Mid Murray Mayor Simone Bailey said it was heartening to see about 60 emergency workers, council staff, contractors and volunteers immediately respond when the pipe degraded on Wednesday and water filled the rowing club and surrounds.

“They worked to about three in the morning and were all back at work the next day,” she said.

State Emergency Service evacuation warnings were partially lifted this morning, with only homes adjacent to Mary Ann Reserve warned to remain evacuated amid advice that the main levee had not been breached.

The SES said that 15 homes were doorknocked with an evacuation warning early on Thursday morning and most chose to relocate.

“During the early morning, the stormwater pipe which runs under the levee further degraded, allowing more water to enter the area behind the existing levee,” it said today.

“Engineers have inspected the site and have worked with Mid Murray council and SES to determine a suitable solution to the damaged stormwater pipe to minimise impacts to the local community and the surrounding environment.”

The SES said work to build the second levee would “require pumping of large amounts of water which has pooled behind the levee back into the River Murray”.

“Large pumps have been sourced to aid with the pumping which is expected to take several days before the underwater inspection of the damaged stormwater infrastructure can be reassessed for remedial actions.”

Bailey said it was devastating to see flood waters shutting roads and impacting businesses.

Rising waters inundated roads at Cowirra this week and closed a passenger ferry service between Cowirra and Mannum – set up for locals after the main ferry service was shut down – within just one and a half days of opening.

“There had been so much work to establish that service going on behind the scenes,” Bailey said.

The mayor travelled to Blanchetown and Morgan this week with the Mid Murray Suicide Prevention Network, to hold coffee get-togethers and provide mental health support to locals dealing with the effects of flooding.

At Morgan, Bailey said rising water flooded shacks early and pushed some residents onto higher ground at Cadell Oval, now also inundated.

One local has been forced to move to Burra and another to Adelaide but both made the trip back to sit and chat with Bailey and other community members at the coffee meetings.

“Some people in Blanchetown have been out of their homes for four or five weeks, around Pelican Point and Scott’s Creek (near Mannum), they had to leave at the end of September when water flooded roads,” Bailey said.

Mid Murray Mayor Simone Bailey on an emergency levee under construction at Mannum in early December. Photo: Tony Lewis/InDaily

Some have had to return again and again to move belongings to the top level of their properties as the water continued its relentless rise. Some were too late.

“There are many, many homes with floating furniture in the top level of their homes, I can’t even imagine trying to move in those conditions,” Bailey said.

Amid the pain, Bailey is hearing stories of great generosity and community support that is helping, from regular visits from politicians to fundraising efforts and random acts of kindness.

“At one meeting I heard the owner of the Blanchetown Caravan Park talking to an old guy there who said he had nowhere to go. The owner Michael said ‘we’ve got a cabin left that we’ve moved to higher ground and you can have it if you like’. He offered without even thinking,” Bailey said.

“I was at the Blanchetown Deli and they have had a fall in business. One woman I spoke to there was from interstate and I thanked her for stopping to support the locals. She bought something and handed over a $50 tip, the owner came out crying and asked, what did I say?”

Flooding at Blanchetown earlier this month. Photo: Belinda Willis/InDaily

Most in the community are now also concerned about power and waste removal once water recedes, but Bailey said it was reassuring that State Government planning was underway.

At Moorook, Laurie and Jan Roos thank locals for helping with sandbags and building banks to protect their home surrounded by water.

“All the banks have survived the night,” they said to supporters on Facebook, “the pumps are still working”.

An emergency levee at Renmark. Photo: Suzie Keen/InDaily

Meanwhile in Barmera, where locals have been affected by rising waters, Lake Bonney being cut off from the River Murray and then blue green algae blooms, there is good news.

Risk assessments have led to speed limit restrictions for jet skis being lifted as the waterway is not connected to the River Murray, according to the latest advice from the State’s Department for Transport and Infrastructure.

It also said while boat fishing is not allowed, land-based fishing and yabbying can go ahead as long as anglers, who are expecting a bumper season, steer clear of levees and be careful of crumbling banks.

But the department also said further restrictions on boating and water activities are now in place for the safety of all river users and to protect critical infrastructure, including at the Murray Mouth and barrages along the river.

The following restrictions now apply within a 750m radius of the Murray Mouth:

• No human-powered vessels or any other water traffic (including canoes, kayaks, surf skis, rowboats or aquatic toys) can be operated, used or moored
• No swimming, bathing, or diving or entering the water is permitted.

At barrages, within 250 metres of either side of each of the Goolwa Barrage, Mundoo Barrage, Boundary Creek Barrage, Ewe Island Barrage and Tauwitchere Barrage located on the River Murray the following restrictions apply:

• No human-powered vessels or any other water traffic (including canoes, kayaks, surf skis, rowboats or aquatic toys) are permitted to operate, be used or moored
• No swimming, bathing, diving or entering the water is permitted.

These restrictions replicate measures already in place within 250m of locks and weirs further upstream.

These restrictions do not apply to:

• Any vessels operated by the South Australian emergency services that are providing assistance to reduce the risk to life and injury of a persons
• This also includes any vessels operated by a volunteer organisation or association that may be providing assistance to any South Australian emergency services
• Any vessels operated by the SA Department for Environment and Water, SA Water or the Murray Darling Basin Authority or any of their contractors used in conjunction with any river monitoring or related purpose.

River users must still adhere to previous restrictions on the River Murray, including a ban on all recreational boating and water activities between the South Australian border and Wellington ferry.

A flooded road at Loxton. Photo: Suzie Keen/InDaily