‘Inevitable’ move to higher ground for low-lying Riverlanders
Evacuations to higher ground are underway in the Riverland, fuelled by revised River Murray flows which warn of the potential for the biggest flooding event since 1956.
River Murray flow forecasts changed yet again to a new prediction of 165GL of water a day across the border in December with a warning that it could pass 200GL and inundate more than 4000 properties.
The new forecasts show there is now a moderate probability of a 200 GL per day peak flow and a lesser probability of 220GL per day, both of which would mean the high water event would be the biggest flood since 1956.
Riverland Education Ranger Caitlin Polack was already considering moving from her low-lying shack at Calperum Station near Renmark based on lower estimates, however she said the recent jump in forecasts means the move to higher ground is inevitable.
“Where we are sitting with a prediction of 150 GL we had a possibility of building our levee banks up to a point where I had a chance of staying dry with the machinery and budget we have,” Polack said.
“The new predictions mean that is out the window – it is not a matter of if I will be moving out but how soon and what will the damage be when I ever get to move back in.”
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Polack said she will be moving to a friend’s house until waters subside.
“I don’t own my house I am a renter, so the cost of damages is not a personal issue, but this little shack is still my home and has been for a number of years now,” she said.
Authorities announced patients and aged care residents at the low lying Renmark hospital will be evacuated once river flows reach 130 GL per day.
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Earthworks and levee repairs have been occurring in a hurried effort to protect the low lying hospital which also sits near a number of homes.
Despite being forced to move out of her home, Polack said she is trying to look at the ecological bright side of the flooding event.
“There is part of me that is just accepting the inevitable fate of moving, it’s no longer a ‘just in case’ thing now, it has to be done.
“Another part of me is so excited to see the beauty of the event, to see the water retreat next year and see natures response to this process and come to life.
“We do so much work out here on the station restoring the environment and it is slow going to bring back some of the ecological functions which have been lost over the years.
“Events such as this have so many positive environmental impacts and make such a positive change in such a small space of time for this restoration process.”
Yesterday, State Emergency Service chief officer Chris Beattie said high rainfall of between 25 and 100mm forecast in the Murray-Darling Basin between November 10 and November 17 could impact future predictions.
“We are working hard with communities across the River Murray area, we’ve based a team out of Loxton and have a number of contingency plans for those communities,” he said.
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