Constraints measures program delivers boost to SA River Murray communities

The aim of the SA program is to prepare river communities for increased environmental flows by upgrading infrastructure and removing barriers to flow between the river, floodplains, and wetlands.

The upgrades help manage the impacts of flows and include improving access roads and tracks and installing and modifying infrastructure.

Previous works under the SA program were announced in Loxton in early October, totalling $1.4 million.

The latest round includes:

• Mid-Murray Council to receive $427,327 toward upgrades to the Swan Reach boat ramp, Bowhill houseboat, South Punyelroo wastewater infrastructure and the Scotts Creek access road near Morgan.
• The Central Irrigation Trust, which pumps River Murray water to Riverland growers, to receive $281,685 for improvements to irrigation drainage outlets to better cope with high flow events.
• Murray Bridge Council to receive $100,000 to design bank stabilisation works at Pomberuk/Hume Reserve in conjunction with the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation.
• The Renmark Irrigators Trust will be granted $111,935 to decommission the Remark Area Drainage Disposal System (RADDS) to enable irrigation pumping operations during a high flow event.
• SA Government will receive $256,520 to install new surface water monitoring stations at Swan Reach and Morgan to ensure water flow, height and salinity levels are accurately monitored during high flow events.
• The SA Government to receive $150,604 for the channel clearing, gates and signage to better manage high flow periods at the Katarapko Floodplain in Chowilla and Morgan.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service will also receive $975,000 for the co-design of facilities at Ngaut Ngaut Conservation Park with the Mannum Aboriginal Community Association Inc.