Flooding across South Australia’s Riverland region is causing growers like Nontas Koutouzis to be nervous about the future of their business.
The olive and grape grower from Berri told The ABC he felt his local council had left him and his neighbours behind when a levee being built up the road from him stopped short of protecting his vineyards and property.
With the lack of council levee, Koutouzis said it could cost him this years “and probably next year[s]” crop.
“Or we [could] lose our vines completely,” he said to ABC News.
In a statement to ABC News, Berri Barmera Council said it was committed to making sure the community of local producers was as protected as possible within the time frame available.
This comes as SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said the state government had secured more accommodation for those impacted by the flood event along the River Murray.
Authorities said today the River Murray flooding has already reached the height of the 1931 floods, but forecast flows remain well below the 1956 levels.
Source: ABC News.
