Stevens said the new restriction announced this morning aimed to protect levees following reports of people climbing onto them to see the rising river.

“While the direction reflects the current restrictions put in place by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, this direction allows us to expand the safety and compliance capabilities in regards to not only the river, but the land around the river,” Stevens said.

Earthworks at the Renmark Hospital levee in late 2022. Photo: Jason Katsaras/InDaily

“The Department for Infrastructure and Transport directions which have been revoked, only referred to activities on the water, whereas this direction enables me to include levee banks and areas where water will eventually recede.”

The new rule bans people from entering or remaining on a levee except if they are responding to an emergency, inspecting, conducting maintenance or repair. Using a levee to secure a vessel is not allowed.

An emergency levee being built at Mannum in December. Photo: Tony Lewis/InDaily

Premier Peter Malinauskas also announced today that a new management plan has been created that separates the river into eight zones, saying the change would make it easier to remove or add restrictions around fishing, boating, canoeing or access to the river.

Easing of restrictions will be considered as water recedes and it is deemed safe to restore tourism and river-based activities.

“Naturally, when we’ve got a high volume of water coming down the river at a record pace, that provides dangers as does the amount of debris in the water itself,” Malinauskas said.

“By creating eight zones we are acknowledging that what’s occurring in the Riverland is different to what’s occurring in Murray Bridge, which is very different to what’s occurring in Lake Alexandrina.”

The eight zones are:

• Zone A – SA border downstream to Lock 5, (including Paringa)
• Zone B – Lock 5 downstream to Lock 4, (includes Berri and Loxton)
• Zone C – Lock 4 downstream to Lock 3, (near Overland Corner)
• Zone D – Lock 3 downstream to Lock 2 (near Waikerie and Cadell)
• Zone E – Lock 2 to Lock 1, (at Blanchetown)
• Zone F – Lock 1 to Wellington ferry crossing (includes Swan Reach, Mannum, Murray Bridge)
• Zone G – Wellington Ferry crossing to Murray Mouth
• Zone H – Lake Bonney

Bans on people to entering the river remain in place apart for a permitted purpose, including:

• work;
• access to food, drinking water, medical assistance, or supplies;
• access to any emergency relief or emergency supplies (including sandbags);
• access to fuel;
• access to property;
• attendance on a guided tour by a tour operator;
• to reduce risk to life, of injury to persons, of injury to animals or damage to property;
• to respond to an emergency

“Police will continue to take an educational approach with the community, however this direction will allow us to have clear definitions of what is and is not acceptable behaviour on and around the flooded river,” Stevens said.

The direction does not apply to officers of South Australia Police, the South Australian State Emergency Service, an employee of the Road and Marine Services Division of the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, any authorised officer, or any person directed to assist an authorised officer under the Act.

Meanwhile, the State Emergency Service and Mid Murray council have completed works on stormwater drainage at Mannum that led to homes being evacuated after flooding at Mary Ann Reserve.

A secondary levee has been completed to allow repairs to broken stormwater infrastructure, according to a SES statement.

Additional damage to stormwater infrastructure has been found on Randell Street between the ferry landings and the Pretoria Hotel. Divers have plugged stormwater infrastructure to prevent further damage.

Mid Murray Council staff are monitoring the situation and further updates will be provided to the community if required.

The statement said the main levee has not breached and remains an effective barrier against rising floodwaters from the River Murray.