The Hon. Peter Malinauskas, Premier of South Australia, The Hon. Susan Close, Deputy Premier, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water (SA), The Hon. Joe Szakacs, Minister for Emergency Services (SA), Joint Media Release, 19 October 2022

The Malinauskas government will embark on a six week campaign to ensure River Murray communities are afforded the best possible protection from flood waters heading to South Australia.

Latest modelling by the Department of Environment and Water is predicting flows of up to 120 gigalitres per day by early December – the highest flows since the 1970s.

Various state agencies, including SA State Emergency Services, SA Police and the Department of Environment and Water (DEW) are working closely with local government to ensure that the community, businesses and visitors are well prepared for the higher water levels.

Following concerns about levees managed by councils and private landholders being raised by DEW, the government will send a team of engineers and flood planners to the Riverland this week to undertake geological surveys of levees.

They will work with councils and private landholders to ensure their levees can offer a level of protection to the community.

Agencies will continually monitor weather forecasts, projected water flows and any associated risks and the Government will activate the State Emergency Centre if the risk of flooding increases.

Riverland towns, particularly Renmark, are at particular risk of flooding if River Murray levels rise beyond the forecasts.

Flood forecasting for the River Murray is a particularly challenging and many factors can significantly affect the size and timing of the peak. Experience also shows this occurs differently in each high flow event.

The complex interaction of inflows arriving from multiple river systems including the Murray, Murrumbidgee, Goulburn and Darling Rivers also increases the complexity of providing accurate forecasts in advance.

Quotes attributable to Peter Malinauskas

We’ve seen the devastating human and economic impact of floods in the eastern states.

The government is acting now to ensure river communities are as well prepared as possible should challenges arise.
 
Quotes attributable to Susan Close

We have a limited time to respond to the increased flows heading our way and I would like to see everyone working together to minimise the risk of inundation.

I also urge local councils and landholders to ensure their levees are maintained and prepared for the impending increases in River Murray flows expected in the coming weeks and months.
 
Quotes attributable to Joe Szakacs

Ensuring South Australia is effectively prepared in the event of an unlikely emergency situation is of paramount importance.

Over the next six weeks, I urge everyone to listen closely to any emergency messaging from trusted sources such as SASES, SAPOL, DEW and the Bureau of Meteorology.

Our agencies are proactively responding to any risk, great or small, to manage the developing situation.