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RAA Daily > Community > Murray River flood advice

Murray River flood advice

13 December, 2022

South Australia’s Riverland communities are experiencing flooding as a result of a rising Murray River.

Forecasts predict flood waters to peak in late December, inundating thousands of properties. Much of the Riverland region, however, is safe and remains open to tourists.

Here’s how you can prepare and stay up-to-date with changing conditions if you live in, or are visiting, the Riverland.

Jump to:

Useful links
Protecting yourself and your property
Need to make an insurance claim?
Travelling by road in the Riverland
Accessing Roadside Assistance
Visiting the Riverland
Tourism Information Centres

Image: Connie Little
How to prepare for a flood – SA State Emergency Services
Current Incidents and Warnings – SA State Emergency Services
South Australia’s Bureau of Metrology Warnings
Metropolitan emergency road closures – Traffic SA
Outback emergency road closures – DIT
SA Government flood emergency and safety advice
Holidaying in the Riverland: Visit Riverland | Murray River, Lakes and Coorong Tourism

Protecting yourself and your property

We encourage you to do what you can to protect your property, such as moving furniture and floor coverings where possible, and removing all valuables and vehicles.

But please remember that above all, your personal safety and that of your loved ones and pets is the most important thing right now.

We recommend that you follow the advice of South Australia’s SES and regularly check for latest updates.

RAA Home and Contents Insurance includes flood cover, but we recommend members contact us if they have any questions as limitations, exclusions and waiting periods apply.

For more information about what’s covered, have a read through your Product Disclosure Statement.

If you have any questions about your insurance cover, give us a call on 8202 4600 or drop into your local RAA Shop. 

Need to make an insurance claim?

If you need to make a claim, we want to make the experience as easy as possible for you. We’ve recently bolstered our team so we can help you quicker, but would also appreciate your patience as we work through your claim. 

Claims can be lodged online 24/7 however, if you’d rather speak to someone, give our claims team a call on 8202 4575 or visit your local RAA Shop.

To make things quicker and easier, please be sure you have your member or policy number handy when lodging your claim.

Image: Connie Little

Travelling by road in the Riverland

Flood waters can move fast, so never try to drive over roads that have water over them.

More than half of flood-related deaths are a result of driving through floodwater. Even if it looks calm, no-one can predict what floodwater will do or what’s happened to the road underneath. Any amount of swift flowing water can sweep away your car, no matter what you drive. It’s simply not worth the risk.

Here’s our advice for staying safe around flooded roads:

  • Obey road closure signs
  • Check if flooding is likely, plan ahead and make alternative arrangements so you are not driving on flooded roads
  • When floodwater starts to go down, don’t drive over the roads until the road is open again. Sometimes the road damage is not known until the road is completely dry and has been assessed by the road authority
  • Drive carefully on roads that have been reopened because they may still be drying out – watch out for temporary speed limits
  • Avoid driving on unsealed road shoulders as these may be extremely soft even though the water has subsided
  • Look out for landslides as many roadsides will have exposed layers of rocks and soil that could slip.

Accessing Roadside Assistance

Our Patrols are still available 24/7 throughout the Riverland area. You can book one our patrols as per usual through the MyRAA app or by calling 13 11 11.

However due to road closures, it may take a little longer to reach you, but our Patrols will be there as soon as possible.

The road closures and limited ferry services may also lead to our Patrols needing to travel further than usual due to detours. If you hold Standard Roadside assistance, our Patrols are able to travel to your vehicle and provide towing services up to 40km from the designated RAA Country Service Depot.

Some additional fees may apply beyond these limits for attendance and towing. If you live or are travelling to an affected area, we recommend you check your level of roadside to ensure you are appropriately covered for your needs by visiting our website or calling 8202 4600.

Visiting the Riverland

Much of the Murray River regions, Riverland and Murray River Lakes & Coorong is still open and accessible.

Events are also still going ahead, attractions and shops are open and the majority of accommodation options are safe and available. More information is available at Visit Riverland and the Murray River, Lakes and Coorong Tourism Alliance.

Planning your journey

Although the ferries are currently out of action, visitors can still experience much of the regions in a safe way. You may just need to do a little more planning ahead to check if there are any road closures on your route before heading off.

It may also be worth calling any places you have booked or the local tourist information centre before you set off to make sure your trip won’t be affected. Contact details are below.

Here are some tips on how you can enjoy the region, and stay safe while doing so:

  • Plan ahead and be flexible to change.
  • Before you set off, check any road closures and ferry services to see if you need extra time to get to your destination.
  • Take in views of the river from high points, such as lookouts and many hotels.
  • Visit the wide range of experiences across the region such as wineries, museums, local retail shops, kids playgrounds and many places to eat and drink
  • There is a wide range of accommodation still available but be sure to book in advance as this is a popular time to visit the region.
  • When near the river, be aware of currents and potential submerged objects and be cautious around low-lying areas (depths may be unpredictable)
  • There are now restrictions on boating and aquatic activities along the Murray River, including a 4 knot vessel speed limit in certain locations.

Tourist Information Centres

Renmark Paringa Visitor Information Centre84 Murray Avenue, Renmark SA 5341 | Ph: 1300 661 704
Berri Visitor Information CentreRiverview Drive, Berri SA 5343 | Ph: (08) 8582 5511
Barmera Visitor Information Centre  Barwell Avenue, Barmera SA 5345 | Ph: (08) 8588 2289
Loxton Library & Visitor Information CentreEast Terrace, Loxton SA 5333 | Ph: (08) 8584 8071
Waikerie Library & Visitor Information CentreWaikerie Civic Centre, Strangman Road, Waikerie SA 5330 | Ph: (08) 8541 0708
Morgan Visitor Information Office/Craft ShopRiverfront Precinct, Morgan SA 5320 | Ph: (08) 8540 2643
Mannum Visitor Information Centre  Mannum Green Shopping Centre, Shop 4, 67 Adelaide Road Mannum 5238 (temporary location) SA 5238 | Ph: (08) 8569 1303  
Murray Bridge Visitor Information Centre  3 South Terrace, Murray Bridge SA 5253 | Ph: (08) 8539 1143
Tailem Bend Visitor Information  87-79 Railway Terrace, Tailem Bend SA | Ph: (08) 8572 3537
Goolwa Visitor Information Centre  Cnr Cadell St & Cutting Road, Goolwa SA 5214 | Ph: 1300 466 592
Meningie Tourist Information Centre  14 Princes Highway, Meningie SA 5264 | Ph: (08) 8575 1770

Banner image: Connie Little

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