Peak floodwaters of up to 220GL to hit Renmark on Boxing Day as flood warnings issued for Ponde and Murrawong

Peak floodwaters of 190GL to 220GL a day will hit Renmark around Boxing Day, the premier says, as efforts continue to shore up the region’s levees. Watch the press conference replay.

Peak floodwaters of 190GL/day to 220GL/day will reach Renmark around Boxing Day, as efforts continue to shore up the region’s levees.

Premier Peter Malinauskas reiterated that the height of the river would be more comparable to the 1931 flooding event when the peak hits.

Mr Malinauskas is visiting the Murraylands to meet with swift water rescue crews and gave the flood update at a press conference on Monday afternoon..

Australian Defence Force troops have been mobilised at Murray Bridge and Berri to assist with delivery of supplies and evacuation where required.

The premier said issues around Lake Victoria’s storage capacity had been rectified but the lake would not be used to mitigate water flows.

“The issues around infrastructure have been addressed in relation to storage, but we haven’t been able to address those in terms of reducing flows,” Mr Malinauskas said.

Inability to use Lake Victoria would impact flows by “about 5GL/day”, the premier said.

SES chief officer Chris Beattie said the number of levees failing in the region had reached “almost one a day” failing.

Eight levees have suffered catastrophic failure – meaning they could not be repaired while 53 have had serious defects which were being addressed.

Mr Beattie said reports of leaking around the Hospital Bank levee were being addressed by the council, with “zero concerns” about the integrity of the levee.

The state government’s business support grants began rolling out on Monday, with about 60 businesses taking up the offer so far.

Ponde near Murray Bridge, where a flood levee has given way. Picture: 9News Adelaide

Mr Malinauskas said the government was “conscious” of how ferry closures would impact Riverland communities’ travel plans and budgets, with further financial assistance not ruled out.

It comes as floodwaters breached a levee bank at Ponde, near Mannum, on Sunday, prompting warnings for residents to leave or be stranded as roads were inundated and homes were threatened.

Just before 11am, the State Emergency Service warned that properties would become isolated and power and water supplies could be cut off.

People sandbagged homes, knowing their properties would soon become islands.

“We’ve prepared for it but another week or two to prepare would have been nice,” Brad Sch­midt told 7NEWS.

In the afternoon, another watch-and-act message was issued, this time for Murrawong, near Mypolonga.

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Ponde near Murray Bridge, where torrents of water have headed towards homes and farmland after a levee gave way. Picture: 9News Adelaide

It said the risk of flooding was due to “a potential levee breach which may threaten your safety”.

“If your plan is to leave, if you require time to leave, or you are unprepared for a period of isolation, you should consider leaving now,” it said.

“Only leave if you are certain that the path is clear to a safer place.’’

His visit follows that by Governor Frances Adamson, who on Sunday delivered Christmas cakes made at Government House to community centres in the region.

“I’m hoping that might just be a little symbol of solidarity,” she said.

Originally published as Peak floodwaters of up to 220GL to hit Renmark on Boxing Day as flood warnings issued for Ponde and Murrawong