Riverland Flood Response

In reply to the Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) ().16 November 2022).

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries): The Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services has advised:

Sandbags used by South Australian emergency services for flood mitigation purposes are regularly manufactured in India and normally sourced through Australian importers.

All sandbags that are sourced from international markets are subject to standard decontamination processes for biosecurity purposes as determined by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). The South Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regions are working with DAFF to expedite this process to minimise the time required to deliver these sandbags to affected areas in the Riverland.

It is important to note, the use of sandbags to protect some pumping infrastructure is not appropriate. Clay bunding or relocation of assets for generation equipment may be more appropriate.

As the flood response lead agency, the South Australian State Emergency Service (SASES) has provided over 300,000 sandbags to the Riverland area in response to the current flooding event. These sandbags are available through six permanent sandbag stations which are supervised and open seven days a week.

SASES have sandbag supplies in state holdings, as well as five consignments ordered which will deliver over 1,500,000 sandbags throughout November, December, January, and February. The first two consignments will arrive during November and will deliver 374,000 sandbags.

Further to this, the government have also sourced almost eight kilometres of DefenCell to further bolster tools available for flood mitigation resources.