The South Australian Minister for Water and the River Murray Paul Caica has stated that South Australia is still suffering the consequences of decades of upstream over-allocation from the River Murray, exacerbated by the recent severe drought.

 

Mr Caica was visiting the Walker Flat River Vessel Waste Disposal Station in the Murraylands, which has been closed since December 2009 due to the threat of riverbank collapse, affecting houseboat tourism in the area.

 

Mr Caica said that while the drought has broken and water has returned

to the system for now, recovery in South Australia will take many years.

 

“Walker Flat is just one of many areas below Lock 1 in South Australia that has suffered from cracking, slumping and collapse. More than two years after the drought broke we are still dealing with the actions of those upstream,” Mr Caica said.

 

“South Australia has suffered more than 161 incidents of riverbank collapse between Lock 1 at Blanchetown and Wellington, including the loss of a marina area where soil, trees and vehicles collapsed into the river without warning.

 

“Levels may be back up but we still have many areas of concern – such as at Caloote, Murray Bridge and Mannum where several holiday homes and houses remain at very high risk of collapse.

 

“This is a graphic example of why we can not be complacent, why we must not forget the impact of over-allocation of water by upstream states, and why we must fight for more water for the River Murray in the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.”