The State Emergency Service (SES) estimates that 255 businesses and 4000 hectares of agricultural land will also be impacted by the flooding by the end of this month.

Premier Peter Malinauskas announced a short time ago that the height of the River Murray is now above the 1931 flood levels, but still below what was recording during the 1956 flood.

The floodwater peak is due in Renmark between December 24-31, with forecasts remaining between 190 and 220-gigalitres a day.

Authorities predict the flood peak will hit Berri between December 25 and January 5, Waikerie between January 1-12, Swan Reach between January 5-16 and Murray Bridge between January 6-17.

The government says river communities should consider those dates when preparing for the flood emergency and factor in potential road closures and ferry closures, as well as disruptions to the power network and reduced services.

The State Emergency Service last night issued an emergency evacuation warning for Walker Flat, advising that properties could be inundated or cut off due to flooding at Angas Valley Road and Rob Loxton Road.

A watch and act message was also issued for Caurnamont, Purnong and Bowhill, with the SES warning there was a “high risk of flooding” in low lying areas “due to rapid river level rises that may threaten your safety”.

Malinauskas said about 15 people from Walker Flat evacuated last night, with just one resident left in the town.

“Overnight, when that instruction to leave was issued by the emergency service organisations, that local community responded in a really professional way,” he said.

“The prevailing condition that changed to require and issue that instruction was of course the road failing into Walker Flat.

“If that road fails, then of course that community becomes isolated from the rest and they in effect become islanded. That becomes a serious risk.”

SES chief Chris Beattie said he anticipated that there would be “significant rises” in the river level near Caurnamont, Purnong and Bowhill causing properties to flood over the next two to three days.

He said it was important for people in those communities to make plans for alternative accommodation.

The Department for Environment and Water’s River Murray executive director Ben Bruce said there had been low rainfall conditions across the Murray Basin over the past week, which was “very welcome”.

He said the Murray Darling Basin Authority had indicated that irrigation demand was starting to increase, which would draw more water out of the system.

“We’re starting to see a lot of the tributaries in Victoria starting to recede, we’ve seen over the last few weeks Hume (Dam) releases drop back to around 10 to 12 gigalitres, which is down from the peak of about 90 gigalitres a number of weeks ago,” he said.

“That means the system is starting to contract. It means that we can start to see that there will be an end to this event in sight.

“It will take a while to get there, but there is positive news on the horizon.”

Malinauskas said the Australian Defence Force (ADF) had provided equipment to help South Australian authorities respond to the flood.

He said the state government was in “active discussions” with the Commonwealth about emergency relief assistance and calling on more ADF assistance.

“In fact, we’ve got high-level bureaucrats from the Commonwealth in South Australia today… to look at the recovery efforts that we know will ensue in due course as well.”