Floods and weather puts people in harm’s way in holiday season

Some Australians are facing a difficult holiday period after floods and other severe weather, but wherever we are we all should take time to look out for each other, Anthony Albanese says.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged all Australians to reach out to neighbours and those in their communities doing it tough through the holiday season. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

South Australian towns along the Murray are bracing for the flooded river’s peak over the Christmas break, with Anthony Albanese saying all levels of government were supporting at-risk communities with emergency assistance.

The Prime Minister also urged all Australians to reach out to neighbours and those in their communities doing it tough through the holiday season.’

Mr Albanese said South Australians living along the swollen Murray River faced serious challenges in coming days.

“We have floods set to peak in SA between Boxing Day and New Year’s and preparations are certainly under way between state agencies and the federal government,” he said in his last press conference before Christmas.

Mr Albanese urged residents to heed the warnings of emergency services.

“If it is flooded, forget it,” he said.

“It is simply not worth the risk and we see too much tragedy as a result of people thinking that it’s OK to take the risk.”

The wall of water that started in the eastern states weeks ago continues to flow down the ­Murray.

The peak has now reached the SA border and is expected at Renmark and Berri between Christmas and the new year.

More than 1100 properties in the region have already been inundated, with that figure expected to rise to 4000 as the peak washes through the state.

Roads and ferry services have been cut.

Having already pledged $50m in emergency support, the SA government’s emergency management cabinet committee will meet on Saturday to determine next steps.

Premier John Malinauskas this week announced the closure of the entire SA portion of the river to all non-essential activity.

Swimming, boating, motorised and manual watercraft are prohibited from the NSW-Victoria border to Wellington near the Murray Mouth, with the only exceptions being people who are working, visiting their properties, making essential deliveries or responding to emergencies.

With ex-tropical cyclone Ellie making landfall in the northwest region of the Northern Territory near the Wadeye community, Mr Albanese also urged Territorians in harm’s way to take care.

While Ellie was downgraded to a tropical low on Friday, it was still expected to bring heavy rains and damaging winds to the region, with flooding of roads a serious concern, NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said.

Tropical Cyclone Ellie has been downgraded to a tropical low, as wild weather hits the Northern Territory.

“The Bureau of Meteorology is looking at 200mm to 300mm of rain over the coming days,” Ms Fyles said.

Mr Albanese said the holiday season could be a challenging time for some people.

“At this time of the year people will go through a reliving of a difficult period, whether it be the loss of loved ones, many people do feel isolated,” he said.

“This is an opportunity for people to reach out to their neighbours (and) communities (to) make sure that no one feels alone at this important time.”

Mr Albanese also announced a new $182m joint assistance package with the Perrottet government for NSW families in flood-affected areas struggling to return to their homes.

“On top of that, we have up to 16 weeks of rental support payments for flood-affected households and the $59.4m program for Central West Caravan and Modular Housing Program to secure medium-term housing and extend the At-Home Caravan Program which is being rolled out,” he said.

“(And) we have $8.9m for targeted residential property assessments.

“This package is aimed at 17 of the most highly impacted local government areas around the region, in particular in that western and southwestern NSW region.”