Answers to Questions

STORM DAMAGE

In reply to the Hon. C.V. SCHAEFER (29 March 2007).

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning): The Minister for Transport has provided the following information:

The Department for Transport Energy and Infrastructure, along with South Australia Police and State Emergency Services, responded to the emergency by managing the opening and closing of roads and undertaking inspections and emergency repairs (using a combination of DTEI resources and local contractors) to reinstate access to communities and towns as soon as practical.

The total estimate for the repair of damaged road infrastructure is in excess of $30 million.

DTEI responded immediately to reinstate access to all communities using a combination of departmental resources and local contractors. Access to all communities impacted along the sealed road network was reinstated one week following the flooding and access between Cradock and Carrieton being reinstated within two weeks. Access to the majority of communities on the unsealed road network was re-established in early February 2007.

The government spent $6 million in the 2006-07 financial year and allocated a further $24 million in 2007-08 to complete repairs to road infrastructure.

The Minister for State/Local Government Relations has provided the following information:

On 18, 19 and 20 January 2007, flooding occurred extensively across council areas in the northern area of the state and in one council area south of Adelaide. Councils primarily affected to various degrees were Flinders Ranges, Pt Pirie, Orroroo Carrieton, Mt Remarkable, Peterborough, Whyalla, Kimba, Coober Pedy, Roxby Downs, the Outback Areas Community Development Trust, Goyder and Yankalilla.

The state government's Local Government Disaster Fund Management Committee decided to provide an independent engineer to inspect the flood damage and assist affected councils in planning to restore the damaged infrastructure, providing advice where appropriate.

Each affected council assessed the extent of the damage to council assets and this formed the basis of their submission for funding assistance.

Eight of the councils applied to the Local Government Disaster Fund Management Committee for consideration of financial assistance. Applications were received from Flinders Ranges, Pt Pirie, Kimba, Mt Remarkable, Peterborough, Yankalilla, Orroroo Carrieton and Goyder.

The Local Government Disaster Fund Management Committee met on 24 April 2007 to assess the claims. The committee approved all claims in principle. Additional information was sought from each of the councils prior to the committee meeting of 21 June 2007 that recommended the following payments:

Flinders Ranges Council $1,952,986;

Kimba $84,250;

Mount Remarkable $26,050;

Peterborough $64,550;

Port Pirie $1,032,352;

Yankalilla $134,700;

Goyder $5,062; and

Orroroo Carrieton $856,900.

Immediate steps were taken to address infrastructure repairs. In late January, the Minister for State/Local Government Relations provided interim funding assistance totalling $150,000 to Flinders Ranges and Orroroo Carrieton councils ($100,000 and $50,000 respectively). In June, the Minister for State/Local Government Relations provided an additional interim funding amount of $300,000 to the Flinders Ranges Council. These funds were provided in advance of the final consideration of applications by the Disaster Fund Management Committee and were made to assist the councils manage their cash flow and swiftly respond to some of the most pressing flood damage.

These interim amounts formed part of the recommended total payments outlined above.

Assistance was provided at the end of January, early June and early July 2007.

Final recommendations by the Disaster Fund Management Committee were made on 21 June 2007. Applicant councils have been informally advised of the outcome and the remaining payments are being processed.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food & Fisheries has provided the following information:

A public meeting to discuss the impact of the storm was held in Hawker on 8 March 2007. PIRSA's Emergency Management Coordinator was present at this meeting.

Following this meeting, the South Australian Farmers' Federation (SAFF) presented me with a submission seeking business support for approximately 30 pastoral businesses affected by the storm. In the submission SAFF requested financial assistance similar to that delivered following the Renmark storm in January this year and Virginia floods in 2005 (i.e. funding through natural disaster relief arrangements).

In this instance it has been difficult to establish a case to provide business support in terms of natural disaster relief given that the storm delivered significant business benefits as well as causing significant damage to some properties (outlined below).

From available information, including reports given at the public meeting, PIRSA has advised that:

Five of the 31 properties in the affected district reported damage to more than 15km of fencing.

The same five properties reported additional costs of repairs to other infrastructure estimated at more than $25,000 each. This mainly referred to internal roads and tracks.

The remaining 25 properties estimated their total repair costs at less than $25,000.

The rainfall event had many positive effects such as replenishment of water storages and particularly the rejuvenation of pastures.

This event triggered larger than usual flooding but flooding in this area is a feature that occurs regularly after heavy rainfall events.

PIRSA is currently working to identify alternative means to assist the worst affected pastoral businesses including funding that may be available through the NRM Board and associated sources.