Cash boost to keep Murray River operators afloat

Small riverland businesses in South Australia will be offered a $10,000 cash boost for suffering a major hit to their earnings due to the state’s worst flood in more than 50 years.

The Murray River bursts its banks in the town of Waikerie, South Australia. Picture: Murray River Flood Experience / Cameron Kelly

Small riverland businesses along the Murray in South Australia will be offered a $10,000 cash boost if they suffer a major hit to earnings due to the state’s worst flood in more than 60 years, with authorities warning residents the region will remain in crisis for weeks.

Premier Peter Malinauskas unveiled the rescue package for businesses that experience a downturn of 30 per cent or more in revenue over three months, saying the funds can be used to keep the doors open, for marketing, or to modify their operations after the floodwaters flow through.

Addressing the escalating flood crisis on Tuesday, Mr Malinauskas said the volume of water travelling down the Murray from Victoria had peaked near Renmark – close to the border of the two states – after a six gigalitre-a-day drop-off for three days in a row.

“Whether you are a farming business or a tourism business, we want to provide you the support that is required so you can continue to employ people into the future,” he said.

“The flood crisis hasn’t eventuated to a 1956 level (but) it is still the biggest volume of water that we have seen come across the border in over 50 years in the state of South Australia.”

Businesses in nine local government areas will be able to apply for the grants, on top of relief funding from a $50m package announced by the Premier in November for businesses that opted to close early in ahead of the flood.

They include Alexandrina, Berri Barmera, Coorong, Karoonda East Murray, Loxton, Waikerie, Mid Murray, Murray Bridge, Pastoral Unincorporated Area and Renmark Paringa.

Submerged homes at Blanchetown. Picture: Murray River Flood Experience / Cameron Kelly

Tourism Industry Council chief Shaun de Bruyn welcomed the relief packaged and told The Australian many businesses along the Murray river had taken a “huge” hit to their earnings amid the flood crisis, and off the back of Covid-19 and bushfires. “It’s their peak season. Some still have customers. Some are closed and they will be for many months and there is everything in between,” he said.

“This time of year (tourists are normally) water skiing and recreating in the river. They can’t do that at the moment.

“The scale of the problem has been massive. We are looking for the commonwealth government to chip in more, we believe they will as we get further into the ­recovery phase.”

Mr de Bruyn said despite the flood crisis, visitors were still touring the region. “It is challenging but our industry is very resilient. There are still plenty of people ­visiting. We encourage people to still visit (but) check with the local information services.

SA Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said the latest round of funding would apply to businesses that tried to stay open during the height of the tourism season and in the middle of summer.

“It’s really important that we bear in mind for many businesses throughout the length of the river this is usually their busiest time,” he said.

“Whether they are a tourism operator, whether they are a pub or hospitality provider … to miss out on income at what would otherwise be the most lucrative period of the year for them can be very damaging.”

The Waikerie ferry operates in floodwaters. Picture: Murray River Flood Experience / Cameron Kelly

South Australia’s SES chief Chris Beattie said the flood level would continue to rise downstream of Renmark as the wall of water moved down the Murray.

“We are confident the … peak has passed. All other gauges downstream from Renmark continue to show rises and we will expect to see that outlook continue for the next 2½ weeks to three weeks,” he said.

He said the peak would reach Loxton (about 50km downstream from Renmark) in up to four days’ time. It is expected to reach Waikerie from December 29 to January 9 and Murray Bridge in the first week of January to the 14th.

He said a number of levees had been breached in Mypolonga and Karawun. Other levees that could be breached include the River Glen levee at the White Sands caravan park. Mr Beattie said an evacuation order could be issued for the area if the levee failed because there was also a 1500ha dairy farm at the site.

A group of three adults and one child had to be rescued by SES near Blanchetown on Monday after their boat sank.