State government refuses financial assistance for “full-time private holiday homes”

River Murray shack owners have been left high and dry with the government refusing financial assistance to help them repair or rebuild after the floods.

River Murray holiday home owners will be left with massive renovation bills after the government announced they will not financially support “full-time private holiday homes” affected by flooding.

Those whose primary place of residence may be eligible to apply for up to $48,830 in stamp duty relief on the purchase of a new home while temporary residents are set to receive no financial aid.

Swan Reach shack owner Sue Hedley believed she was in a “bad dream” after her holiday home of 34 years was destroyed by the devastating floods.

“There are no words to describe seeing your residence full of water,” she said.

The shack will need to be totally demolished and rebuilt which Ms Hedley predicted will be “north of $250,000” and take at least two years.

“I think it wouldn’t hurt to give us something to help,” she said.

The flood damaged holiday home of Swan Reach resident Sue Hedley taken Jan 27, 2023.

The flood damaged holiday home of Swan Reach resident Sue Hedley taken Jan 27, 2023.

“They (the government) should keep in mind that all the people that have places on the river keep all those little towns going so if we’re not there, they’re going to suffer as well.”

Ms Hedley could not imagine flood waters would almost reach her ceiling.

“It’s like waiting for a tsunami,” she said.

“I mean you’re just sitting there waiting, knowing it’s going to come but not knowing when and what’s going to happen.

“You can’t get a firetruck to put the fire out because it’s not a fire you know, you just sort of sit and wait – it’s beyond anybody’s control,” the former business owner said.

Mid-Murray council Mayor Simone Bailey said “Mid Murray has a significant holiday home population”.

“They are an important part of our community,” she said.

Sue Hedley from Swan Reach.

The flood damaged holiday home of Sue Hedley.

“The impact on these families is devastating, but there is also a flow on effect to the businesses that support and benefit from the influx of people to the region.”

Kingston On Murray temporary resident, Noel Woollacott, whose front bedroom was completely damaged by the floodwaters, said while he is “fortunate and lucky enough to afford” a second property “it would be nice if a bit of money is being handed out”.

“Shack owners pump a lot of money into the towns … without the temporary people they wouldn’t be able to survive,” Mr Woollacott said.

“If people who have shacks stop going, the local community is going to miss out.”

Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said the tax relief efforts were focused on “those people who need to physically move their properties because it is uninhabitable for them”.

“The last thing they deserve is to cop another bill from the government potentially in the 10s of thousands of dollars from something like stamp duty,” he said.

“That’s why we’re providing the relief.”