The 2022-23 Murray River flood was one of the worst natural disasters in South Australia’s history. Photo: SA Department of Environment and Water.
The Federal and South Australian governments have announced additional funding for remediation works on critical infrastructure, and to support communities still recovering from the 2022-23 Murray River floods.
The floods have been described as one of the worst natural disasters in South Australia’s history, and damaged or destroyed numerous homes, businesses and infrastructure along South Australia’s lower reaches of the Murray River.
Significant support to flood-affected communities under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) has already been provided as communities look to rebuild after the flood, including $5.6 million for a Generator Grant Program, a Mental Health Support Package, the Primary Production Irrigation Grants, and the Community Recovery Fund.
An additional $3m has been provided through Primary Production Irrigation Grants to producers who had to relocate irrigation and electricity infrastructure impacted by the floods.
The latest announcement of a further $17.1m in funding will provide for the remediation of government-owned levees in the Lower Murray Reclaimed Irrigation Area (LMRIA) between Mannum and Wellington, while the SA Government will also allocate $14.2m for works to repair privately owned levees in the LMRIA.
Immediate stabilisation works started in March 2023, and short-term repairs and reinforcement of damaged levee sections will take place over the coming months.
In a joint statement, Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said the Federal Government was committed to providing ongoing support to affected communities.
“This flooding event has had a profound and ongoing impact on South Australian communities along the River Murray,” he said.
“We are committed to continuing work with the Malinauskas Government on measures that improve disaster mitigation for South Australians.
“This support for immediate works on the River Murray levee system will provide assurance to the community while the South Australian Government works on a longer-term strategy to maintain and make the entire levee system more resilient to future events.
“It is important that the range and types of assistance provided to people in affected communities are carefully thought through and targeted.
“We can replace material items and repair physical and other assets damaged by disaster events, but promoting positive mental health and wellbeing for individuals, families and communities is of equal importance, particularly as we have marked the one-year anniversary of the flooding.”
South Australian Deputy Premier Susan Close said the levee remediation works built on other flood recovery efforts undertaken so far to support the region’s businesses and agriculture.
“This commitment by the Australian and South Australian governments acknowledges the importance of the LMRIA agricultural area to the regional economy of South Australia,” she said.
“This funding will allow for the completion of immediate works while a longer-term strategy is developed to bolster resilience of the region’s levee network, which comprises both government and privately owned levees.”
