Wellington, near Lake Alexandrina, was the last major South Australian River Murray town to be hit by peak flows yesterday.

Drier conditions throughout the Murray Darling Basin have reduced flow rates at the South Australian border by about 50 gigalitres a day since the peak passed through on December 23, with flows currently at about 135 gigalitres – a marked decrease from 190 gigalitres at the peak.

But Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs said River Murray towns were “not out of the woods yet”, with levees still holding back flood water threatening to inundate buildings.

“The significant levee system that has been reinforced, that has been constructed and has been built by government agencies, by local councils have done their job,” he told reporters this afternoon.

“They have been fully engaged and for many people they have seen first-hand the amount of water that has been up to the near peak of these levees.

“These levees are still engaged, they’re still doing their job by holding back these flood waters and that’s why the work of agencies continues as well.”

Latest government data shows as of midday on Monday, it had identified 68 catastrophic, 168 major, 57 moderate and 84 minor levee defects from about 700 inspections.

Authorities warn wind, tides and wave action could cause temporary flooding in low lying areas around the Lower Lakes as the peak moves through.

A low front is forecast to come through over the weekend, which authorities expect will cause strong winds from a southerly direction and some inundation in towns such as Milang.

“We’ve seen a little bit of inundation around low-lying areas, particularly around Milang, and we’ve been working closely with that community to undertake tactical protection of some of those shacks,” State Emergency Service chief officer Chris Beattie said.

“We’ve had SA Power Networks disconnect quite a number of properties down there due to power infrastructure being inundated.”

Up until Tuesday SA Power Networks had disconnected power to about 3574 connection points, with Milang shacks in the process of being reconnected.

It comes as authorise impose a new rule banning boats from exceeding a speed of four knots when they are within 250-metres of a levee, or a house or building where it is partially or fully submerged.

The rule applies to all areas downstream from Wellington ferry, as well as on Lake Bonney.

“This is with a view to ensuring that any submerged dwelling or building, or any levee that’s engaged is protected from any excessive wake action from vessels speeding,” Beattie said.

Authorities have removed a restriction that banned powered vessels from operating within 250 metres of the downstream side of Paringa Bridge.

The lifting of the restriction will allow houseboat operators to launch on the downstream side of the bridge to inspect their property.

“There is a prohibition that remains in place from the bridge upstream because it’s still quite dangerous due to the clearance height from the bridge to the river level,” Beattie said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Primary Industries and Regions has closed Goolwa Beach to recreational fishing of pipis, also known as cockles, due to the detection of E. coli.

It comes after pipi sample testing found levels of E. coli above what is considered safe for human consumption.

Further ongoing testing will be conducted by the department and the closure will remain in place until results find pipis are safe for human consumption.

The closure includes the entire Goolwa Beach from the Murray Mouth to Middleton Point.

The Princes Highway between Tailem Bend and Meningie is still at risk of closure due to rising water levels and tide and wind conditions.

A speed limit of 60km/h is in place, with a detour to be put in place via the Dukes Highway and McIntosh Way in the event of closure.