Recovery Hotline 1800 302 787
Northern Adelaide Plains Flood
Recovery Newsletter
Issue 2: 8 November 2016
A message from
Hon Leon Bignell
Minister for Agriculture,
Food and Fisheries
It has been six weeks since
major storms and flooding
severely affected primary
producers on the Gawler River Floodplain. Since
then the State Government has been busy assisting
with recovery efforts and working to get growers
back on their feet.
Almost immediately, we had crews from Primary
Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) out in the region
assessing damage, providing advice to businesses
and liaising with industry associations. We
provided $260,000 for immediate assistance,
including funds to pump floodwater away from
properties to avoid the delays in drainage that
occurred when the region flooded in 2005.
PIRSA recovery programs continue to operate from
the Virginia Horticulture Centre, along with the
Department for Communities and Social inclusion,
Centrelink and Red Cross, providing information
and support services. Impacted primary producers
in the flood-affected areas of the Gawler River
Floodplain can apply for grants of up to $10,000 –
totalling $3 million – to reimburse expenses
incurred for the immediate costs of clean up, reestablishment and repair.
PIRSA has now conducted around 300 impact
assessments for affected growers. Based on these
preliminary assessments, the actual area damaged
under crop (open field and greenhouse) is between
1,000 and 1,500 hectares, which is 25% of the total
flood area and accounts for 184 land owners. The
overall estimated loss is in excess of $50 million
and is likely to be higher once all flood-affected
areas are assessed.
If you have not yet had a damaged impact assessment
or you require technical or business assistance in
rebuilding your operation, please visit PIRSA staff at
the Virginia Horticulture Centre. PIRSA staff will assist
with grant applications. PIRSA’s Flood Recovery
Hotline (08) 8207 7847 is still operating 24 hours a
day, seven days a week for farmers requiring
assistance with livestock, horticulture and land
management issues.
I’ve visited the Gawler River Floodplain region and
spoken with growers to understand the scale of the
damage. Much work has been done in a very short
period of time; however, the recovery process will
take a long time, with many producers estimating it
could be six months or more before they are back in
full production.
The State Government’s priority is to help producers
assess the damage and remove rubbish, building
materials and spoiled crops. PIRSA will coordinate the
waste management program, beginning with
assessments to identify the waste and then work out
the best management and removal methods. You will
see waste assessors inspecting properties over the
next few weeks and waste removal will commence in
the drier areas as soon as possible. The community
will receive more information on waste management
through future community forums and information
sheets.
The State Government will continue to do what we
can to assist primary producers get back in business
and return the region to its role as one of Australia’s
premier intensive food production zones.
Leon Bignell MP
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
Flood Recovery Centre – Virginia Horticultural
Centre - Old Port Wakefield Road, Virginia
Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm, Saturday 8am to
12:30pm, Sunday Closed
Recovery Hotline 1800 302 787
Northern Adelaide Plains Flood
Recovery Centre
Virginia Horticultural Centre
State Government Helps With
Flood Clean-Up
Old Port Wakefield Road, Virginia
Ph. 0484 327 667
The Recovery Centre can assist with a wide
range of services:
 Emotional support
 Health services available in the community
 Information for returning home
 Queries and referrals
 Replacement of important documents and
identification
 Natural resource management
 Access to Primary Industries and Regions
SA (PIRSA) advice and assistance
 Rural business support
 Support and access to complete Centrelink
forms
 Assistance to engage with clean-up
services
 Other financial assistance available
 Useful community contacts and
 Upcoming community events
Recovery Centre Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 8am to 6pm
Saturday: 8am to 12.30pm
Sunday: Closed
The State Government is here to help affected
primary producers assess the damage and
remove rubbish, building materials and spoiled
crops, resulting from the flooding.
Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA)
will coordinate the waste management
program, beginning with property-based
assessments to identify the waste on
properties and the best management and
removal methods. The aim is to speed up
waste removal and ensure all properties are
part of the clean-up.
Affected landholders should pile their waste in
a safe and accessible area of their property.
Waste, including organic and inorganic
materials will be collected at no cost to primary
production properties. Topsoil will not be
collected.
Also, affected primary producers can still
access the flood recovery grants of up to
$10,000. The SA Government is continuing to
work with industry associations, speak with
affected landholders and other government
agencies to identify further assistance.
Affected landholders are encouraged to call
the PIRSA hotline on 08 8207 7847 or visit the
Recovery Centre at, Old Port Wakefield Rd,
Virginia to register for waste
assessment/removal.
Green Industries runs a free hazwaste disposal
service at Magazine Rd and Henschke
Street, Dry Creek from 9am to 12pm the
first Tuesday of each month – the next
available service is Tuesday 6 December.
Northern Adelaide Plains Flood Recovery Centre
Virginia Horticultural Centre Old Port Wakefield Road, Virginia
Monday-Friday 8am-6pm, Saturday 8am-12:30pm,
Sunday Closed
Recovery Hotline 1800 302 787
De-watering and septic tank
reimbursement costs extended
Eligibility for de-watering and Septic Tank
reimbursement costs has been extended to the
end of November. These services need to
have occurred between 1st October 2016 and
30th November.
You may be eligible for reimbursement if you
live in the flood-affected areas of Virginia,
Buckland Park, Korunye or Two Wells and
your property had been inundated with flood
water. The funds made available for this by the
State Government are being managed through
the City of Playford and Adelaide Plains
Council.
For septics, we encourage residents to contact
a pump out contractor if they experience
problems with their septic tank system and
then contact either council and provide receipts
as proof of service for reimbursement. The
councils can provide you a list of pump out
contractors to choose from.
For de-watering reimbursement, you should
contact the councils and provide proof of
receipts as proof of service of the pumping.
Call City of Playford on (08) 8256033 or
Adelaide Plains Council on (08) 8527 0200
for more information
Looking out for family and friends
Please encourage people who are struggling
emotionally to contact their GP in the first
instance so that the GP can refer them onto
the most relevant service
If the person has made a direct or implied
threat of self-harm or are threatening others,
then you should contact the emergency, 24
hour a day mental health service on 131465,
alternatively call the police on 000 immediately
to report your observations and what was said.
The police will assist and if required organise
for the person to be transported to the nearest
hospital for an assessment by a trained mental
health practitioners.
The Northern Health Network can provide
more information for those who need
help. Please phone (08) 8209 0700 or visit our
website www.humanservices.gov.au.
Gawler River Flood Plain Primary
Producer Recovery Grants
Grants are available for primary producers’
immediate clean-up costs, for flood damage
occurring between 28 September and
5 October 2016.
The focus is clean-up and repair costs so that
production can recommence. Please carefully
read the information and make sure you
complete the checklist on page two of the
application form.
Filling out the Application Form

Primary producers are required to
provide tax invoices with their grant
application. The grant payment will only
be paid for these costs up to $10,000 GST
exclusive.

Provide complete copies of your financial
statements for your primary producer
business.

Provide full copies of personal tax
returns for each member of the primary
producer business for either 2014-15 or
2015-16.

Land ownership must also be confirmed
by providing copy of recent Council rates.

If land is leased, a copy of lease
agreement needs to be provided.

Any incomplete applications will be
returned to the grower.
Northern Adelaide Plains Flood Recovery Centre
Virginia Horticultural Centre Old Port Wakefield Road, Virginia
Monday-Friday 8am-6pm, Saturday 8am-12:30pm,
Sunday Closed
Recovery Hotline 1800 302 787
Costs

If the business employed additional labour
to undertake clean-up and repairs (over
and above normal wage expenditure) this
cost may be claimed.

Costs that are covered by insurance are
not eligible.

Soil repair works returning soil to condition
prior to flood is eligible. This may include
purchase of topsoil, levelling and soil
amendments to bring soil back to the
original condition prior to the flood.

Repairs to farm equipment such as pumps,
tractors, farm vehicles, irrigation
infrastructure may be eligible.
If you require information and advice about
suitable contractors, or what you can do in the
short term, we can help.
This advice is for works in or near a
watercourse, such as repair of river/creek
crossings, or repairs to dam walls that are less
than three metres in height. These works may
usually require a permit, however please
contact us to talk about the planned works
prior to starting the works or filling out any
application forms.
We can also talk you through any permit
exemptions.

Repairs to buildings (other than housing)
such as hothouses including cost of
materials and contract labour may be
eligible.
For more information, please visit our website
http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/adelaid
emtloftyranges/water/managing-water/wateraffecting-activities, call Joanna Rex (Policy
Officer Water Permits) on 8273 9100, or email
us at [email protected]

Replacement of equipment or buildings not
eligible.
Department of Human Services
If you need assistance with your application,
please contact PIRSA on 1800 182 235 or visit
the Virginia Flood Recovery Centre, Old Port
Wakefield Road, Virginia.
Bore Water
If you have questions or concerns regarding
bore water on your property please refer to
www.sawater.com.au or call the Recovery
Hotline on 1800 302 787 for information and
advice.
Water affecting activities and
permit exemption
Natural Resources Adelaide and Mount Lofty
Ranges is aware that many properties have
suffered significant damage to watercourses
and associated infrastructure due to recent
flood events.
You may be eligible for payments and
services. The type of payments or assistance
will depend on your individual circumstances.
Centrelink delivers payments and services and
provides services at times of major change for
seniors, job seekers, students and trainees,
families, carers, parents, people with disability,
Indigenous Australians, and people from
culturally and linguistically diverse
backgrounds.
It is important to tell us if your circumstances
change, so we can give you the right payment.
Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Benefit
payments are calculated on an annual income
estimate. Your estimate should reflect your
family’s financial circumstances for the whole
financial year.
You can change your income estimate at any
time to ensure it is accurate and reasonable.
The easiest way to do this is by using myGov
or the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.
Northern Adelaide Plains Flood Recovery Centre
Virginia Horticultural Centre Old Port Wakefield Road, Virginia
Monday-Friday 8am-6pm, Saturday 8am-12:30pm,
Sunday Closed
Recovery Hotline 1800 302 787
You should let us know within 14 days if your
circumstances change.
Mr. Phanh Leav (Proxy)
Mr. Van Pinh Nguyen
How to contact us:
If you have something to share please contact
a CRG member.
In languages other than English
131 202
Families
136 150
Contact Numbers
Job seekers
132 850
SA Recovery Centre
0484 327 667
www.sa.gov.au
www.facebook.com/SArecoveryinfo
Students and trainees 132 490
People with disability.
132 717
SA Health
www.sahealth.gov.au
Older Australians
132 300
Indigenous Call Centre
Freecall 1800 136 380
Rural Business Support
1800 836 211
www.ruralbusinesssupport.org.au
ABSTUDY
Freecall 1800 132 317
Complaints and feedback
Freecall 1800 132 468
Agriculture and Livestock
PIRSA (08) 8207 7847
www.pir.sa.gov.au
For more information visit
www.humanservices.gov.au
Community Reference Group
A Community Reference Group (CRG) has
been established to bring community concerns
to the table and deliver key information to the
community. CRG members are:
Mr. Alex Zimmermann (Chair)
Mr. Dino Musolino
Playford Council
08 8256 0578
www.playford.sa.gov.au
Adelaide Plains Council
08 8527 0200
www.mallala.sa.gov.au
Mr. Ilia Tsoutouras
Mr. Khanh Le
Mr. Peter Rentoulis
Mr. Ly Le
Ms. Felicia Nguyen (Proxy)
SA Water
1300 650 950
SA Power Networks
13 12 61
Ms. Lien Tu Duong (Proxy)
Mr. Adrian Marschall
Ms. Alecia Leav
Northern Adelaide Plains Flood Recovery Centre
Virginia Horticultural Centre Old Port Wakefield Road, Virginia
Monday-Friday 8am-6pm, Saturday 8am-12:30pm,
Sunday Closed