The River Murray flood event, peaking in December 2022 and causing impacts into early 2023, was one of South Australia’s most devastating disasters, disrupting every facet of life along the river.

The peak flow of 186 gigalitres a day reached the South Australian border in December 2022. By contrast, residents in Greater Adelaide consume approximately 200 gigalitres of water per year. Almost 91,000 hectares of land was inundated, impacting agricultural areas, national parks and reserves, and residential land alike. Thousands of properties were damaged, with many livelihoods upended.

The State Government, with assistance from the Australian Government, invested over $194 million in an extensive assistance and recovery program to help return to a new normal.

Two years on from the flood event, medium to long term recovery works are continuing along the River Murray, including  remediation works on the Lower Murray Reclaimed Irrigation Area (LMRIA) levees led by the Department for Environment and Water (DEW).

Any flood recovery queries can be directed to:

• Your local council.
• The Security, Emergency and Recovery Management (SERM) unit within the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC). Email rmfloodrecovery@sa.gov.au or call the State Relief and Recovery Infoline on 1800 302 787.
• Specific agencies as required. For example, clean-up queries can be directed to Green Industries SA.