Flood recovery update 8 September 2023
Overtopped levees
Strong southerly winds of up to 72 km/h have resulted in the overtopping of 7 levees in the Lower Murray Reclaimed Irrigation Area since Thursday 7 September 2023.
The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) is continuing to work closely with the State Emergency Service (SES), Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), SA Water Engineering Functional Support Group, landholders and contractors to assess and stabilise the levees as soon as possible.
Two government-owned levees at Long Flat and Pompoota, and 4 privately-owned levees at Kilsby, Westbrook, Toora and Glen Lossie have overtopped, while a privately-owned levee at Placid was breached. These were caused by wind seiche from strong southerly winds raising water levels by almost 400 millimetres in under 24 hours.
Work to stop overtopping is now complete at Westbrook, Toora, Glen Lossie and Kilsby. Emergency stabilisation works at Pompoota and Long Flat are scheduled to finish tonight, 8 September 2023. SES swift water teams remain at Pompoota and Long Flat to provide support until works are complete. PIRSA will start to dewater both levees once they are disconnected from the river and it is safe to do so.
Repairs at Placid, where the levee breached after overtopping, are not possible at this stage but DEW and PIRSA will continue to work with landholders to assess damage and required works.
Forecasts indicate wind strength should ease later tonight and swing to a westerly direction by the end of the weekend, therefore reducing pressure on the levees. Depending on weather conditions, drone surveillance is planned to be undertaken on Saturday 9 September 2023 to assess the extent of damage to affected levees and sites will be monitored closely in coming days.
The River Murray is currently classed as high flow with flows at the South Australian border registering about 49 GL/day. This is forecast to decrease to about 31 GL/day over the coming week.
DEW and PIRSA have worked closely with Lower Murray Reclaimed Irrigation Area landholders to undertake assessments and short-term stabilisation of levees to allow dewatering of inundated areas since the River Murray flood.
Requests for assistance for on-water incidents or inundation of property should be directed to the State Emergency Service on 132 500. For life-threatening emergencies call 000.
Dewatering update
PIRSA is committed to completing the dewatering process at all sites. All efforts are being made to keep pumps running where it is possible.
Pumping infrastructure has been removed at some sites as a temporary precaution and will be replaced once the levees and river levels have stabilised.
Key contacts
Department for Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) – Dewatering activities
Tarsha McGregor – Recovery Facilitator
PIRSA Murray Bridge Office, Bremer Rd
Phone: 0428 105 396
Email: tarsha.mcgregor@sa.gov.au
Department for Environment and Water (DEW) – Levee assessment and stabilisation
Birgitte Sorensen
Phone: (08) 8463 6942
Email: birgitte.sorensen@sa.gov.au
Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC) – Community recovery committee
Alex Zimmermann
Phone: 0455 984 411
Email: alex.zimmermann@sa.gov.au
Rural Business Support
Email: ruralbusinesssupport.org.au
Phone: 1800 836 211
