SES sending 70,000 sandbags to Riverland
The South Australian State Emergency Service will send 70,000 sandbags and truckloads of sand to the Riverland in preparation for the arrival of floodwaters from Victoria.
It follows the delivery of 20,000 sandbags to Blanchetown yesterday in preparation for the river rise set to occur by early December, with government predictions forecasting that up to 120 gigalitres a day could flow into the region.
Approximately 40,000 sandbags will be delivered to the Loxton Unit today followed by 10,000 bags to the Morgan Sporting Complex, including a large delivery of sand.
It comes after the Renmark Paringa Council said it was halting all non-essential works and focusing on flood preparation, after the state government acknowledged predictions could be revised upwards.
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Chris Beattie, Chief Officer of the SASES, said sandbags play an important role in assisting residents to prepare for flooding and minimise potential impact to their properties.
“Additional bags and sand are a next step following the increased forecasts of floodwater crossing the border into South Australia from around 80,000 megalitres a day to 120,000 by early December,” he said.
“This will allow people the time to prepare themselves and properties well in advance of the expected increase of floodwaters.’’
Beattie will meet with council representatives and stakeholders in the Riverland region today, carrying out further inspections of the levee at Renmark.
