Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs said that of the 3500 to 4000 properties that have so far been inundated by floodwaters, about 400 – or 10 per cent – are primary residences.

He said the State Emergency Service and other agencies were conducting further analysis over the next 24 to 48 hours to provide a more precise estimate of the houses damaged.

“The damage caused, the (amount) of water inundation is enormous and the task involved in assessing that is also very big,” the minister told reporters this afternoon.

“It is entirely reasonable to say this will be one of the most – if not the most – significant natural disaster in the state’s history.

The repair bill for inundated roads and infrastructure won’t be known until flood waters recede – likely over the coming weeks now that the flood peaks have passed.

Szakacs said there would be “further very significant allocations of economic relief and economic recovery payments” – on top of the nearly $200 million already committed – to support River Murray communities.

“Whilst we don’t know the total economic impact that these floods have had, it’s highly likely that they will be the most significant in our state’s history,” he said.

Meanwhile, the state’s emergency council – led by state emergency coordinator Grant Stevens – is meeting today to determine whether it is safe to ease further restrictions barring activity on and around the River Murray.

Depending on the section of the river, people are still banned from swimming, water sports and travelling by boat, with some exceptions.

“It’s everyone’s view – the government’s view, our agencies’ views – that these restrictions should be removed, should be eased as quick as possible,” Szakacs said.

“But, of course, there remains very significant safety considerations.”

It comes as the government today announced that the Metropolitan and Country Fire Services would waive fees for false fire alarm activations in flood-affected communities until March.

Businesses and other premises are usually charged $471 by the MFS and $645 by the CFS when they are called to respond to false alarms.

“(These fees) will be waived and backdated to December 2022 recognising that, of course, this flood has had an impact now for many months,” Szakacs said.

“This announcement will be around $50,000 of relief.”

River Murray flood peaks finished passing through every impacted South Australian town on Thursday.

At the time, the government said drier conditions throughout the Murray Darling Basin had reduced flow rates at the South Australian border by about 50 gigalitres a day since the peak crossed on December 23.

It said the flows were at about 135 gigalitres – a marked decrease from 190 gigalitres at the peak.