Council explains ‘unauthorised’ flood markers as premier reveals 500-bed short-term emergency accommodation plan

A “misunderstanding” has been blamed after four two-metre flood markers in the heart of Renmark prompted panic. It comes as an emergency housing package was announced.

• Gallery: Latest flood pictures

The Renmark Paringa Council has blamed a “misunderstanding” after two-metre flood markers were mistakenly erected in prominent areas of the town, sparking fear from residents.

Photos of the flood height markers were shared to social media on Monday night, prompting panic from locals over just how severe the impact of the floods crisis would be.

In a statement, Renmark Paringa Council said the flood markers on 18th St and Renmark Ave were not authorised and would be removed on Tuesday.

The Department of Infrastructure and Transport said the markers were installed in error by a contractor, who had been instructed to erect them in areas where roads could be inundated as a safety measure for drivers.

Floodmarkers installed in Renmark on Monday. Picture: Facebook

“Due to a miscommunication between the department and its contractor, the four markers were installed in locations in Renmark where they were not required,” a Department spokesperson said.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the mistake was an unfortunate outcome of a “complex situation”.

“This is an emergency … the volume of water that is coming is going to present a large number of challenges and things are going to go wrong,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“Over the weeks and months ahead, there will be mistakes that are made by a contractor or a private levee that breaks.

“These things are going to happen and what matters is the way we respond to it. I‘m actually grateful because once the error was identified, the department was sent to its quick rectification.”

SA floods: Latest pictures from above and on the water

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Accommodation support

The state government will pour $1.2m into offering alternative accommodation for flood-affected Riverland residents as a “last resort” when rising waters hit.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said approximately 260 households indicated they would require accommodation support in an unprecedented door knocking exercise of 4800 Riverland homes last week.

About 500 beds in houses, cottages, motel rooms and cabins in caravan parks through the Riverland and Mid-Murray areas will be booked for residents with no other option than to leave their homes.

Eligibility for accommodation support will be assessed in person at either the Berri or Mannum emergency relief centres.

In addition to the accommodation support, cash payments of up to $5000 will be available for residents required to leave their properties.

“I don’t think anything like it has ever occurred before. By door knocking individual homes and properties … we have the ability to directly communicate the options available to permanent residents,” Mr Malinauskas said.

To be eligible for support, residents’ primary place of residence must have been affected by the flood, and they must have no alternative housing options.

Mr Malinauskas said eligibility would be assessed on a “case-by-case basis”, with short-term, medium and long-term options available depending on the individual or family’s needs – but said it was a “difficult tightrope to walk” when determining who required support.

But the premier urged residents with alternative housing options, including secondary residences or family and friends with beds available, to take up those options rather than requesting emergency accommodation.

“We can’t have a situation where people are getting access to the absolute last resort option when they do have alternative options,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“Affected families shouldn’t see this as a first option.”

The accommodation offerings would also bolster financial support for businesses seeing cancellations amid the flood threat, Mr Malinauskas said.

“When governments pick up the phone and start calling accommodation providers and start booking out in large numbers it will find its way into the news media,” he said.

“But there’s a synergy between actively looking after an industry that we know has done it tough … and actually doing the right thing and ensuring that we’re prepared and have options available to us.”

A powered Riverland site has also been acquired for those with caravans unable to find a place at a caravan park, with capacity for up to 200 vehicles.

More ferries set to close

It comes as two more ferries are set to close as the Murray’s daily water flow continues to increase.

The Swan Reach and Morgan ferries will be closed from 7pm on Tuesday, December 6, the Department for Infrastructure and Transport has said.

Due to ever-changing conditions, other ferries may have to close on short notice, but the department says it is “closely monitoring water levels to keep ferries operating as long as it is safe to do so”.

The public has been advised to use the Walker Flat ferry or Murray Bridge for downstream and the Blanchetown Bridge for upstream in lieu of the Swan Reach ferry.

Those who usually travel on the Morgan ferry have been advised to instead use the Cadell ferry for upstream and the Blanchetown Bridge for downstream.

This comes after the Lyrup Upstream ferry was closed on November 30 and the Mannum Upstream ferry was closed on December 1.

Loxton-Berri road on Saturday, December 2. Picture: Facebook / Leanne Priest

South Punyelroo Road at Punyelroo, about 5km downstream from Swan Reach, on Saturday, December 4. Picture: Facebook/Rick Moran

A spokesperson from the Department of Infrastructure and Transport told The Advertiser that the Tailem Bend, Wellington, Nurang and Waikerie ferries have been assessed and will remain operational until the flow reaches at least 180GL per day.

“These ferries will become inaccessible if the connection road is closed,” the spokesperson said.

“Once the water reaches a certain height the ferry cannot latch safely to the landing infrastructure.”

Impending road closures also threaten to isolate Riverland communities with Bookpurnong Rd, from Berri to Kemp Rd, being closed since last Thursday evening.

A Facebook post from December 2 shows high water levels on Bookpurnong Rd.

Another post shows excessive flooding on South Punyelroo Road.