Madison Eastmond, Hugh Schuitemaker, Murray Pioneer

The Riverland’s state MP says new funding for flood recovery will fail to address lasting damage to local infrastructure.

The Federal Government yesterday announced $25m worth of funding to support flood recovery efforts.

However, Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone said the repair of damaged local infrastructure needed to be a higher priority.

“While I welcome this funding initiative primarily from the Federal Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement, it’s too little too late, the Riverland is still dealing with roads in a state of repair,” he said.

“Some are unsafe, and councils are left swinging in the breeze wondering if funding will eventuate to repair the flood impacted road network.

“Will funding repair private levee banks in the Riverland? Will we see more frontline staff to address the mental health impacts?

“I recently had an in-depth conversation with a traditional elder who said, ‘See all of the birds in the river at the moment? We will see another flood very soon’.

“Is the current Labor government prepared?”

Riverland communities will be supported by an additional Flood Recovery Mental Health Support Program and a Council Community and Recreational Asset Restoration Program.

The support initiatives include:

• Flood Recovery Mental Health Support Program: $1.314m provided to deliver increased specialist mental health services to minimise long-term mental health impacts and promote positive mental well-being for individuals, families, and communities.
• Council Community and Recreational Asset Restoration Program: $9m provided to assist impacted councils remediate and restore eligible assets essential to community recovery such as open spaces (reserves, parks), community facilities (boat ramps, playgrounds, public toilets) and cultural heritage sites.

“We’ve been listening to the River Murray communities to understand what we can provide to not just help them rebuild, but to thrive in the long-term recovery from the floods,” Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said.

“The initiatives that we’re announcing today kicks off this next stage of recovery, focusing on community wellbeing by providing mental health support on top of those being delivered at the local level and to rebuild community assets and facilities.

“We’re also providing further assistance for important infrastructure recovery works to help the Lower River Murray Reclaimed Irrigation Area prepare for the future.”

South Australian Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven said communities who are leading the recovery effort with council and government support deserve all the assistance that can be provided.

“There is still an incredible amount of work to do to continue to recover from the devastating floods, and I’m very pleased to announce this additional support with Minister Watt,” Minister Scriven said.

“This vital investment into infrastructure and community mental health will ensure South Australia’s regional communities and are set up for the future.

For further information on the River Murray flood recovery visit (www.recovery.sa.gov.au).

This article appeared in the Murray Pioneer, 17 July 2024.