generation are getting closer, and millions of dollars worth of military-style equipment is coming too.

An extra 1.5 million sandbags and 8km of military-style flood barriers will arrive in South Australia within weeks to help residents prepare for the highest River Murray levels in a generation.

The state government has announced it will spend $4.8m on flood defence resources, on top of the $3m it has already committed for levee bank restoration works.

And all cabinet ministers will join Premier Peter Malinauskas in a visit to the Riverland on Tuesday to discuss mitigation strategies with affected councils.

A supply of 200,000 of the hessian sandbags, to be flown in from India, as well as an additional 25,000 from within Australia, will be deployed to the Riverland by the end of the week, while a further 168,000 will be delivered by November 30.

The rest will be staggered intheir arrival over coming months.

Meanwhile, 3km of DefenCell barriers – designed for military defence as well as flood mitigation – arrived from India on Saturday, with a further 4km coming later this month from Italy.

Pictures: New aerial view as SA Murray swells

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The State Emergency Service is meeting with local councils to identify essential infrastructure and high value assets to protect with the barriers.

Current forecasts show peak flows of at least 175GL per day by the first week of December, with a moderate chance of reaching 200GL per day.

It’s estimated some 400 properties, many of them shacks near Morgan and Mannum, will be inundated above floor level.

Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs said residents must “remain vigilant and continue to prepare”.

“For many people, this will be the biggest and most severe weather event you will have ever seen,” he said.

“It’s no secret that this event brings about anxiety. I urge people to visit the SES website for up-to-date information and take extra care when moving about the district over coming months.”

Mr Malinauskas said while additional sandbags would help, “it must be acknowledged that sandbags will not be able to protect every property”.

SES Netley workers demonstrate the speed and ease of filling a DefenCell with sand which can be used as a levee during flooding. Picture Emma Brasier

“With only two weeks until projected peak flows, the state government is acting as quickly and proactively as possible to minimise risk to lives, businesses and homes,” he said.

The extra sandbags come on top of the 300,000 sandbags already deployed to the Riverland.

Mr Malinauskas said the peak of the Murray’s fast flow had reached Wakool Junction, between Swan Hill and Euston, which meant forecasting of peak flows into SA would become more accurate.

Riverland residents are encouraged to discuss specific needs with SES and prepare for emergency.

This includes potential road and ferry closures, disruptions to the power network and reduced services.

In pictures: How the 1956 floods inundated SA

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Mannum considers main street levee

A levee down the middle of Mannum’s main street is among the flood mitigation strategies being considered by Mid Murray Council.

Mayor-elect Simone Bailey has spoken to residents about the levee, which would run down the length of Randell St parallel to the Murray River.

Floodwaters are expected to hit the town in two weeks. A levee was built down Randell St during the floods of 1974-75, during which time peak flow was recorded at 180GL a day.

Current forecasts show peak flows to reach at least 175GL a day, with a moderate chance flows will reach 200GL a day.

Ms Bailey said while no decision had been made, she urged residents and business owners from the Randell St and River Lane areas to attend a community meeting from 6pm Monday, at Mannum Leisure Centre, to discuss the idea. The levee would protect properties to the west of the street.

“Over the past weeks and months, the council has been on to engineers for advice, and we’re at that point now where a decision has to be made,” Ms Bailey said.

“Community engagement is very important to us. I will definitely be hoping the SA government will be able to provide financial assistance.”

A photo from 1975 shows the levee down the middle of Randell St, with properties on the riverside of the road affected by floodwaters. Sandbags were also used in the 1956 floods.

A state government spokesman said assistance would be provided for construction of levees, including at Mannum.

“The government is awaiting Mid Murray Council’s proposal to construct a levee, which we understand is imminent,” he said. “As soon as that is received, it will be quickly assessed and once approved we would expect works to start imminently.”