Just over a year on from the peak of the River Murray floods – one of the most damaging natural disasters in South Australia's history – the benefits from a range of assistance packages continue to play an important role in the recovery efforts.
The Australian and State Governments have provided significant support to flood affected communities under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), helping those communities to rebuild post the flood.
This support includes a recent joint funding commitment of $5.6 million for a Generator Grant Program, a Mental Health Support Package, the Primary Production Irrigation Grants, and the Community Recovery Fund. These programs have already provided tangible support following the flood event.
Funding of $3 million has been made available under the Primary Production Irrigation Grants for producers who had to relocate or re-establish irrigation and electricity infrastructure impacted by the floods.
More than $540,000 has been provided to 334 recipients through the Generator Grant Program, which supported businesses, primary producers, and homeowners to keep their power on and respond to rising waters or help with clean-up efforts.
Through more than 50 activities across impacted communities, the Mental Health Support Package benefitted more than 3,800 participants, through access to specialist mental health services and mental wellbeing activities. This has improved community resilience and recovery from the psychological impacts of the devastating effects of flood.
Some examples of activities that have been supported by the Package include wellbeing events delivered across schools along the Murray River, mental health training and social events that brought communities together to strengthen connections.
Under the Community Recovery Fund (CRF), several projects have been implemented to improve community resilience and aid communities to begin returning to their pre-flood routines.
Some of the outcomes of the CRF include garden rebuilding workshops led by Sophie Thomson from Sophie's Patch and Gardening Australia, and the successful River Recovery: Intro to Hospo hospitality industry training, which saw all graduates
secure employment following the completion of the program.