Heartless grinches steal Rudolph from flood-ravaged Riverland

A River Murray community has pleaded for the safe return of a festive sculpture, which had been installed to bring festive cheer as the region battles with rising flood waters.

A River Murray community has pleaded for the safe return of a festive sculpture after heartless thieves nabbed a reindeer from the town centre.

The large white sculpture, part of the Waikerie Christmas Committee’s ‘reindeer project’, was stolen from the town’s Civic Centre Grounds on Saturday night.

The reindeer was one of a number of installations set up with the help of the Waikerie Men’s Shed.

In a post to Facebook, the committee urged the community to alert the Men’s Shed if the stolen Rudolph was spotted in someone’s backyard.

“We hope that those who stole the large reindeer from the Civic Centre lawns on Saturday night have a great Christmas,” they wrote.

“You obviously needs the joy more than anyone else in the community.”

Heartless grinches have stolen a large reindeer statue from the Waikerie Civic Centre. Picture: Christmas in Waikerie / Facebook

The reindeer were installed to bring festive cheer to the flood-affected community. Picture: Christmas in Waikerie / Facebook

The committee installed the reindeers, festive banners, three large street trees and a festive ‘Christmas tree trail’ in a bid to bring Christmas cheer to the flood-affected area.

Earlier, the committee had warned would-be thieves against attempting to ruin the Christmas spirit – to no avail.

“We would really hope no one would want to ruin such a child-friendly Christmas display,” they wrote on Facebook.

“But to those inquiring about vandalism, the decorations are staked in, padlocked with chain and under security surveillance from multiple vantage points.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas spent the night in Waikerie on Monday as part of a visit to the Riverland, as flooding rising towards historic levels.

Levee failure warnings

On Tuesday evening, residents of the Kingston on Murray Caravan Park were told to evacuate due to the impending threat of flooding.

In a statement Tuesday evening, the SES warned the “Kingston-on-Murray Caravan Park levee is failing and there is a risk of flood waters threatening the safety of people in the park”.

Residents were being told to leave providing there was a clear path and to follow their emergency plan.

The Advertiser understands that police and state emergency services were on the scene as an engineer assessed the levee.

It comes are more ferries and roads are preparing to close due to the floods in the Riverland, with the Purnong ferry shut down from 7pm Wednesday and the Walker Flat ferry from 7pm Thursday.

The Murray River flooding at Kingston On Murray in November. Picture: Kingston Murray River Pix

Swan Reach, Morgan, Lyrup and Mannum ferries closed earlier this month.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport also announced the closure of Kingston Road at Moorook for all heavy vehicle travel from 6pm on Tuesday. Light vehicles can use the road provided they comply with reduced speeds.

Part of Taylorville Road, near Ross Lagoon, is also expected to close by the end of the week due to rising river levels.

Premier Peter Malinauskas visited the flood-affected riverside town of Morgan on Tuesday. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Premier Peter Malinauskas says it was “an inevitability” that Riverland residents would be displaced from their homes as devastating flood waters rose, with an additional 22,000 overnight bed stays secured along the river for residents whose homes were inundated.

But, speaking at the Morgan Riverside Caravan Park, Mr Malinauskas urged South Australians not to give up on tourism in the region.

“The River Murray is a sight to behold at the best of times, but right at this moment it’s a one in 50 year event that is safe to look at provided you follow all the appropriate warnings,” Mr Malinauskas said.

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“I was at the Waikerie pub last night and they would love to see more people come up to visit.

“It is spectacular and it is safe to see.”

The premier said flows across the border were still on track to hit 190GL/day, but the likelihood remaining that water levels could hit 220GL/day.

Dredging for access at Morgan in early December. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Before and after sliders: Watch the river rise and homes flood with our interactive sliders

Mr Malinauskas arrived back in the Riverland on Monday as flooding hits historic levels.

He arrived at his first stop on Monday and spent the night in Waikerie before travelling to Morgan on Tuesday morning.

Mr Malinauskas was last in the Riverland for a tour with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier in December to address the historic flooding in the region.

The pair inspected flood preparations in Renmark ahead of the predicted peak flow which is now just days away.

Flooded properties on the Murray at Morgan on December 9. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Latest forecasts predict the water level at Lock 5 near Renmark is forecast to hit about 18.8m if flows reach 200GL/day.

Mr Albanese visited the hospital levee in Renmark, where extensive work has been undertaken over the last six weeks to ensure the protection of the riverside community.

The levee has been built to withstand 1956 flood levels.

He met members of the SES and Renmark-Paringa Council to be briefed on the situation.

“The Murray Darling Basin is a great national asset,” Mr Albanese said.

“It’s an environmental treasure but with it comes, of course, with the third season that we’ve seen of additional rains, it is having an enormous impact.”