Murray Bridge flood watch 2022-23

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• Read the latest flood coverage from Murray Bridge News: www.murraybridge.news/s/floods.

River Murray water levels have returned to normal and the flood crisis of 2022-23 has shifted into a recovery phase.

Plenty of work lies ahead for floodplain irrigators, shack owners and river users, but with the pace of events having slowed, Murray Bridge News will reduce the frequency of these updates from today.

Anyone in need of help should visit the flood recovery centre at 28 Bridge Street, Murray Bridge on weekdays, visit www.sa.gov.au/floods or call 1800 362 361.

To make sure you don’t miss any future coverage of the flood recovery, plus many more stories about what’s happening in the Murraylands, be sure to keep an eye on www.murraybridge.news or subscribe to our weekly email newsletter – it’s free to read every Thursday.

If you’ve appreciated the tens of thousands of words and hundreds of photos we’ve shared over the summer, you might even chip in $5 a month to help keep this independent local news service going.

The following links might help you out, too, as they have helped our reporting.

• More information about river levels: www.waterconnect.sa.gov.au or water.data.sa.gov.au.
• More information about infrastructure closures: Visit marinesafety.sa.gov.au/river-murray-flood-event-marine-safety-advice or search for “Rural City of Murray Bridge” on Facebook.
• More photos and videos: Search for “Murray River in flood” on Facebook or “Pearso’s Aerial Adventures” on YouTube, or visit apps.sentinel-hub.com/eo-browser.

March 2

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 84cm
  (9cm above pool level, 1.5m below peak)

Primary producers will have to be patient while the state government figures out a plan for the Lower Murray’s broken levees, Climate, Environment and Water Minister Susan Close has suggested.

When asked how the government was preparing to repair its levees and pump the water off flooded agricultural land, Ms Close’s office referred Murray Bridge News to an interview the minister did with the ABC’s Landline program two weeks ago.

“I understand that there are some frustrations among some primary producers, particularly ones who won't get to get back to using that land really quickly,” she said at that time.

“The government's going as fast as it can.”

A series of conversations with farmers, which were going on at the moment, would be followed with a three-step recovery, she said: ensuring levees’ integrity, pumping water off floodplains, then determining a long-term future for each irrigation area.

“That does take time,” she said.

“It's going to be kilometre by kilometre and production area by production area.

“But that’s what we’re dedicated to doing and getting right.”

She accepted that levees were needed to maintain the productive agricultural land which lay behind them, but would not be drawn on whether they should be built to a certain height, such as the 1974 flood level.

Murray Bridge News will seek more information from Ms Close.

• More information: Visit www.sa.gov.au/floods; call 1800 362 361; or visit the emergency relief centre at the Rambler Football Club, Le Messurier Oval, Murray Bridge from 9am-5pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, or 10am-6pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

March 1

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 93cm
  (18cm above pool level, 1.41m below peak)

Up through the cracks in the mud come signs of life in the above photo, taken by Bridgette Bradley at Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge.

There’s not much else new to report today in flood-land.

So let’s enjoy nature for a moment.

February 28

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 93cm
  (18cm above pool level, 1.41m below peak)

Waterskiing is back on again.

At 8.20 this morning, State Emergency Service Chief Officer Chris Beattie signed away several restrictions which applied on the Lower Murray, including a ban on towing people from boats.

Boat operators are now allowed to pass within 50 metres of inundated power lines, too, though they should continue to use caution.

The only restrictions now remaining are a four-knot speed limit within 250m of “engaged” levees or flooded buildings; and a ban on walking along or mooring against any levee.

What is an “engaged” levee?

“An engaged levee means a levee that is in contact with water,” says the SA government website.

Make of that what you will.

For what it’s worth, the sections of the River Murray between Bells Landing and Woods Point, and between Tailem Bend and Washpool Estate, are the longest stretches where levees remain unbroken.

Murray Bridge News will seek more information from SA Police.

February 27

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 93cm
  (18cm above pool level, 1.41m below peak)

Today’s major flood news is positive: the state government has announced a voucher scheme intended to revitalise the Murraylands and Riverlands’s struggling tourism industry.

Between COVID-19 and then this summer’s floods, it has been a hard go for local operators.

More than $4 million worth of vouchers will be made available to would-be tourists from March 27 through to the rest of the year.

• Read more: “Rise up for our river”: Murray tourism voucher scheme revealed

February 24

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 90cm
  (15cm above pool level, 1.44m below peak)

Re-establishing River Murray levees and “de-watering” agricultural land is the state Department for Environment and Water’s highest priority, it has confirmed.

Farmers in the Lower Murray reclaimed irrigation area have been demanding to know what the plan is for restoring their properties to a workable state.

“The key priority in the initial stages is to stabilise the levees to allow dewatering to occur, get farmers back on their land and to protect the land against potential high flows over the coming winter period,” the department said in an update.

“DEW will work with each irrigation area individually to determine any levee works required to enable de-watering to occur.

“DEW is also working with engineers to identify what repair solutions may be feasible once on-ground works are possible, noting that each levee is likely to have different possible solutions and there is unlikely to be a one-size-fits-all solution.”

Anyone with questions about the process should contact Primary Industries and Regions SA on 1800 931 314.

Meanwhile, the Wellington ferry has finally reopened again now that the River Murray flood has passed.

The service had been closed since just after Christmas, but restarted at nine o’clock this morning.

The state Department for Infrastructure and Transport advised motorists to heed any special speed limits along the approach.

There are no more speed restrictions on the Princes Highway between Tailem Bend and Meningie, though – water has receded enough for things to get back to normal there, too.

Finally, the river’s flow at the state border has slowed to 39 gigalitres per day and continues to fall quickly after peaking at about 190GL/day in December.

February 23

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 99cm
  (24cm above pool level, 1.35m below peak)

Discussions are ongoing about pumping water off the Lower Murray’s flooded swamps, state MP Adrian Pederick says.

Authorities have been meeting primary producers and property owners swamp by swamp to keep them updated on the government’s plans.

In some areas – including Wall Flat – locals had access to their own machinery and had already got cracking.

In other places the recovery might take several years, Mr Pederick warned.

But the government would need to invest in restoring local farms and protecting them from future floods, he said – “they’re very fertile swamps”.

Meanwhile, Murray Bridge council CEO Michael Sedgman has praised the staff members, contractors and business owners who worked together to get much of Sturt Reserve open again yesterday.

“It’s been a huge task over the past few weeks and we have more work to do yet, but now the larger part of the work at Sturt Reserve is in hand we can move forward with confidence as we expand our focus to other areas,” he said.

“We continue to appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we work through our recovery plan in the weeks and months ahead.”

He encouraged members of the public to support businesses which had been affected by the floods.

February 22

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.05m
  (30cm above pool level, 1.29m below peak)

Much of Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge has reopened to the public today, but there’s one resident of the area who will remain in isolation for a while longer.

Bertha the Bunyip is “catching up on some beauty sleep”, according to the city’s council, and won’t be available for public appearances for a few weeks yet.

The power has not yet been reconnected to her cave.

Elsewhere in Sturt Reserve, only the wharf, the southern end of the reserve, the playground and main toilet block now remain off-limits.

February 21

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.13m
  (38cm above pool level, 1.21m below peak)

Flood-affected property owners will be able to dump five trailer-loads of rubbish at their local tip free of charge, the state and federal governments have announced.

Property owners who have previously registered for flood assistance can take note of the ID number they would have been issued and drive straight to the waste transfer station at Brinkley, south of Murray Bridge, or their local rubbish dump.

There they’ll be given four physical vouchers for their return trips.

A total of $60 million worth of government funding will also help councils extend waste transfer station operating hours or put on more staff if they need.

However, authorities warned property owners to beware of asbestos and black mould.

Anyone unsure about whether there is asbestos at their property should call 1800 302 787 for a free assessment and removal.

Anyone handling carpet, gyprock, insulation or other material which may have been contaminated by mould should wear the proper protective equipment.

Meanwhile, it’s back to business on Murray Bridge’s riverfront – the Murray Bridge Club will reopen tomorrow, and other businesses will follow.

• Read more: Murray Bridge Club is ready to reopen after 65 days behind a flood barrier

February 20

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.17m
  (42cm above pool level, 1.17m below peak)

The flood is over.

Officially speaking, anyway.

River Murray levels at Murray Bridge have fallen below 1.2 metres AHD for the first time since December 7.

That line – 45 centimetres above the river’s normal level – is what the state Department for Environment and Water calls “minor flood level”.

At Wellington, the water level has dropped to 0.91m AHD, just 16 centimetres above pool level.

The State Emergency Service declared on Friday that the threat to public safety posed by the flood had reduced.

However, it warned residents in river communities to:

• have a qualified electrician check any wiring before turning power back on
• be aware that water may not be safe for human use if stored in a tank affected by floodwater
• be aware of debris in the water when undertaking activities on or in the river, such as logs, trees, household items and damaged infrastructure
• obey road closure signs – do not drive, ride or walk around them or into floodwater
• not let children play in or near floodwater or drains

Unstable ground near the riverbank might also be a safety hazard, the SES advised, as it would take some weeks for ground which had been flooded to dry out.

It was also possible that sections of riverbank might have been undercut by the current, causing stability issues and a higher risk of trees falling.

February 17

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.34m
  (59cm above pool level, 1m below peak)

All businesses at Sturt Reserve should be able to reopen next Wednesday, so long as the power gets switched back on in time, the Murray Bridge council says.

That would include the Murray Bridge Club, 1924 River Tavern and Murray Bridge Rowing Club.

Council workers have moved fences, pulled down barriers, removed fallen trees and debris, mowed grass and inspected roads and footpaths.

Wharf Road, Olympic Drive and Sturt Reserve Road have reopened.

Still-closed roads include Murray Cods Drive, along the riverfront, and Charles Sturt Drive, behind the skate park and playground.

“We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding while we … ensure public safety,” council CEO Michael Sedgman said.

“As promised, we are restoring access to Sturt Reserve and businesses that operate there as soon as possible.

“I would encourage our community to get behind them and show their support once the doors open.”

The River Murray is expected to fall below an official flood level in Murray Bridge – 1.2 metres AHD, or 45 centimetres above pool level – during the next week, according to the state Department for Environment and Water.

February 16

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.32m
  (57cm above pool level, 1.02m below peak)

A riverfront restaurant in Murray Bridge will reopen next week, just over two months after it was forced to close due to flooding.

The 1924 River Tavern announced this week that it hoped to reopen on Wednesday, February 22.

“We are looking forward to getting back to the river to clean up and recover our restaurant mojo,” its owners said on Facebook.

“Thanks to all our staff who stuck by us (and) all our customers supporting us – we can’t wait to see you all again.”

Scroll down for more recent flood news, including the postponement of Country by the River, plans for a tourism workshop, an quality update from SA Water and caution from the Murray Bridge council.

February 15

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.38m
  (63cm above pool level, 96cm below peak)

A major music festival scheduled to be held on Murray Bridge’s riverfront in March has been postponed due to uncertainty about the venue.

Country by the River was due to go ahead on March 25, but will now be pushed back to October 14.

Scott Hollow, general manager of event organisers Event People, said uncertainty about when Sturt Reserve would re-open had contributed to the decision.

“We have been working closely with (the) Murray Bridge council for some time to find an alternative venue, however a suitable location has not been identified,” he said.

“We are looking forward to seeing you in October.”

February 14

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.45m
  (70cm above pool level, 89cm below peak)

Tourism operators from around the Murraylands will get together in Murray Bridge on February 24 to plan their collective recovery from this summer’s floods.

Pre-flood, the industry employed 2800 people and generated $436 million worth of economic activity each year across the Riverland, Murraylands, Lower Lakes and Coorong.

Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said the workshop would give local operators a preview of a $4.1 million, 10-month voucher campaign being planned by the state government.

“With the water receding and most recreational aquatic activities back on, the time is now right to focus on tourism recovery for the Murray River regions,” she said.

“The session … will be a perfect opportunity for us to provide tourism operators with an overview of the campaign and, importantly, to hear directly from local experts on what they are experiencing, what support they need and what is the best timing for the next steps of recovery.”

Meanwhile, SA Water has started closing some of the gates on the barrages at the Murray Mouth now that the flood peak has passed.

All 570 or so gates were opened for the first time in decades this summer.

Finally, federal MP Tony Pasin has had a go at the state government for taking $30 million out of its existing infrastructure budget to pay for road repairs along the River Murray.

Doing that meant other important projects would miss out, he argued – it would have been better to take that $30 million from somewhere else.

“Robbing Peter to pay Paul isn’t going to keep our state moving,” he said.

“It’s time we got serious about improving our roads, and that includes funding repairs, when they are needed, by finding additional funds.”

February 13

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.5m
  (75cm above pool level, 84cm below peak)

Our tap water may taste or smell a bit funny at the moment, but it’s still perfectly safe to drink, SA Water says.

Spokesman Daniel Hoefel said the changes in water quality, connected with the River Murray floods, might take a few weeks or months to go away.

“Some of our customers in areas directly supplied with treated River Murray water … may notice their tap water has an earthy taste and odour compared to what they normally experience,” he said.

“This will likely continue for some time, as receding flood levels bring more organic material into the river system.

“Importantly, our customers can be assured that our testing continues to demonstrate that their tap water remains safe to drink and complies with the Australian drinking water guidelines.”

Meanwhile, the River Murray has passed a milestone at Murray Bridge today: water levels are officially more than halfway down to pool level again.

February 10

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.57m
  (82cm above pool level, 77cm below peak)

Restrictions may have been lifted, but the flood emergency isn’t over yet, the Murray Bridge council has warned.

CEO Michael Sedgman said he appreciated that people were keen to return to riverfront areas after the state government revoked an emergency declaration yesterday.

But, he said, council engineers would have to make sure everything was safe before taking away any barriers.

“All assets and areas that were closed during the high river event remain closed until assessments and any necessary repairs can be undertaken,” he said.

“On the back of this extraordinary flood event, assessments of structural integrity for public safety are paramount.”

Many boat ramps, playgrounds and roads would not be able to be assessed until the River Murray had returned to “a near-normal level”, he said.

Meanwhile, the flow of water over the South Australian border has slowed by nearly 75 per cent since the flood peak – it’s down to 49 gigalitres per day, several times the normal rate for this time of year.

The state Department for Environment and Water urged boat owners to check and adjust their moorings regularly as water levels continued to drop.

February 9

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.63m
  (88cm above pool level, 71cm below peak)

Many restrictions on the River Murray have been lifted today after the state government revoked a flood emergency declaration.

Waterskiing remains a no-no, but houseboats can begin operating again and swimming, rowing and fishing are all back on.

Boat users will now be able to travel at their normal speed, too, except within 250 metres of a levee or a flooded building … which still rules out much of the Lower Murray.

Premier Peter Malinauskas thanked river communities for their patience.

“We always said we wanted to lift restrictions on the river as quickly as possible, and with water levels receding, now is a prudent time to lift them altogether,” he said.

“We still have a huge recovery task ahead of us, but we are committed to working hand in hand with our resilient river communities.”

Meanwhile, the State Emergency Service has cancelled an evacuation warning for Mypolonga and Woodlane as floodwaters continue to recede in the area.

The warning was originally issued on Boxing Day, in the hours after the Mypolonga levee broke.

“There is still significant flooding and associated risks for the agricultural areas surrounding Mypolonga, and you should take care in the area and stay off of levees,” the SES said in a statement.

“However, the risk of flooding for the Mypolonga township has greatly reduced.”

The agency has re-issued a watch and act warning for the rest of the Lower Murray, noting that there would continue to be a threat to lives and property for as long as the river remained flooded and levees remained under pressure.

The state government has also announced it will fund up to 15 non-profit organisations helping with flood relief to the tune of up to $10,000 each.

The funding may be used to train or equip volunteers to respond to community needs.

Finally, primary producers who have been affected by the floods are invited to a meeting at Johnstone Park, Murray Bridge tomorrow between 11am and 1pm.

Recovery coordinator Alex Zimmerman and representatives of a number of agencies will come to hear farmers – both those on the flats, whether their properties flooded or not, and those who irrigate on the high ground – talk about their circumstances and what needs to happen next.

• Read more: Flood-stricken farmers are planning for recovery, but they need help
• More information about funding for non-profit organisations: Contact Georgina Goodrich on 0417 421 288 or at georgina.goodrich@sa.gov.au.

February 8

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.68m
  (93cm above pool level, 66cm below peak)

Five riverfront reserves will be the first area of focus for the Murray Bridge council as it starts cleaning up after this summer’s floods.

Sturt Reserve and Woodlane, Avoca Dell, Thiele and Long Island Reserves would be reopened soon after water levels dropped and roads emerged, council CEO Michael Sedgman said.

Council inspectors would just have to make sure everything was safe and make any repairs necessary.

“Each area contains many individual assets such as playgrounds, trees, boat ramps and ground that has been submerged for some time,” he said.

“We will engage qualified experts to independently assess those assets as required.

“The safety of people in our community remains our top priority and we are conscious of the community’s desire to return to normal life as quickly as possible, which our recovery plan aims to support.

“We can assure (people) the council is working hard behind the scenes and is committed to reopening as quickly as possible.”

• More information: Search for the Rural City of Murray Bridge on Facebook.

February 7

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.74m
  (99cm above pool level, 60cm below peak)

We can now use boats again.

That’s the latest update from SA Police, who have begun to ease activity restrictions on the River Murray as water levels drop.

River users are now welcome to use motorised vessels, except for houseboats, anywhere between Lock One and Wellington, with a few restrictions:

• You can’t travel any faster than 10 knots
• You can’t tow anyone behind your boat
• You must slow to four knots within 250 metres of an “engaged” levee or any flooded buildings

That last rule is key – a four-knot limit would apply almost everywhere between Mannum and Riverglen, since the river is typically less than 300m wide and there are levees almost all the way along.

However, you can now fish from a boat on the river, as well as from the shore.

Human-powered vessels, swimming and houseboating are still prohibited for now.

The changes came into effect from exactly 3.08pm on Monday.

February 6

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.78m
  (1.03m above pool level, 56cm below peak)

The state government will invest $60 million repairing roads that have been damaged by the River Murray floods and give tax relief to flood-affected residents, Premier Peter Malinauskas has announced.

Homeowners whose main residences have been badly damaged or destroyed by flooding will save up to $48,830 on stamp duty if they decide to buy a new home, and those who need to replace a vehicle destroyed in the floods will save up to $2816 in stamp duty.

The owners of flood-affected residences or businesses – but not holiday homes – worth more than the taxable minimum of $534,000 will not have to pay land tax in 2022-23, either.

Information about how to apply will be made available at www.sa.gov.au/floods in the coming days.

Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said the state government wanted to make help available whenever and wherever it was needed.

“Reallocating funds for road repair means the government and council can get on with repairs quickly, while targeted tax relief will help those who’ve suffered some of the most significant losses in this flood to get back on their feet,” he said.

Meanwhile, the State Emergency Service has re-issued a flood watch and act warning for the Lower Murray.

“Significant amounts of water are still present, and levees remain under pressure, so there is still a threat to you and your family’s safety,” the agency said.

“Water safety risks continue, with strong currents and debris in the water.

“You should monitor your situation and are urged to remain vigilant.”

The SES urged houseboat owners to check their vessels at least once per week as the river continued to drop.

• Register for a free waste clean-up assessment: 1800 302 787.

February 3

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.98m
  (1.23m above pool level, 36cm below peak)

Another levee at Wellington has breached, the State Emergency Service has announced.

Water is flowing into the area behind the levee and is affecting a small number of homes on Stacey Street.

SES crews are working with the local council to support residents.

The SES warned motorists to be aware of any road closures in the area, and never to drive through floodwater.

It should be noted that although the peak of water levels has now passed through South Australia, flows remain elevated through the length of the River Murray and in the Lower Lakes, the Department for Environment and Water advised.

It should also be noted that wind speed and direction play a significant role in daily water levels recorded in the lower section of the River Murray.

It’s possible that water levels may temporarily increase in the Lower Lakes due to wind and tides.

The flow at the border continues to fall and today is approximately 65 gigalitres per day.

In some positive news, growers will play pollies in an upcoming soccer match to help with the flood recovery.

The South Australian Produce Market, state government and Adelaide United Football Club will hold a charity match to raise funds for primary producers and small agricultural businesses impacted by the River Murray flood.

A mixed team of growers, wholesalers and retailers will play against a team of government representatives, ministers and parliamentarians from all sides of politics.

The two teams, “Pick a Local, Pick SA” and “State Government” will play at Coopers Stadium at 12.30pm on Sunday, February 19, as a curtain-raiser for Adelaide United’s match against Western Sydney Wanderers.

February 2

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.85m
  (1.1m above pool level, 49cm below peak)

Strong, gusty winds are likely to push River Murray water levels upwards south of Murray Bridge over the next few days, the State Emergency Service has warned.

“Wave-like action” is also likely.

The SES again warned everyone to keep an eye out for levee breaches, defects or over-topping.

Anyone who sees floodwaters threatening public safety should call the SES on 132 500 or, in case of a life-threatening emergency, 000.

Meanwhile, in marking World Wetlands Day today, Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Simon Banks said he was thankful for all the good floodwaters had done across the Murray-Darling Basin lately.

“While the wet conditions and flooding have created challenges for a lot of people, natural flows in our rivers have kick started fish and bird breeding cycles and saved millions of trees that were hanging on for a drink,” he said.

“Natural flows have helped reset conditions, setting a great foundation for environmental water managers to build on and ensure we have resilient rivers and wetlands for when the dry times return.”

The Coorong and Lower Lakes were added to the Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance 35 years ago today.

February 1

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.84m
  (1.09m above pool level, 50cm below peak)

A taskforce which will focus on rebuilding flood-damaged properties along the River Murray has met for the first time.

State Planning Minister Nick Champion chaired the meeting, which included representatives of local government, the housing and construction industries, and flood emergency recovery coordinator Alex Zimmerman.

Master Builders Association of SA chief executive Will Frogley said the group had had plenty to talk about.

“There is a massive rebuild required and we need a collaborative effort to achieve the best outcome,” he said.

“It’s great to see the state government and other stakeholders working together to reduce red tape and ensure policies are in place to fast-track a social and economic recovery.

“There are many issues that need to be resolved such as planning reform, labour and supply shortages and ensuring funding is appropriately used.”

January 31

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.86m
  (1.11m above pool level, 48cm below peak)

Things are getting muddy at riverfront reserves around the Murraylands as the floodwaters recede.

Now that we’re almost half a metre down from the flood peak in Murray Bridge, we’re getting a look at what some of the areas that were inundated look like – and it’s not always pretty.

Only 1.1 metres to go.

January 30

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.88m
  (1.13m above pool level, 46cm below peak)

The River Murray floods still pose a threat to public safety, but the situation is now stable, the State Emergency Service says.

As floodwaters recede, authorities will need to inspect roads and electricity infrastructure before opening riverfront areas to the public.

The SES advised that children should not be allowed to play in floodwater; nobody should drive through it; and anyone who notices changes in one of the levees which is still holding should call 132 500.

Meanwhile, staff from the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board are keen to help land owners prevent weed outbreaks as the floodwaters drain away.

District manager Casey Henderson said she and her colleagues could identify weeds, advise on control strategies, and even loan equipment and provide free herbicide.

“It is inevitable that weeds will germinate in the land alongside the river and backwater channels as floodwaters subside,” she said.

“Weed species may emerge in areas where they haven’t before been seen.

“As with all weeds, proactive, early management will gain the best outcomes for landholders and the environment.”

The board had been provided with $800,000 to eradicate weeds such as yellow water lily, cacti and boxthorns along the River Murray, she said; now was the ideal time for locals to tap into that funding.

January 27

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.98m
  (1.23m above pool level, 36cm below peak)

The low-lying floodplains along the Lower Murray are likely to remain inundated for “an extended period,” the state Department for Environment and Water says.

The River Murray is forecast to fall back below a minor flood level at Murray Bridge – 1.2 metres AHD – in about 2-3 weeks.

However, not all of the water will drain out of the swamp areas right away.

Back in 1956, it took 6-12 months to pump all the flood water out of the swamps, according to Murray Bridge historian Ken Wells.

Meanwhile, some more numbers: the flow of water over the state border is now at 95 gigalitres per day, down from 190 at its peak, and falling quickly.

It should halve during the next fortnight, to 45GL/day.

“This is a steeper rate of fall than has been experienced up until this point,” the department warned.

“Water users should take care and regularly check their boat moorings to make the necessary adjustments.”

January 26

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.03m
  (1.28m above pool level, 31cm below peak)

Centimetre by centimetre, the floodwaters are going down.

Day by day, we’re learning more about how the recovery will go over the coming weeks.

The Murray Bridge council hopes to reopen much of Sturt Reserve next month, but the Wellington ferry is likely to stay shut for at least that long and some of the roads which have been flooded may take “many months” to repair.

Scroll down to catch up on any of the developments you might have missed during the past week.

January 25

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.06m
  (1.31m above pool level, 28cm below peak)

If you want to know what Murray Bridge’s Sturt Reserve looks like at the moment, Mark Pearsons has got you covered.

The local drone operator’s latest video, above, gives a bird’s-eye view of the riverfront, where car parks and the playground are among areas still inundated.

No wonder tomorrow’s Australia Day event will be held at Edwards Square instead.

January 24

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.09m
  (1.34m above pool level, 25cm below peak)

It may take “many months” to repair roads around the Murraylands which have been covered by floodwaters, the state Department for Infrastructure and Transport says.

As the River Murray starts to fall, work teams have begun inspecting roads upstream for damage.

The department warned that it could take two weeks to remove mud and debris from flooded roads; another two weeks to repair any potholes and cracks; and a longer period to fix those which had been more significantly damaged or washed out.

Main roads, including those leading to ferries, will be fixed first.

However, the department did not include the Wellington ferry on a list of those it hoped to reopen by mid-February.

Roads currently closed due to flooding include Long Flat Road and Siesta Drive on Murray Bridge’s east side, Toora Road at Toora and numerous roads at Mypolonga, including North and South Bokara Road.

• More information about DIT’s plans: dit.sa.gov.au.
• More information about road closures: www.traffic.sa.gov.au.

January 23

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.12m
  (1.37m above pool level, 22cm below peak)

The last time sections of Murray Bridge’s riverfront were roped off due to the risk of slumping, they stayed shut for 13 years.

That won’t be the case this time, council CEO Michael Sedgman says – fenced-off areas of Sturt Reserve are in a very different state to Riverfront Road, which was closed to the public during the Millenium Drought of 2009-10.

For one thing, it was the council which declared much of the reserve off-limits on January 11, not the state government.

Mr Sedgman hoped the council would be able to reassess the closures next month.

However, he told Murray Bridge News it would be hard to know what remediation work would be required until the floodwater went down.

Upstream – in places like Mildura, Victoria – the receding waters have mostly left mud in their wake, as shown in the photo above.

Some of Murray Bridge’s major riverfront events, such as this week’s Australia Day celebration, have been shifted to new venues this year; but at this stage the Country by the River music festival is still scheduled to go ahead at Sturt Reserve on March 25.

January 20

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.19m
  (1.44m above pool level, 12cm below peak)

Dead fish have been showing up along some sections of the River Murray in recent days, including on the east side of Murray Bridge.

According to the Department for Environment and Water, no “hypoxic blackwater” – warm water polluted with leaf litter and other organic material – has been officially reported in South Australia during these floods.

Blackwater had a dark colour and a strong, unpleasant smell, the department said.

Anyone who sees large numbers of dead or distressed fish should contact Fishwatch at any hour of the day or night on 1800 065 522.

That’s probably not what Peter Dutton came to see this morning.

• Read more: Opposition Leader Peter Dutton tours flood-hit Murraylands

Meanwhile, the department has given its first estimate for the date at which the River Murray will fall below minor flood level in Murray Bridge.

The week of February 14-21 is the one we can circle on our calendars.

The flood peak had now passed out of the Murray Mouth, the department said, while flows at the border had fallen to 113 gigalitres per day – only seven or eight times the usual level.

The State Emergency Service re-issued a flood emergency warning for low-lying areas along the Lower Murray on Friday afternoon.

“You should monitor your situation, and you should be alert to changes in your area and inspect your levees on a regular basis,” the agency advised.

Currents were strong and there was debris in the water, it said.

January 19

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.19m
  (1.44m above pool level, 12cm below peak)

The State Emergency Service is warning people to stay out of floodwaters after being called out to rescue a man who drove into them at Younghusband, upstream of Mannum, yesterday morning.

Murray Bridge SES volunteers were among those alerted to a report of a man stuck in a car submerged in water up to its bonnet.

A swift water rescue team was sent out with two high-clearance trucks and a helicopter, but the driver made it back to dry land shortly before they arrived.

Still, Chief Officer Chris Beattie warned that the flood emergency was continuing, and that no-one should walk, ride or drive into the swollen River Murray.

Speaking of which: the Princes Highway between Tailem Bend and Meningie has reopened, if you’re heading that way.

And, in case you missed it during the week, scroll down to January 16 to read about how volunteers saved the Woods Point levee over the weekend.

January 18

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.21m
  (1.46m above pool level, 10cm below peak)

The Tailem Bend-Jervois ferry has reopened after a tree got stuck in its cables this morning.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport had closed the ferry for about two hours while it cleared the obstruction.

The on-again, off-again Princes Highway has also been closed between Tailem Bend and Meningie due to high water, as of 4pm yesterday.

Meanwhile, the state government has announced it will roll out extra mental health services in flood-affected regions over the coming months, including:

• check-in calls from SANE Australia for locals waiting for a psychology appointment
• support and on-the-ground counselling from Neami, Mind Australia and Relationships Australia
• culturally appropriate services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander locals through Uniting Communities

“We’ve learned a lot through our response to bushfires, COVID-19 and drought,” the state government’s acting mental health strategy director, Liz Prowse, said.

“Getting in the right support to regional communities as soon as possible is vital to helping people at risk of new or emerging mental health concerns.

“This funding boost will deliver more clinicians, allied health professionals and services to the rural communities that will need them most, not just for now, but for the months to come.”

Finally, a researcher at Flinders University suggests the current flood should bolster populations of endangered frogs across the Murray-Darling Basin, including the southern bell frog.

So it’s not all bad.

January 17

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.2m
  (1.45m above pool level, 11cm below peak)

The River Murray is falling slowly, though it has a long way to go yet.

A satellite image taken this morning shows that the Riverglen, Monteith, White Sands and Jervois levees are still holding.

Today’s cool change has again forced the temporary closure of the Princes Highway south of Tailem Bend, if you’re heading that way.

Sandbags will continue to be available at Murray Bridge Showground from 9am to 3pm tomorrow, if you need them.

And the state government has announced it will waive the usual call-out fee, either $475 or $645, for businesses whose monitored fire alarms are activated by floodwaters.

January 16

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.25m
  (1.5m above pool level, 6cm below peak)

A volunteer brigade has saved the Woods Point levee from becoming inundated as southerly winds pushed the River Murray higher on Saturday.

The river rose by 13 centimetres in 90 minutes as a cool change came through on Saturday evening, according to the Department for Environment and Water.

That was enough for it to start lapping over the top of the levee, prompting one resident to call for assistance and others to rush out and start laying extra sandbags.

Members of the Jervois, Tailem Bend, Cooke Plains, and Bridgewater Country Fire Service brigades came to help.

Just before midnight, resident Michelle Afford reported that the danger had passed for now.

“From Doecke’s end right through to Afford’s end, where there was water going over, there were bags laid,” she said.

“We’ve stemmed the flow and hopefully the wind will ease up to drop the level back down again.”

The high water level also caused the Princes Highway to be cut between Tailem Bend and Meningie on Saturday night, but it was reopened by 8.30am on Sunday.

January 13

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.25m
  (1.5m above pool level, 6cm below peak)

Where can you go if you want a good view of the River Murray floods?

The Murray Bridge council has suggested a few ideas:

• The lookout on Clifftop Drive at Sunnyside
• Murray Bridge RSL, or the Lindsay Sims Memorial Lookout across the road
• The Bridgeport Hotel, or the Wharf Hill lookout across the road
• The Round House
• The car park on Railway Terrace, Murray Bridge

Mayor Wayne Thorley said the council had been swamped with enquiries, and appreciated that visitors wanted to spend their time and money locally.

“The Murray River is on display in all her glory and understandably people are visiting our riverside community because they’re curious and want to see the Murray River in flood for themselves,” he said.

“There are some amazing photo opportunities at the moment, the wildlife is flourishing – we just need to make sure people are being safe while they’re viewing the river.

The council had been criticised by some locals – and by this publication – in recent days for closing off access to much of the riverfront.

• Read more: Don’t flood our memories with fences

Meanwhile, the Department for Environment and Water has officially recorded the peak of the 2022-23 flood at 2.31 metres in Murray Bridge and 1.46m at Wellington.

A gauge near Long Island showed that the floodwaters peaked in Murray Bridge on Monday evening.

Peak river flows at the South Australian border have already fallen by 60 gigalitres per day to 130GL/day, and should reach 60GL/day by the end of January there, or by mid to late February in Murray Bridge.

January 12

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.27m
  (1.52m above pool level, 4cm below peak)

Barring any strong southerly winds this weekend or surprise surges in the coming months, what you see around the Murraylands at present should be the peak of the 2022-23 floods.

While Jervois, Riverglen and a couple of others are still holding – touch wood – most of the levees along the Lower Murray have been breached or overrun, filling the floodplains behind them with water for the first time since at least the 1970s.

Water levels at Long Island, in Murray Bridge, have remained steady for three days, and Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs said flows peaked on Monday.

However, he urged people to continue to take care.

“A flood emergency warning for the entire river in SA remains in place,” he said.

“I just urge everyone to check the advice and take extreme care around the river while these warnings are in place.”

State Emergency Service Chief Officer Chris Beattie said 68 levee defects had been reported along the length of the river in South Australia as the result of 700 inspections.

“We are aware of 20 levees which have overtopped or breached along the River Murray,” he said.

“Over the coming days we will be closely monitoring the levees at Woods Point, Monteith, Jervois and Riverglen/White Sands.

“While levels are falling in some areas … we remind people that the river remains hazardous due to fast-flowing water and submerged hazards.

“The SA SES is asking people to respect and follow directions regarding road closures and restricted water activities for their own safety.”

In other developments, the Princes Highway is at risk of being cut by floodwaters between Tailem Bend and Meningie; speed restrictions have been introduced there.

The state government has given irrigators a reprieve … not by waiving their water bills, but by waiving the requirement for them to provide meter readings by January 31 if those meters have been inundated.

And finally, Mypolonga Progress Association hosted a kids’ flood get-together at Mypolonga Memorial Oval from 10-11.30am today; it will do the same on each of the next two Thursdays.

January 11

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.27m (1.52m above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.1 to 2.4m, January 9-13

Flood-watchers will have to find somewhere new to go after “significant” stretches of Murray Bridge’s riverfront, including most of the wharf area, were closed to the public today.

The city’s council reported that the saturated ground was becoming unstable, to the point that trees had begun falling over.

Council CEO Michael Sedgman said the council took the risk seriously.

Council workers closed off the car park near the wharf and Wharf Road early on Wednesday afternoon.

The last time riverbank slumping was an issue in Murray Bridge was a decade ago, during the millenium drought, when low water levels led trees and even cars to wind up in the River Murray.

Several sections of Murray Bridge’s riverfront – notably including Riverfront Road and the shacks there – had been declared off-limits ever since, at least until they became submerged a few weeks ago.

A new peak river level of 2.38 metres was recorded at the Department for Environment and Water’s monitoring gauge near Long Island on Wednesday morning, but levels have otherwise been generally flat for two days now, in line with the forecast peak.

A gauge two kilometres downstream of Wellington was reading 1.43m today, with the highest spike during the past week having been 1.49m – both slightly higher than the forecast for that stretch of the river.

January 10

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.28m (1.53m above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.1 to 2.4m, January 9-13

In the face of such an overwhelming event, Mypolonga’s history group has stepped up to help locals in the best way it can.

The group will host a community flood drop-in centre at the Mypolonga Institute every Tuesday for the next few weeks, starting today, from 9-11.30am and 1-3pm.

Anyone who needs a free cuppa and a chat is welcome to pop in.

Emergency relief, counselling and other services are also available at the government-operated flood relief centre at the Rambler Football Club in Murray Bridge; and sandbags are still available at Murray Bridge Showground from 9am-3pm to anyone who needs them.

Meanwhile, the Tailem Bend ferry will close from 10am-2pm tomorrow so landing infrastructure can be moved out of the way of the rising river.

The ferry remains at risk of a longer closure – check the status of any ferries at www.sa.gov.au before you travel.

Plenty of people have been coming to get a look at the flooded river in recent days, but at least one Monteith local isn’t happy about it.

“Locals are non-stop up and down the road (to Bells Landing Reserve at Monteith) trying to save business and property while dodging rubber-necks who sometimes have unconstructive views on likely outcomes,” they told Murray Bridge News.

Finally, water levels in the River Murray have generally hovered at the same height for the past day or two, with the highest spike at 2.36 metres last night.

We should know by the end of the week whether that was the flood peak.

January 9

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.27m (1.52m above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.1 to 2.4m, January 9-13

The flood peak is here.

That’s the latest from the State Emergency Service, which advised that the peak had reached Mannum on Saturday and would pass along the Lower Murray this week.

The Department for Environment and Water recorded a spike in water levels to 2.33 metres in Murray Bridge just after 1.30pm today, but the speed at which the river is rising has slowed.

It was still possible that new areas would be flooded, the SES said.

“Existing levees in the area will become further engaged,” the agency said.

“People are urged to be vigilant and inspect their levees on a regular basis.

“The SES will have personnel in the area over the coming days and will continue with regular air reconnaissance of River Murray communities.”

Anyone with concerns about the safety or integrity of a levee should call the SES on 132 500.

Meanwhile, the Tailem Bend ferry was forced to close at 1.30pm today, but may not stay shut for long.

Although the state Emergency Services Minister predicted last week that the ferry would soon close due to the high river levels, today’s closure is due to strong wind.

A longer, flood-related closure is still on the cards, the Department of Infrastructure and Transport says, but we’re not there yet.

“The department is continuing to closely monitor water levels to keep ferries operating for as long as possible, however some closures may be necessary at short notice as conditions change,” it said in a statement.

Either way, today’s announcement from the state government of a one-off, $300 payment for people forced to travel longer distances because of ferry closures will come just in time.

The payment is for anyone who needs to travel at least half an hour further, at least three times per week, for work, volunteering, caring, shopping or medical appointments.

Applicants should visit the Murray Bridge flood relief centre at Le Messurier Oval or call 1800 302 787.

January 6

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.23m (1.48m above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.1 to 2.4m, January 7-10

It has taken three months to get here, but the River Murray floods are expected to peak in Murray Bridge in the next few days.

The peak has now passed through Lock One and is due to reach Mannum on Monday, with Murray Bridge, Jervois and Wellington to follow in the days after that.

The river will stay at that height for about a week before slowly falling over the coming months, according to the State Emergency Service.

One question being asked locally, with so many roads and riverfront areas closed to the public: where should people go if they want to take a look?

The Murray Bridge council suggested sites including:

• The lookout on Clifftop Drive at Sunnyside
• Murray Bridge RSL, or the Lindsay Sims Memorial Lookout across the road
• The Bridgeport Hotel, or the Port Mobilong Lookout across the road
• The Round House
• Wharf Road, Murray Bridge

If you know of any other good spots, let us know and we’ll add them to this list.

Meanwhile, the SES has taken delivery of two high-clearance trucks from New South Wales to help with their operations.

The trucks are capable of operating continuously in water up to a metre deep.

SES Chief Officer Chris Beattie said the vehicles would be useful for rescues and evacuations.

January 5

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.18m (1.43m above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.1 to 2.4m, January 5-14

An emergency relief centre has opened in Murray Bridge on a morning on which the flood crisis became much more visible for many local residents.

The levee beneath the old Murray Bridge was breached near Thiele Reserve last night, and by the time walkers and workers got up and about this morning, the flat beneath the bridges had filled to river level.

The good news is that help is now available for affected locals at the Rambler Football Club, at Le Messurier Oval, from 9am-5pm daily.

• Read more: Flood relief centre opens in Murray Bridge

The flood relief centre there will stay open until it is no longer needed.

State Human Services Minister Nat Cook encouraged anyone affected by the floods to visit to access grants, emergency accommodation, food relief, counselling and other services.

Adrian Pederick welcomed the development, saying that – until now, at least – locals had been confused about who could access what support and when.

• More information: Visit www.sa.gov.au/floods or call 1800 362 361.
• Current SES warnings: www.ses.sa.gov.au.
• Get help: Call the SES on 132 500 or, in a life-threatening emergency, call 000.

January 4

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.19m (1.44m above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.1 to 2.4m, January 5-14

The Tailem Bend-Jervois ferry will likely stop operating by the end of this week due to rising water levels in the River Murray.

State Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs issued that warning after visiting the ferry yesterday.

River levels at Murray Bridge have already reached the 2.2-metre mark and are likely to keep rising for another week or so.

A flood relief centre will open at the Rambler Football Club, at Le Messurier Oval in Murray Bridge, at 9am tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the state government has split the River Murray into eight zones for activity restriction purposes.

The current restrictions on boating and swimming will be lifted in each zone after the flood peak passes – something the state opposition had argued for two days ago.

SA Police has emphasised that anyone found to be on a levee without reason may be liable to be fined $1000.

Finally, livestock owners along the river are encouraged to contact Livestock SA about their fodder needs so the peak body can coordinate a relief effort.

Anyone short of fodder should visit www.surveymonkey.com, email admin@livestocksa.org.au or call 8297 2299.

January 3

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.1m (1.35m above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.1 to 2.4m, January 5-14

Volunteers have descended on Glenbrook, the Mueller family’s dairy property at Swanport, to try and save the Riverglen levee.

If it breaks, flooding the agricultural flats along the River Murray, it could cost local producers millions of dollars.

They hope it won’t come to that.

• Read more: At Riverglen, volunteers band together to save their farms

A number of levees along the Lower Murray have either broken or become partially submerged in recent days, the State Emergency Service says.

The Wall Flat, Long Flat and Long Island levees are among the latest additions to a list which already included Mypolonga and Mobilong.

The Yiddinga levee, just south of the Swanport Bridge at Monteith, has also gone in a big way – the flats there were puddly last night and a lake by this morning.

In many cases, the SES said, levees were failing more completely after being over-topped with water.

“The time between overtopping and levee failure varies depending on the age and condition of the levee,” the SES said in a statement.

“SA SES expects several other agricultural levees to overtop and potentially fail as the peak travels downstream.”

The good news is that the federal government has come to the party, announcing $126 million worth of flood relief in partnership with the state government today, including:

• Up to $75,000 per primary producer for cleaning-up and re-starting businesses
• Up to $50,000 per small business to get up and running again
• $60 million for assessment and disposal of hazardous waste
• $10 million to assess damage to houses
• $800,000 to clean up large-scale fish kills
• $250,000 worth of legal assistance for flood-affected families and businesses

“In this time of crisis, the people of South Australia should know that the federal government is standing by them ready to help wherever and whenever it is needed,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

“This assistance will provide invaluable support to residents, farmers and businesses to recover from this flooding disaster.

“The quicker we recover, the sooner we can begin investing in mitigation to lessen the impact of events like this in the future.”

January 2

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.13m (1.38m above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.1 to 2.4m, January 5-14

Several more Lower Murray levees have been breached in the past 24 hours as the floodwaters’ peak draws closer.

The State Emergency Service suggested at 12pm today that the Swanport and Long Island levees – located on either side of the Swanport Bridge at its western end – had both broken.

Water did not appear to be getting in behind either levee in large volumes during the afternoon.

If the levees were breached, no homes were likely to be flooded, but road closures could be expected, especially on Bott Lane at Swanport.

A map of closed roads is available at www.traffic.sa.gov.au.

The Wall Flat levee has also gone, according to the Mypolonga Progress Association.

The latest satellite imagery shows the extent to which water is filling the river valley.

Still holding, at this stage, are the levees at Long Flat and Jervois, among others.

The floods are expected to peak during the coming week or so.

December 31

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 2.09m (1.34m above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.1 to 2.4m, January 5-14

The Mobilong levee has been breached, the State Emergency Service warns.

No homes are likely to be flooded as a result, but roads have been closed in the area between Murray Bridge’s silos and the SA Water pumping station.

The breach occurred just north of Hume Reserve Road.

Most river flats upstream of Murray Bridge have now been flooded, including those protected by levees; many of those downstream are likely to be tested in the coming days.

The River Murray at Murray Bridge is now coming into the range at which it was projected to peak.

December 30

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.95m (1.2m above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.1 to 2.4m, January 5-14

A flood emergency warning has been issued for the Lower Murray, as river heights have reached a major flood level and are expected to remain that way for weeks.

If you live in a low-lying area, the State Emergency Service says, you should prepare for flooding:

Regardless of your property’s ability to withstand flood impacts, there is a chance you may become flooded or isolated. You should consider leaving – if you remain in the area you may become trapped without water, power and other essential services. If you live on the edge of the warning area, you should use local knowledge to assess your risk and stay aware of your surroundings. You should consider your trigger for leaving. As the situation worsens it may not be safe to go, or your road to safety may be under water. It may be dangerous for emergency services to assist you.

The flood peak is currently near Loxton, where the river has risen about 5.5 metres higher than its usual level.

However, the peak is only expected to be about 1.5m higher than usual – and only 10-40 centimetres higher than the current level – by the time it gets to Murray Bridge.

Meanwhile, fishing and yabbying in the river are now allowed again after an update to the restrictions introduced by the state government on December 20.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport warned fishers to watch out for riverbank erosion and fast-flowing water, and to consider wearing a life jacket.

Finally, water is flowing in to the area behind the Mobilong levee, as the video above shows, but relatively slowly.

The Burdett levee, as it is called – the one protecting the area under the old Murray Bridge on the east side – has only a little headroom left.

December 29

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.95m (1.2m above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.1 to 2.4m, January 5-14

The Mobilong levee may be at risk of going underwater, judging by photos sent by Murray Bridge local Shane Klose this afternoon.

Water appears to be flowing over the top of the levee, which protects low-lying land between the Murray Bridge silos and SA Water’s pumping station, as well as access to several properties on Lagoon Road and Toora Road.

Meanwhile, the peak of the River Murray floods continues to move closer to the Murraylands.

Flows over the South Australian border have now reduced for six straight days, indicating that the worst has passed there.

About 1100 properties have so far been flooded in SA, including shacks in Murray Bridge, and dozens more have been cut off by floodwaters, including at Mypolonga and Murrawong.

Twenty roads have been closed along the riverfront in the Murray Bridge and Coorong districts.

A relief centre is still expected to open at the Rambler Football Club, at Le Messurier Oval in Murray Bridge, on January 5.

After peaking around 186 gigalitres per day at the border just before Christmas, river flows are expected to drop to 150GL/day by mid-January and 60GL/day by early February.

Those milestones will arrive about three weeks later in Murray Bridge.

At this time of year, the flow over the border would normally be about 15GL/day.

December 28

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.98m (1.23m above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.1 to 2.4m, January 3-14

More than 40 volunteers have turned up at seven in the morning to fill sandbags and help protect Wall Flat from flooding today.

Another working bee will be held Woods Point at 9am tomorrow, at an address opposite 1541 Jervois Road – contact Steve on 0407 769 250 if you’re able to help.

Volunteers will again be asked to help fill sandbags to reinforce a levee bank there.

Meanwhile, river levels have almost equalled the 1974 flood level in Murray Bridge, with more than two weeks of rises still to come before the peak.

On the bright side, things may not be as bad as previously reported at Riverglen – the managers of the White Sands Caravan Park reached out to Murray Bridge News today to say that, despite a State Emergency Service warning yesterday, the park was not at any risk.

Finally, the Wellington ferry will be closed until further notice due to rising river levels.

The nearest available crossing is at the Tailem Bend-Jervois ferry, which remains operational.

• More information about ferry services: www.sa.gov.au.

December 27

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.89m (1.14m above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.1 to 2.4m, January 3-14

Several levees in the Murraylands are at risk of either “over-topping” or being breached in the coming days, State Emergency Service Chief Officer Chris Beattie says.

Among levees of concern are:

• The Mypolonga levee, which was already breached yesterday; water is only 20-30 centimetres below the levee's low points
• The Riverglen levee, protecting part of White Sands Caravan Park and 1500 hectares of pasture, where “significant longitudinal cracking” is being fixed by a work team
• The Mobilong levee
• The Long Flat levee; SES personnel are delivering sandbags to protect a farm property
• The Jervois levee, protecting 55 properties; contractors will leave 8000 sandbags at strategic points for use by property owners

Mypolonga community members have been working to fill sandbags and protect Woodlane since 7am.

Meanwhile, grants of $10,000 will be made available to small businesses in River Murray communities which have experienced a 30 per cent drop in revenue over three months, Premier Peter Malinauskas announced this morning.

The new grant scheme means businesses will no longer have to close before they can access support.

Information about how to apply will be made available on the state government’s flood relief website and info line – 1800 362 361.

December 26

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.89m (1.14m above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.1 to 2.4m, January 3-14

The Mypolonga levee has broken, according to a Facebook post by local dairy farmer Andrew Smart.

Photos showed water spilling onto the 11.7-kilometre-long stretch of dairy flats behind the government-owned levee.

The State Emergency Service later confirmed the break near the intersection of North Bokara Toad and Ibis Road, and warned residents in low-lying parts of Mypolonga and Woodlane to prepare to evacuate.

If the situation worsened, it might become unsafe to leave and emergency services might not be able to help.

Floodwaters have also made it in behind five of the other 22 levees between Woodlane and Wellington, satellite imagery suggests.

Each of the five is privately owned: those downstream of Pompoota, at Murrawong and Toora, and upstream of Wellington East.

For a closer look at levee heights along the Lower Murray, look back at our story from December 15.

A flood emergency warning from the State Emergency Service remains in effect for all low-lying areas along the river.

Meanwhile, you might have heard a bit about the floods peaking in South Australia during the past few days – but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Yes, the floods are peaking at the state border.

But it will take 18 days, give or take, for the peak to flow down to Murray Bridge, according to the Department for Environment and Water.

That said, the peak is only forecast to be around 20-50 centimetres higher than the river’s current level.

• View the latest satellite imagery: apps.sentinel-hub.com/eo-browser.

December 23

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.8m (1.05m above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.1 to 2.4m, January 3-14

The River Murray flood peak is predicted to reach the South Australian border in the next few days, according to the Department for Environment and Water.

The river’s flow at the border was 186 gigalitres per day this morning, and is expected to peak at 190-220GL/day.

Meanwhile, the Murray Bridge council has set up 10 bin banks around the districts for residents whose roads have been closed due to the risk of flooding.

Click here for a list of locations.

December 22

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.72m (97cm above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.1 to 2.4m, January 3-14

The River Murray at Murray Bridge is now a metre higher than usual, with another 40-70 centimetres left to go.

However, dry conditions across the Murray-Darling Basin have raised hopes that water levels may drop faster than previously expected in January and February, according to Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs.

River flows were likely to peak at 190 to 220 gigalitres per day at the state border in late December, then drop to 150GL/day in mid-January and 100GL/day by the end of January.

Those flows would reach Murray Bridge around three weeks later.

A number of roads have been closed around the Murray Bridge district as the waters rise, including:

• Avoca Dell: Part of Avoca Dell Drive
• Murray Bridge: Murray Cods Drive and Wildens Way
• Mypolonga: Hill Road, Rivergum Drive and parts of North Bokara Road
• Sunnyside: Sunnyside Road and Burgess Road
• Toora: Part of Toora Road

For an up-to-date list of road closures, visit www.traffic.sa.gov.au.

Meanwhile, Safework SA is warning shack owners and emergency service personnel to beware of asbestos as they prepare to clean up flooded properties in January and February.

The hazardous material, which can cause lung diseases, is present in one in three Australian homes, and particularly those built prior to 1990.

Asbestos surfaces which have been exposed to floodwaters may be gently cleaned with soap and water or a soft brush, but should not be sprayed with a high-pressure hose.

Damaged asbestos items will need to be removed by a licensed contractor.

Safework SA urged anyone likely to be involved with the flood clean-up to learn about common asbestos-containing products.

• More information about asbestos: www.asbestos.sa.gov.au.

December 21

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.66m (91cm above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.1-2.4m, January 3-14

The Toora levee is failing, the State Emergency Service has warned.

Residents in low-lying areas behind the levee, including along Toora Road, should prepare for potential flooding and/or isolation by floodwaters.

SES Chief Officer Chris Beattie said they would not be the only ones affected in the coming weeks, either.

“Communities along the length of the river should prepare for further flooding in low-lying areas,” he said.

“Those in flood risk areas should prepare their property for flooding and secure their valuables.

“I would like to reassure everyone that we are not going to see a sudden jump in water levels, but it is certainly going to rise to reach the predicted peak.”

He advised that anyone concerned about their ability to manage a prolonged flood event at home should relocate now instead of being told to evacuate at the last minute.

Meanwhile, the coming flood peak will reach Murray Bridge sooner and may be slightly lower than previously forecast, the Department for Environment and Water says.

In an update today, the department suggested the flood peak would arrive between January 3 and 14 – three days sooner – and reach a maximum of 2.4 metres, down from 2.5.

Finally, the crew of the barge MV Maratala have finished reinforcing a pipeline beneath the River Murray which had been put at risk by the floods.

The SA Water pipeline delivers water from a waste water treatment plant at Brinkley, on the western side of the river, to a chicken farm and an army range on the east side.

Workers used a 30-tonne crane aboard the barge to lower a series of concrete mats over the pipeline to keep it from being damaged by fast flows or debris.

December 20

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.63m (88cm above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.2-2.5m, January 6-17

All recreational activity on and around the River Murray – even fishing – has been banned by the state government, with immediate effect.

Premier Peter Malinauskas made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon.

No-one will be allowed to use any kind of water craft on the river, swim or fish between the South Australian border and the Wellington ferry.

Exceptions will apply to emergency services, people who need to access the river for work and people trying to access, or leave, their own properties.

The restrictions would keep the public safe, protect the integrity of levee banks, and give SA Power Networks more leeway to keep properties connected, Mr Malinauskas said.

“We’re conscious of the fact this will cause a degree of inconvenience for some,” he said.

“Normally at this time of year we’d want the river to be full of activity from recreational users and tourist operators and otherwise, so it’s a regrettable situation.”

The river would be reopened as soon as possible after the flood peak passed, he said.

Meanwhile, a historical comparison has come up around this flood in the past few days: not with 1956, but with 1931.

River flows this year have already surpassed 1974 levels, the second-biggest flood in living memory for most of us; so the Department for Environment and Water has started benchmarking water levels against ‘31, the second-biggest flood since European settlement.

Mr Malinauskas mentioned the same thing when he visited on Monday: the height of the coming flood was more comparable to 1931 than the 1970s.

The water level at Murray Bridge at that time is estimated to have reached 2.42 metres, or almost 1.7m above pool level.

With a projected peak of 2.2m to 2.5m this time around, we’ll be in that neighbourhood – flood levels are reasonably likely to resemble the photo above.

Finally, the Tailem Bend-Jervois ferry over the River Murray will close for three hours this Thursday, from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Work will be necessary to keep it operating as water levels rise.

Most of the ferries further up the river have already closed.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport thanked ferry users for their patience.

December 19

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.62m (87cm above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.2-2.5m, January 6-17

A flood relief centre will open in Murray Bridge on January 5, Premier Peter Malinauskas has announced.

Emergency relief will be available at the Rambler Football Club from 9am on that date.

The Premier made the announcement during a tour of Murray Bridge, Mypolonga and Jervois on Monday.

He also noted that the flood peak was now through Mildura.

It would therefore reach Murray Bridge in about 22 days, according to Department for Environment and Water estimates – around January 10.

River Murray estimated travel times during flood events280KB ∙ PDF fileDownloadDownload

Meanwhile, State Emergency Service warnings for the Lower Murray are coming thick and fast.

Residents on low-lying parts of Murrawong – particularly the handful living behind the Glen Lossie levee – have been warned to prepare to isolate as the levee is at risk of being breached by floodwaters.

Those residents should either get together enough food, water, medication and fuel for an extended period of isolation, potentially with no power or water; or consider leaving now.

A flood watch and act message is now in effect for all low-lying areas along the River Murray, as the stretch from Tailem Bend to Wellington was added on Saturday.

Residents of any low-lying areas along the river should be prepared to evacuate.

Queensland Fire and Rescue Station Officer Christian Currell, who flew in to help during the past week, said most of the residents he had spoken to were ready: “they’ve got back-up power supplies, they’ve got means of egress, they’ve got food”.

Finally, free financial counselling and minor financial assistance are now available to people who have been affected by the floods.

Financial counselling will be available at the Mannum flood relief centre from Wednesday to Friday each week; and small amounts of money will be distributed through AC Care to people who have been forced to stock up on food or drive longer distances due to road closures.

The state government is also partnering with Foodbank to supply food to residents who need it, furniture to relief centres and mattresses for emergency accommodation, in addition to measures previously announced.

More than $600,000 worth of grants have been given out to businesses so far, including 36 early closure grants and 28 generator grants.

December 16

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.6m (85cm above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.2-2.5m around January 6-17

A flood watch and act message has been issued for low-lying areas along the River Murray down to Tailem Bend, including Murray Bridge.

The State Emergency Service issued the warning at 11.55am on Friday, saying residents along the riverfront should prepare to evacuate if they have not already.

Shacks along Riverfront Road, Murray Bridge have already been cut off by floodwaters.

There was a high risk of flooding in low-lying areas, the SES said, and rapid river rises may threaten people’s safety.

People remaining in such areas risked becoming trapped, cut off from water, power and essential services; it might become unsafe to leave, and emergency services might not be able to assist.

Residents should follow emergency plans, move valuable items to a safe place, check on neighbours, notify friends and family of their plans, and go and stay with friends or family members outside the flood zone.

Anyone unable to find accommodation should go to the flood relief centre at Mannum Football Club.

Meanwhile, the Department for Environment and Water has widened its estimates for the flood peak expected in Murray Bridge next month – it now says that peak could be anywhere between 2.2 and 2.5 metres, which is up to 1.75 metres above normal level.

The flood peak is currently between Euston and Mildura.

DEW has stopped focusing on the amount of water flowing over the South Australian border.

The department also warned that the coming floods might look different to photos people had from 1974 or earlier floods due to changes in the river’s shape, vegetation, infrastructure which had been built since, and weather conditions.

Finally, the state government has changed development laws to allow anyone to build temporary accommodation more quickly.

Property owners in River Murray communities can now start building accommodation units before getting planning approval.

All they will need to do is notify their local council, get building rules consent to make sure any new building will be safe, and promise to file a development application within 28 days.

December 15

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.56m (81cm above pool level)

Residents in low-lying areas of Mypolonga, Pompoota, Caloote, Mannum and other areas up river should prepare to evacuate, the State Emergency Service has warned.

There is a high risk of flooding, and rapid river rises may threaten public safety.

Regardless of your property’s ability to withstand flood impacts, there is a chance you may become flooded or isolated.

If you remain, you may become trapped without water, power and other essential services.

If the situation worsens, it may not be safe to leave, and it may be too dangerous for emergency services to assist you.

Residents should follow emergency plans, move valuable items to a safe place, check on neighbours, notify friends and family of their plans, and go and stay with friends or family members outside the flood zone.

Anyone unable to find accommodation should go to the flood relief centre at Mannum Football Club.

Meanwhile, a flood peak of around 2.5 metres is still expected in Murray Bridge between January 6 and 17, according to the latest state government projections.

River Murray flows are expected to peak at between 190 and 220 gigalitres per day over the border.

Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs urged river community members to keep preparing for high water.

“As we get closer to the peak, and more properties are inundated, I urge people to follow the SASES advice and to remain vigilant,” he said.

“As authorities are now able to project more definitely peaks in towns across the system, I remind communities to heed the advice of the SASES and continue to seek advice from trusted sources.

“Preparation is key for all involved.

“Have a plan and be ready to leave.”

We’ve also got new updates today on last night’s flood meeting in Murray Bridge and on the state of the levees along the Lower Murray.

• Read more: Which Lower Murray levees should hold and which will be tested?
• Read more: Be prepared and watch out for snakes, Murray Bridge flood meeting hears

The short version: if you’ve got a riverfront or low-lying property and you’re not yet prepared for the high water, it’s time to get cracking.

December 14

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.58m (83cm above pool level)

Shacks along Riverfront Road, Murray Bridge have been cut off by floodwaters as the River Murray rises.

The Murray Bridge council closed off access to much of the riverfront at Sturt Reserve this afternoon in response to the rising waters.

It also announced this morning that the city’s New Year’s Eve celebrations would be postponed in light of the coming emergency.

• Read more: Murray Bridge’s New Year’s Eve celebrations postponed

Other riverfront areas, including Avoca Dell Reserve and Thiele Reserve, are also becoming increasingly inundated.

At Mypolonga, construction of a temporary levee – which would protect the school and township in the event the main levee fails – is well underway.

Murraylands residents will be able to find out the latest about the River Murray flood situation at a community meeting at Murray Bridge Town Hall at 6.30 tonight.

December 13

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.59m (84cm above pool level)

Motels and caravan parks in Murray Bridge and at Tailem Bend are among those to have been booked out by the state government for use by flood evacuees during the coming weeks.

With the River Murray now rising by the day, Premier Peter Malinauskas reassured riverfront residents that they would be looked after if they had nowhere else to go.

More than 500 people have visited the emergency flood relief centres at Mannum and Berri since they opened, but only 24 have needed emergency accommodation.

Don’t forget: there’s going to be another community meeting at Murray Bridge Town Hall at 6.30pm this Wednesday.

The meeting will be live-streamed on the Murray Bridge Performing Arts and Function Centre’s YouTube channel.

December 12

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.43m (68cm above pool level)

The River Murray has risen to its highest level yet this summer as floodwaters begin to flow into the Murray Bridge district.

Water levels are so far almost 70 centimetres above the normal level, but still more than a metre below next month’s expected peak.

Primary producers are now able to apply for up to $25,000 worth of funding if their pumps and other irrigation infrastructure, or their power supply, has been affected by the floods since November 22.

A total of $3 million worth of funding will be made available to irrigators through Primary Industries and Regions SA.

More information is available on PIRSA’s website, at the relief centre at Mannum Football Club, or from PIRSA family and business mentors Robyn Cain, John Chase and Brent Fletcher.

Meanwhile, tourism authorities have launched a new guide to the Murray River, Lakes and Coorong with hopes of encouraging holidaymakers to visit over the summer or in 2023.

The region’s tourism development manager, Bill Nehmy, said Murraylands businesses needed everyone’s support.

“Seeing the Murray River system and experiencing it with the locals during and after the flood will be a moment in history that many of us may never get to see again, and I would encourage people to use the articles, itineraries, images and listings in the new visitor guide to help inspire their next holiday,” he said.

“While we all love the on-water activities here, we know that many of them will be off-limits for visitors this summer.

“However, our region is so much more than that, and this visitor guide showcases that perfectly.”

Finally, SA Police are warning people to stay off roads which have been closed due to flooding, and not to walk along River Murray levees, for their own safety.

• More information about support for primary producers: www.pir.sa.gov.au.
• More information about holiday destinations: www.themurrayriver.com.

December 9

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.23m (48cm above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 2.5m around January 6-17
• Daily flows into South Australia: ~180 gigalitres per day
• Forecast peak: 190-220GL/day in late December

There’s no way of knowing exactly how much water is flowing down the River Murray and into South Australia at the moment, the state Department for Environment and Water says.

In its weekly flow update, the department said a significant amount of water was bypassing monitoring sites.

As a result, flows had been underestimated: flow rates were supposedly less than in 1974, but water levels had already risen higher.

The floods are now forecast to peak at around 2.5 metres in Murray Bridge next month, or 1.75 metres higher than normal.

A peak of around 1.7m is forecast for Jervois, and 1.4m for Wellington.

More information will be offered at a community meeting at Murray Bridge Town Hall at 6.30pm on Wednesday.

A watch and act message from the State Emergency Service remains in effect for the Lower Murray.

The SES said it was now “very dangerous” to be on the river in many places due to the risk posed by the current, submerged objects and floating debris.

Meanwhile, the Murray Bridge council has mounted a webcam on top of the Bridgeport Hotel so viewers around the country can get an idea of the current situation at Sturt Reserve.

CEO Michael Sedgman told Murray Bridge News the council hoped to put together a time-lapse video of the flood event once it was all over.

In the meantime, though, he encouraged tourists to stick to their plans to visit over the summer.

“Even without the usual riverfront activities, Murray Bridge is one big playground,” he said.

“There is plenty of things to see and do, and an exciting school holiday program in development for January.”

• Watch the live stream from the top of the Bridgeport Hotel: www.youtube.com.

December 8

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.26m (51cm above pool level)

The Murray Bridge council has hit back at Opposition Leader David Speirs for suggesting it is not doing enough to prepare for the coming River Murray floods.

The council had helped with construction of a temporary levee around the Murray Bridge Club and regional rowing centre, CEO Michael Sedgman said, and would do the same around the bottom end of the Mypolonga township in the coming days.

But it would not spend millions of dollars building levees to protect the tennis courts, playgrounds or toilets at Sturt Reserve, he said.

“You couldn’t justify significant expenditure of public money to prevent any sort of inundation at Sturt Reserve,” he said.

“We’ll be focused on remediation and recovery post the high-flow peak.

“It’s about a cost-benefit (ratio).

“We’ve got a clear sense of the community’s expectations.”

The state opposition has followed up Mr Speirs’ visit yesterday by calling for more support for businesses affected by flooding, including a Jobkeeper-style wage subsidy intended to help them keep their employees.

Meanwhile, the state government has announced a promotional campaign encouraging South Australians who want to help river communities to spend money at local businesses.

The Spend Your Support campaign will bring a particular focus to bear on food and wine producers and tourism businesses – the ones most likely to be affected by a downturn in visitation during the floody summer.

At the top of the River Murray, a flood peak of between 190 and 220 gigalitres of water per day is now expected at the South Australian border.

That’s slightly higher than last week’s projection of 185GL/day; the state government’s modelling is getting more accurate with the peak at the border now only a couple of weeks away.

Finally, at the other end of the river, the operators of the barrages at the Murray Mouth have now opened every one of the 576 gates which allow water to flow from the river out to sea.

SA Water said it was the first time that had happened in decades.

More information about the Spend Your Support campaign:

spendyoursupport.sa.gov.au.

December 7

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.22m (47cm above pool level)

Fear and uncertainty are pervading river communities as they endure the weeks-long wait for floods to arrive.

So says state Opposition Leader David Speirs, who visited Mypolonga and Murray Bridge on Wednesday morning.

Among others, he heard from Murray Bridge Club manager Shane Barton-Ancliffe, who worried that not enough financial support would be available to his staff if – or when – the club’s power and water were cut off.

Residents of shack communities had also told him they were worried about looting if their neighbourhoods were evacuated.

“I’m not trying to politicise this,” Mr Speirs said.

But considering how many months the state government had had to prepare, he said, people deserved more answers than they were currently getting when it came to power cuts, emergency payments and other topics.

He also expressed concern that the Murray Bridge council was not doing more to protect riverfront areas such as Sturt Reserve, which were likely to be muddy and messy for months afterwards if they were inundated.

Still, Murray Bridge Lawn Tennis Association president Graham Buttle told Murray Bridge News it was hard to be sure that building a levee around the riverfront courts would be any easier than rebuilding after the fact.

The courts, the association’s clubrooms and a pump shed were all at an elevation of between 1.9 and 2.1 metres, he said – right around the forecast flood peak.

Any inundation would “kill” the lawn courts, and there was a risk that they would buckle as well, since they were partly built on top of a reclaimed rubbish tip.

Association members planned to sandbag the clubrooms on Friday, play through to their mid-season break on the 17th, and hope for the best after that, he suggested.

“We’re trying to be practical,” he said.

“I don’t want to stretch the resources of the (State Emergency Service) any more than we need.”

Murray Bridge News will seek a response from the council.

Meanwhile, in other flood news today:

• A community meeting will be held at the Mypolonga Combined Sports Club at 7pm this Thursday
• Anyone whose property is likely to be inundated can now access a free Japanese encephalitis virus vaccine from one of six locations in Murray Bridge and Tailem Bend
• The state government will spend $1 million on mental health initiatives in river communities; Emerging Minds have also published information about how to help children cope with the flood situation

Murray Bridge News will continue to update this blog each day.

December 6

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.16m (41cm above pool level)

The state government will spend $1.2 million on emergency accommodation for residents along the River Murray who are displaced by the coming floods.

Housing SA had previously suggested it would not run crisis accommodation centres for evacuees; instead, they will be housed in hotels and motels in the Riverland and Mid Murray district.

Premier Peter Malinauskas did not suggest, in his announcement today, any accommodation would yet be booked in the Murray Bridge or Coorong districts, where fewer properties are at risk of flooding.

Families in need of accommodation will have to register at emergency relief centres at Mannum – where one will open at the football club tomorrow – or at Berri.

Mr Malinauskas expected 500 beds would be needed for 280 families.

December 5

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.23m (48cm above pool level)

Major delays are not expected on the old Murray Bridge refurbishment project as a result of the coming River Murray floods, the government department responsible says.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport shifted most of its worksite up off the floodplain several weeks ago, anticipating that it could be inundated if the levee failed.

Some work would be delayed as a result, but workers would be able to keep busy elsewhere, the department said.

The $46 million project is still expected to be finished in late 2023.

• More information about the bridge works: www.dit.sa.gov.au.

December 2

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.11m (36cm above pool level)
• Forecast peak: ~2.31m around January 6-17
• Daily flows into South Australia: 152 gigalitres per day
• Forecast peak: 185GL/day in late December

The State Emergency Service has re-issued a flood watch and act message for the lower River Murray this afternoon.

The SES advised anyone with property at risk of flooding to prepare by moving valuable items to a safe place and making plans to leave if necessary.

Children should not be allowed to play in floodwater, and nobody should walk, ride or drive through it, the SES said.

The river is still expected to peak at about 2.3 metres, or 1.5m higher than normal, in Murray Bridge, according to the Department for Environment and Water.

The peak may reach about 1.6m at Jervois and 1.4m at Wellington at its highest point, in mid-January.

December 1

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.12m (37cm above pool level)

The River Murray floods are running a bit late.

The first of two flood peaks, previously expected to reach Murray Bridge as early as December 22, will now be here around December 28.

A second, slightly higher peak is due around January 11-18.

However, the likelihood of either peak rising higher than previously forecast had not increased during the past week, Premier Peter Malinauskas said this morning.

“As the river continues to rise, I’d urge everyone in river communities to take extra care, stay up to date with the SES advice and to continue preparing for the peak,” he said.

Meanwhile, the federal government has introduced a special disaster payment for anyone who might have lost income due to the floods; and SA Power Networks has introduced a ban on travelling within 50 metres of power lines standing in flood waters.

• Watch today’s state government press conference: www.facebook.com/PMalinauskasMP.
• More information about the disaster recovery allowance: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au.

November 30

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.12m (37cm above pool level)

The State Emergency Service’s fancy new Defencell flood barriers have been deployed in Murray Bridge for the first time, at Sturt Reserve.

A sand-filled barrier will protect Murray Bridge Club, the neighbouring rowing centre and the 1924 River Tavern as water levels rise during the coming weeks.

The expected flood peak of more than 2.2 metres would likely have inundated them all.

Murray Bridge’s famous bunyip will also get a dip in the deep water, but should be unaffected – her electronics have been moved up high, and she got through 1974 just fine, anyway.

All events scheduled to be held at Sturt Reserve after this Thursday have been relocated or postponed.

The Murray Bridge council is erring on the side of caution – it has already closed riverfront areas including Avoca Dell Reserve, Hume Reserve, Tumbella Drive Reserve, Hill Reserve at Mypolonga and Riverglen Marina Reserve at White Sands.

All levees along the river have also been closed to walkers and runners.

However, the council has made free sand available for anyone who needs to lay sandbags, at:

• Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge, near the corner of Jaensch Road and Sturt Reserve Road
• Monteith Hall
• Mypolonga Memorial Oval

Mayor Wayne Thorley urged people to follow authorities’ directions and work together to stay safe.

“This is the greatest natural disaster we have seen here during my lifetime, but together we have made it through drought, bushfire, a pandemic and everything else that’s been thrown our way over the years, and together is how we’ll make it through this,” he said.

November 29

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.16m (41cm above pool level)

Volunteers are wanted to help build a temporary levee around Murray Bridge Club and the neighbouring rowing centre during the next three days.

Anyone able to help should wear a long-sleeved top, long pants and closed-in shoes, and high-visibility gear if they have any, and arrive any time from 11.30am on Tuesday.

The State Emergency Service and Murray Bridge council hope to protect the area ahead of an expected flood peak in late December and January.

Meanwhile, starting today, the SES and other emergency services will begin door-knocking at more than 1000 properties which are at risk of being flooded.

As many as 4000 properties could be at risk if the floods reach currently forecast levels, but the door-knocking effort will focus only on people’s primary residences.

Volunteers will collect residents’ contact information, assess the threat posed to their properties, and ask them about their plans.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the state government had arrangements in place to secure motel accommodation in the Riverland and elsewhere if it was required.

The government also expected to open an emergency relief centre in Murray Bridge in the near future.

November 28

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.16m (41cm above pool level)

More than 60 people have filled 800 sandbags at a pre-flood working bee at Mypolonga over the weekend.

The local progress association organised the event – with support from Mobilong Rotary, Sprycrete, Daishsat, Long’s Sand and Metal and the Murray Bridge council – following a community meeting a week ago.

How are preparations going in your community?

November 25

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.08m (33cm above pool level)
• Forecast peak: ~2.3m around January 7-17
• Daily flows into South Australia: 131 gigalitres per day
• Forecast peak: 185GL/day in late December

The coming River Murray floods are now likely to peak twice during the Christmas-New Year period, the Department for Environment and Water is warning.

The first peak, of almost 2.25 metres, will arrive in Murray Bridge around December 22-30.

River levels will then flatten before rising a few centimetres higher again around January 7-17.

At that level – 1.5 metres higher than normal – hundreds of riverfront shacks would be at risk of flooding, including at Sunnyside and Murrawong and in Murray Bridge; and dozens of houseboat residents could be isolated, according to State Emergency Service maps.

Many of the reclaimed irrigation areas along the Lower Murray would risk becoming inundated; and water would likely cover large areas of Sturt Reserve and other riverfront areas.

However, it was still possible that flows could reach 220GL/day if more rain fell during the coming weeks, the department warned.

At that point, river levels in Murray Bridge would rise another 43cm higher again.

Jervois and Wellington would also experience high river levels, but not quite that high, as shown in the table below.

The department urged residents in river communities to prepare for the worst-case scenario, just to be safe, “and for a prolonged (flood) duration lasting into late January 2023 and possibly beyond”.

Meanwhile, state Small and Family Business Minister Andrea Michaels has encouraged business owners to register for information about emergency funding, including for businesses which had been forced to close, those that needed to buy generators and those in need of financial counselling.

Having said all that, everything remains pretty normal along the river in Murray Bridge right now, as wakeboard shop owner Adam Bruce reminded everyone.

• More information about small business funding: business.sa.gov.au/floods.

November 24

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.12m (37cm above pool level)

A second River Murray flood peak will hit at least 185 gigalitres per day two weeks after the initial peak of 175GL/day, the latest forecasts show.

The extra water will raise the river only a little higher than the level already predicted in Murray Bridge and surrounds – around two metres AHD, or 1.25m above pool level.

But that may still be high enough to cause headaches for communities protected by levees, and the high levels are likely stick around from mid-December through January.

More information will become available from the Department for Environment and Water tomorrow.

State Emergency Service Chief Officer Chris Beattie urged riverfront property owners to act now if they had not begun already.

How to prepare your shack1.09MB ∙ PDF fileDownloadDownload

“Know your risk by accessing our interactive maps on the SES website to see if your property is likely to be inundated,” he said.

“Remove valuables, move furniture to higher ground, and plan when you will need to leave.”

The state government announced more than $50 million worth of assistance for river communities on Tuesday.

• Watch today’s announcement from Premier Peter Malinauskas: facebook.com/pmalinauskasmp.

November 23

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.17m (42cm above pool level)

River Murray boat users will have to obey new, more restrictive rules from today in response to the flood emergency, the state Department for Infrastructure and Transport has announced.

Boats will have to slow to a speed of four knots – a fast walking pace – any time they pass a “partially or fully submerged” levee bank or flooded building.

Jetskis will have to maintain that speed anywhere along the river.

Anyone found breaching the new rules could be liable for a fine of up to $10,000.

The changes were necessary to keep people safe and protect property and infrastructure, the department said.

In other flood-related news, Mypolonga residents have had an update on the situation there – you can read more at the link below.

• Read more: Temporary levee may be built to protect Mypolonga township

Meanwhile, SA Water is encouraging river residents to register their phone numbers so they can be alerted if the utility has to switch off their water or wastewater.

Neither service had yet been affected by the floods, but temporary interruptions might occur in some places as waters rose.

Customer and commercial general manager Danny Moore recommended households at risk aim to keep handy at least 20 litres of drinking water per person, just in case.

November 22

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.25m (50cm above pool level)

The state government has today announced $51.6 million worth of measures to help people affected by flooding along the River Murray.

People who are forced to evacuate their homes will get two weeks’ emergency accommodation paid for, plus grants of $400 per person or $1000 per family.

Uninsured evacuees who cannot find alternative accommodation will be able to access rental assistance worth up to $2000 per person, or $5000 per family.

Other measures announced by Premier Peter Malinauskas will include:

• $14.1 million for levees, sandbags and other flood defences
• $10 million to repair roads, ferries and other infrastructure once the floodwaters go down
• $4.1 million for tourism, including a voucher scheme and marketing campaign
• $3 million for irrigators who need to move pumps and generators
• $1 million worth of mental health support
• Grants for businesses which are forced to cease trading ahead of the floods

“We know the rising floodwaters will cause distress and damage to many South Australians’ lives and livelihoods, from families to tourism operators and other businesses,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“We have acted swiftly to establish disaster funding for those already dealing with the extra water that’s coming down the river, as well as those who may be impacted in the coming weeks.”

Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said the floods would have a significant economic and social impact, and that more support would be made available to river communities over the coming months.

November 21

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.3m (55cm above pool level)

Bill Mitchell could have been anywhere, but he’s chosen to come to Murray Bridge Showground to help people fill sandbags.

The Murray Bridge East resident and traffic controller Blake De Lorenzo were both helping property owners at the State Emergency Service sandbag depot on Monday morning.

“People have got a lot of work to do,” Mr Mitchell said.

“If they can feel happy for a second that somebody has done something for them…”

More than 200 people had visited the showground to pick up sandbags since the depot opened on Friday morning, the SES’ Nick Askew said.

Sandbags will be available there from 9am-3pm every day until at least December 18.

Meanwhile, SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has today officially declared the River Murray floods a major emergency, granting him extra powers to direct the government’s response.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the state government was “acting as quickly and proactively as possible to minimise risk to lives, businesses and homes”, including by securing almost 400,000 extra sandbags which would arrive by November 30.

He urged people to check their addresses using a new flood mapping tool on the SES’ website.

However, state opposition MP Nicola Cenofanti said not enough was being done to prepare for property evacuations.

“We need a clear and concise plan on the locations where people will be evacuated to, how they will be evacuated and assurances the facilities will be fit-for-purpose, given some could be homeless for months,” she said.

The Murraylands’ state MP, Adrian Pederick, acknowledged South Australia’s SES and other emergency volunteers.

“If you get a chance and cross paths with any volunteers, give them a pat on the back because things would be so much worse if we didn’t have them,” he said.

• Check your address for flood risk: ses.sa.gov.au.

November 18

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 0.92m (17cm above pool level)
• Forecast peak: ~1.96m around December 22-30
• Daily flows into South Australia: 108 gigalitres per day
• Forecast peak: 175GL/day in early December

If you’ve got a heap of sandbags to fill over the next few weeks, a few local companies are ready to help.

Concrete supply company Sprycrete have offered to bring up to 10 tonnes of sand to anyone who needs it between Mannum and Wellington, between 1pm and 4pm on weekdays – just like they did at Murray Bridge Club the other day.

Long’s Sand and Metal are donating the sand, and David Daish at Daishsat will pay for the trucks’ fuel.

Don’t forget that the State Emergency Service will have sandbags available for pick-up, too – up to 20 per person – at Murray Bridge Showground over the weekend and on Monday.

Meanwhile, this week’s updated flow projections for the River Murray haven’t really moved the estimated flood peak we’ll get here in Murray Bridge.

The peak is still projected to be about 1.9 to two metres, right around Christmas.

There’s still a moderate chance of the flow at the border reaching as high as 200GL/day.

But if that happens, the peak might not be as high as previously forecast, the Department for Environment and Water has suggested – 2.47m at Murray Bridge, or about 40cm lower than last week’s estimate.

Every bit counts, right?

November 17

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.01m (26cm above pool level)

New projections show that the flow of water down the River Murray, into South Australia, will reach 175 gigalitres per day this summer.

That’s up 10GL on last week’s estimates.

The probability of higher flows of up to 220GL/day – which would mean floods higher than any since 1956 – remains unchanged.

Any floods are expected to peak at Murray Bridge in late December and continue through January and February.

“Significant rain interstate over the past week increases the likelihood of flooding, particularly for low-lying Riverland and Murraylands communities,” Premier Peter Malinauskas said on Thursday.

“State government agencies are working around the clock with councils, landholders and communities to prepare for the huge volume of water coming across the border.

“People should use the SES hotline and government websites to keep up to date with the latest information.”

November 16

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.06m (31cm above pool level)

The State Emergency Service will make sandbags freely available in Murray Bridge between this Friday and next Monday.

Sandbags – up to 20 per person – will be available to collect at Murray Bridge Showground from 9am-3pm each day.

Volunteers will be available to help people fill them with sand.

Meanwhile, Murray Bridge Club members have rallied to lay sandbags around the riverfront building on Wednesday afternoon.

About 20 people showed up to help barricade the doorways and drains around the bottom of the building in preparation for the high river levels expected in the coming weeks.

Manager Shane Barton-Ancliffe hoped the club would be protected so long as the river didn’t rise higher than two metres, or 1.25m above pool level.

Any more than that and it wouldn’t matter – the car park would flood, and the club would have to close for the duration.

In hindsight, perhaps it was fortunate that the club had not yet realised its plans to build a riverfront restaurant in the old rowing shed at the front of the building.

November 15

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.15m (40cm above pool level)

You’ll find today’s main update – a summary of everything said at last night’s community flood meeting in Murray Bridge – here.

Among the new information presented was the suggestion that all River Murray ferries will close during the floods’ peak, and that any evacuees will be housed in hotels rather than at a central, dormitory-style centre.

• Read more: Seven takeaways from Murray Bridge’s community flood meeting

Meanwhile, folks are preparing for what’s to come.

Murray Bridge Club has called on its members to come and lay sandbags from 1pm tomorrow.

November 14

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.27m (52cm above pool level)

The State Emergency Service is introducing a new sandbagging system as it prepares to defend properties along the River Murray this summer.

The Defencell system, developed for military applications but also used against floods in North America, basically involves a bigger type of sandbag which is able to be filled and deployed more quickly.

SES Chief Officer Chris Beattie said it would be used alongside traditional sandbags and temporary earthen levees.

The SES will provide more information about flood preparation at a community meeting at Murray Bridge Town Hall at 6.30 on Monday evening.

Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Water is warning campers to check its website before visiting any of the national parks along the River Murray.

District ranger Benita Dillion said several campsites had already been closed due to either high river flows or heavy rain.

November 11

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 0.95m (20cm above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 1.9m around December 22-30
• Daily flows into South Australia: 92.5 gigalitres per day
• Forecast peak: 165GL/day in early December

It’s going to be an interesting Christmas.

A flood peak of about 1.9 metres is now expected in Murray Bridge following yesterday’s updated forecast from the state Department for Environment and Water.

At currently forecast river flow levels, Jervois would also experience a peak of 1.4m, but river levels would only be slightly elevated at Wellington and around the Lower Lakes.

However, there’s a moderate chance that South Australia will get flows of 200GL/day, would mean floodwaters peaking almost a metre higher: at 2.85m in Murray Bridge, 2.39m at Jervois and 1.36m at Wellington, right around Christmas.

At that level, it is possible that hundreds of riverfront properties would be flooded, levee banks would fail and low-lying areas such as Sturt Reserve would be partially inundated, according to DEW modelling.

Forecasts are expected to keep increasing as rain falls across the Murray-Darling Basin.

For more information, don’t miss the community meeting scheduled to be held at Murray Bridge Town Hall at 6.30pm on Monday and live-streamed online.

In the meantime, the State Emergency Service is urging visitors to keep supporting River Murray communities for now.

“Although the River Murray is currently experiencing high river flows, it is still safe for people to travel to River Murray regions,” the SES said in a statement.

“High river flows are a way of keeping the river environment healthy, strong, and sustainable.”

November 10

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 0.92m (17cm above pool level)

There is a moderate chance that this summer’s River Murray floods will be the biggest to impact South Australia since 1956.

That was the update from the state government today as it revised its projections upward once again.

At least 165 gigalitres of water per day is now expected to flow into SA from early December.

There is a “moderate” chance that figure will reach 200GL/day and a “low” chance of 220GL/day, according to Climate, Environment and Water Minister Susan Close and Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs.

Making matters worse, up to 100 millimetres of rain is forecast across the Murray-Darling Basin during the next week, which could result in projections being revised upwards again.

“I urge people to visit the SA SES website for up-to-date information and to continue preparing themselves and their properties for what is expected to come down the river in the coming weeks,” Mr Szakacs said.

“This will give residents the best possible chance of getting through these challenging times without injury or property loss.

“It’s important that river communities remain vigilant and continue to prepare, particularly those with low-lying shacks.”

The Department for Environment and Water is preparing new, detailed inundation maps for towns including Murray Bridge, since those it published a fortnight ago have already been superseded.

More information will be made available at a community meeting at Murray Bridge Town Hall at 6.30pm next Monday.

The Murray Bridge council will live-stream the meeting on YouTube.

November 9

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 0.86m (11cm above pool level)

The State Emergency Service has issued a new warning about high flows in the Lower Murray and the risk they pose to public safety.

Flooding of some properties on the River Murray floodplain is expected over the coming weeks, the SES says, and particularly during December.

The high volume of water will also make the conditions dangerous for anyone out on the river.

November 8

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 0.92m (17cm above pool level)

The amount of water projected to flow into South Australia over the coming weeks has increased again.

At least 150 gigalitres of water per day is now expected at the border in early December, according to Premier Peter Malinauskas.

That’s up 15GL/day on Friday’s projections.

There is now a moderate chance that flows will reach 165GL/day, and a low chance of 180GL/day.

At those levels, hundreds of riverfront shacks along the Lower Murray would be flooded and some riverfront reserves inundated – and that’s before any consideration of the levees which protect valuable farmland and more houses.

“These new flow predictions are a concern for river communities,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“People need to be prepared for increasing rises in river levels.

“I urge people to keep informed through the SES website so they can prepare and give themselves the best possible chance to get through this difficult period.”

November 7

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 0.95m (20cm above pool level)

River Murray levels at Murray Bridge have fallen back to a more normal level over the weekend.

There’s not much else new to report today, but be sure to check out our stories from last week about the barrages and the levees along the Lower Murray, if you missed them; and don’t forget to put next week’s SES community meeting in your calendar – it will be at 6.30pm next Monday, November 14 at Murray Bridge Town Hall.

Know something more about the condition of the levees in your area, or anything else to do with flood preparations?

Let us know in the comments, email peri@murraybridge.news or call us on 0419 827 124.

Meanwhile, Landscape SA Murraylands and Riverland is urging us to wash our cars if we’ve driven through muddy areas around the river.

District officer Bec Gould said she was concerned that invasive weeds such as buffel grass could become more widely spread around the region if seeds became stuck to muddy cars.

November 4

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 1.05m (0.3m above pool level)
• Forecast peak: 1.68m around December 15-30
• Daily flows into South Australia: 89 gigalitres per day
• Forecast peak: 135GL/day in early December

As we reported yesterday, the latest weekly forecast from the Department for Environment and Water suggest the coming River Murray floods could last longer than previously expected, but will not be any higher.

Barring more rain, river flows are expected to peak at a moderate flood level in Murray Bridge in the second half of December.

However, if significant rain falls in the next six weeks, there is a low chance that river flows could peak at 160GL/day, which would mean river levels of about 1.98m in Murray Bridge – just a few centimetres below the 1974 flood level.

The good news is that workers are strengthening the levee banks which protect the swamps along the Lower Murray.

• Read more: Workers rush to strengthen Lower Murray levees ahead of flood peak

The State Emergency Service’s latest advice is for anyone along the Lower Murray to prepare for flooding by making a plan and removing valuable items from low-lying properties.

Boat operators should go slowly and carefully, and all river users, including houseboat operators and irrigators, should check water levels daily.

Some of the waste disposal stations used by houseboats – those upstream of Murray Bridge – will close from November 21.

Dredging operations at the Murray Mouth have also stopped for the first time in almost eight years.

November 3

The State Emergency Service will hold a community meeting in Murray Bridge the week after next as flood preparations continue around the district.

The meeting will be held at Murray Bridge Town Hall at 6.30pm on November 14.

In the meantime, the SES has also stopped providing sandbags at its Murray Bridge station for now – those which are available are being diverted to the Riverland, where floodwaters will peak sooner.

River Murray levels at Murray Bridge have fallen to about 1.1 metres today – that’s only 35cm above the normal level – after a peak associated with the wild weather earlier in the week.

The latest projections show that the coming floods are likely to last longer than previously expected, as the River Murray will keep bringing more than 100 gigalitres of water per day into South Australia throughout December and January.

The forecast peak of 135GL/day has not changed since last week, but there remains a low change of a peak as high as 160GL/day, which would be considered a major flood.

• Read more: Why can’t they let more water out of the barrages before the floods come?

Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs urged residents in river communities to remain vigilant and keep preparing for a high river.

The state government’s immediate concern, Climate, Environment and Water Minister Susan Close said, was that a “blackwater” event was likely to kill off many of the fish in the river.

In a blackwater event, organic matter washed into the river by floodwaters or heavy rain removed much of the oxygen in the water, causing fish to suffocate.

She urged anyone who witnessed unusual numbers of dead fish to call the 24-hour Fishwatch hotline on 1800 065 522.

“The risk of a blackwater event in South Australia will increase from this Saturday onwards as a result of higher daytime temperatures, which will speed up the biological processes that deplete oxygen in the water,” she said.

“Fish and other aquatic animals may become stressed when oxygen levels drop below a certain level.

“Large-bodied native fish such as Murray cod are particularly vulnerable.”

November 2

The Murray Bridge council is in the process of closing a number of riverfront reserves in response to rising water levels:

• Avoca Dell Reserve
• Bells Landing Reserve, Monteith
• Hill Road Reserve, Mypolonga – the road
• Hume Reserve, Murray Bridge
• Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge – southern parts, including the Sailability jetty

Workers have also sandbagged the council-owned wastewater system at Riverglen.

Chief executive Michael Sedgman said windy weather had pushed up river levels more quickly than expected.

But the council had already established an incident operations team tasked with monitoring public riverfront land, “so we are not caught unawares”.

An executive-level incident response team would meet for the first time on Thursday, and concerns about specific areas – including Hume Reserve and shacks on Riverfront Road – would be raised at a meeting of the Murray Mallee zone emergency support team.

“We want to assure our residents that the council is working closely with all the relevant state agencies,” Mr Sedgman said.

“We are keeping a very close eye on developments and responding appropriately.”

More reserve closures would likely follow as river levels rose, he said.

Water levels have fluctuated wildly along the Lower Murray in recent days, but generally continue to rise.

The River Murray at Murray Bridge reached a height of 1.34 metres around 4pm on Tuesday, or almost 60 centimetres above its usual level.

That represented a rise of 55cm in just two days, but is still another 31cm below the peak currently forecast for mid-December.

Meanwhile, SA Power Networks has warned that shacks or properties in low-lying areas will likely have their electricity disconnected as the floods arrive.

Power lines and electrical equipment could pose a major safety risk if they became submerged.

Property owners can register for free SMS alerts at pamp.apps.sapowernetworks.com.au.

The utility also advised the owners of properties likely to be flooded, and which have solar panels or batteries, to get an electrician to disconnect them.

October 28

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 0.75m (pool level)
• Forecast peak: 1.68m around December 15-30
• Daily flows into South Australia: 85 gigalitres per day
• Forecast peak: 135GL/day in early December

The State Emergency Service has issued its first flood advice message for the River Murray between Lock One and Wellington.

The river will reach “minor flood” level within the next three weeks, as the flow of water into South Australia is already at its highest level since 2016.

The estimated flood peak for Murray Bridge has gone up by 20 centimetres this week, as the daily flow of water over the border is now projected to peak at a level 15GL/day higher than previously forecast.

State authorities would consider flows of 135GL/day – more than three times more than usual – to be a “moderate flood”.

Under those conditions, more than 200 riverfront properties between Woodlane and Wellington could be at risk of flooding by mid-December.

Hundreds of shacks sit within metres of the river’s edge in the Murray Bridge and Coorong districts, including at Sunnyside, Greenbanks, Murrawong, White Sands, Wellington and in Murray Bridge itself.

Maps published by DEW, below, show shacks in areas such as Riverfront Road and Wildens Way, in Murray Bridge, beneath the high water line we can expect in December.

Projected flow inundation areas: Murray Bridge6.83MB ∙ PDF fileDownloadDownload

Dozens of houseboats are also moored at marinas along the Lower Murray, and more properties will depend upon the levee banks along the river for protection.

Riverfront property owners should:

• Prepare for flooding
• Move valuable items to a safe place
• Clear drains and gutters

River users should be aware of the strong current, submerged objects and floating debris in the main channel.

Empty sandbags are available from Murray Bridge’s State Emergency Service brigade, at 138 Thomas Street, 24-seven for anyone who needs to prepare.

October 25

In light of the developing situation across the Murray-Darling Basin, starting today, Murray Bridge News will begin providing weekly updates on River Murray water levels.

Check in here each week for the latest warnings, water level projections and other information relevant to residents of Murray Bridge and surrounds.

Let’s start with the latest figures, published on Friday:

• Water level at Murray Bridge: 0.78m
• Forecast peak: 1.48m around December 15-30
• Daily flows into South Australia: 79 gigalitres per day
• Forecast peak: 120GL/day in early December

Those Department for Environment and Water figures will bear watching over the coming weeks.

A month ago, DEW predicted that flows would peak at between 75 and 80GL/day – a level already surpassed in the wake of crushing rain interstate.

Now the department says there is a medium chance that flows could reach 140GL/day, and a low probability of 160GL/day.

The 120GL/day projection does not account for rain which may fall across the basin over the coming weeks, or indeed for the 44.4 millimetres which fell on Murray Bridge over the weekend.

Even at that level of flow, water could be expected to inundate parts of Sturt Reserve and Avoca Dell Reserve and other low-lying areas not protected by levees, including some shacks.

The State Emergency Service will issue specific advice as the floodwaters draw closer.

Free sandbags, unfilled, are already available at the Murray Bridge SES station on Thomas Street.

In the meantime, river users are advised to take extra precautions considering the high volume of water flowing downstream.

Landowners should take steps to secure their properties from rising water levels, boat operators should watch out for submerged debris, swimmers should take extra care and – of course – no-one should attempt to walk or drive through floodwaters.

On the bright side – if there is one – all this water will help the environment by flushing salt out of the Lower Lakes and providing a healthier environment for native fish from the river channel right down into the Coorong, according to DEW.

Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly attributed a comment about rubber-neckers at Monteith.

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