Restoring power to flood-hit properties will take months
Restoring electricity supplies to flooded River Murray properties in South Australia could take months despite falling water levels, authorities say.
Flooding at Blanchetown Caravan Park last year. Photo: Belinda Willis/InDaily
About 3300 properties including homes, holiday shacks, pumping infrastructure and businesses have been cut from the grid in recent months as the river rose.
SA Power Networks said it was working with the state government on the priorities and approach to recovery.
“But the reality is our work to restore electricity supply is likely to slowly ramp up as floodwaters finally recede and it will continue potentially for several months,” head of corporate affairs Paul Roberts said.
“When you consider the number of properties along the length of the river and the fact we had more than 400 kilometres of powerlines and about 4000 Stobie (power) poles standing in floodwaters, it is a massive task to visit every site, assess the damage, make repairs to powerlines and then reconnect supply.
“But before we can do that, in most areas we will have to wait for waters to recede, flood plains to dry, roads to be made safe or repaired, flood-related debris to be cleared and access allowed by emergency services.”
Roberts said the initial focus would be on restoring power to the main supply lines followed by connection of properties to street supply as they are made safe.
The Murray flooding is shaping up as one of the most significant natural disasters in SA’s history, especially in terms of economic impact.
About 4000 properties have been flooded or damaged to some degree, including about 400 primary residences.
The flood peak has moved through the length of the river, reaching the Lower Lakes late last week.
Water levels across the system have fallen, in some cases considerably, or are at least stable.
Earlier this week Environment Minister Susan Close said the emergency still had a “long way to run” as the government and local communities moved increasingly into the recovery phase.
Close said people with a house or property impacted by the floods could access a free damage assessment and would be provided with support and funding for the clean-up.
“We will manage that, we will organise that and we will work with the community,” she said.
At its peak, the flooding closed about 120 roads across river communities with most of the state’s ferry services also shut.
Recreational activities, including swimming and fishing, were banned on the river for safety reasons but those restrictions are being eased.
– AAP
