Temporary levee banks in and around Riverland towns are starting to be tested as rising floodwaters flow down the River Murray into South Australia.
Local councils have sprung into action over the past month, reinforcing the existing levee network and constructing new levees to protect communities and infrastructure at risk of being inundated.
Earthmoving machinery has been in high demand across the region as levee construction efforts aim to stay one step ahead of increasing flow forecasts.
Current state government predictions anticipate the first flood peak of 175 gigalitres a day will reach the SA border later this week — the equivalent of about 70,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The Renmark Paringa district will be the first to experience the peak and is on track to complete its entire 38-kilometre levee network by the end of this week.
Once finished, all levees in the area will be able to withstand up to 250GL of water a day, with a 20-centimetre buffer zone.
Renmark's Ron Kohler has experienced numerous flood events and says the levee banks in his district should stand the test.
"I think it has been amazing what they’ve done to the existing banks. [They've] reinforced them in places and patched the levees up," he said.
"I remember the high rivers we've had since 1956. I think our town will be safe."
Chief executive of the Renmark Paringa Council Tony Siviour said the council was monitoring the network using drones and physical checks.
He urged people not to drive on the levee banks to watch the river peak.
"I know people are very interested in this because it is a spectacular event, but there are plenty of places to look from the other side of the levee," Mr Siviour said.
Rain delays construction
Further down in the Berri Barmera region, levee works are also underway to protect the areas around Cobdogla and Barmera.
Berri Barmera Council chief executive Dylan Strong said, while heavy rainfall and severe weather had slowed down construction, he was hopeful a good portion of the levee system would be completed over the next fortnight.
"We are working around the clock," Mr Strong said.
"The height of the temporary levee at Cobdogla is about 175GL and we expect that will increase to 200GL by the end of this week.
"As the flows have increased, we have increased our planning to ensure we are staying one step ahead."
In the Loxton Waikerie district, the council's chief executive David Beaton said much of the region was fortunate to be on the higher side of the river and time was on their side.
"Loxton is seven or eight days from when the water hits the border and it's 14 days for Waikerie," he said.
Mr Beaton confirmed the levee on Waikerie's riverfront was now complete and set to withstand up to 250GL flowing past a day, while the levees at Moorook were rated to hold back 220GL each day.
"We're just completing the levee bank at Kingston on Murray," he said.
"We've risen that [by] about a metre and a half [to] 2m, so that'll protect that community and we're moving on to work in Loxton."
A new levee to withstand 200GL will be constructed around the Loxton Historical Village to protect the volunteer-run tourist attraction, with plans to increase the levee to a 250GL rating if required.
While the levee provided an immediate barrier for the village, volunteer Leanne Kaesler was still anxious about the unknowns in the situation.
"We certainly want to preserve and keep our history here so hopefully we should be OK now," she said.
