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Additional restrictions on boating and water activities on the River Murray

Wednesday, 28 December 2022

For the safety of all river users and to protect critical infrastructure, further restrictions on boating and water activities are now in place on the River Murray, including at Ral Ral Bridge and Paringa Bridge.

River users are reminded that previous restrictions continue to apply on the River Murray, including a ban on all recreational boating and water activities between the South Australian border and Wellington ferry.

For more information on all current restrictions and the latest marine safety advice, please visit Marine Safety SA.

Ral Ral Bridge

To protect the safety of river users and electrical infrastructure, an activity exclusion zone is now in place within an 1100 metre radius of the length of Ral Ral Bridge at Renmark.

The main powerline from the Renmark Sub Station runs diagonally above the water from Ral Ral Bridge to the northern most point of Bookmark Creek at Renmark and is the main powerline servicing Renmark.

Current high flows have created a lower clearance between the powerline and water than normal - posing a significant safety risk that vessels or people in the area may inadvertently touch or exceed the recommended clearance under these powerlines.

Additionally, water is flowing quickly under Ral Ral Bridge and into the floodplain, creating a safety risk for any vessel operators or people nearby.

Restrictions

The following restrictions apply within an 1100 metre radius along the length of the Ral Ral Bridge at Renmark:

  • No motorised vessels be operated
  • No human-powered vessels or any other water traffic (including canoes, kayaks, surf skis, rowboats or aquatic toys) be operated or used
  • No swimming, bathing, diving or entering the water is permitted
  • No persons from a vessel shall undertake any fishing activity or place or leave any fishing apparatus (including any net, drum net, hoop net, mesh net, set line, shrimp trap and yabbie pot).

Exemptions

These restrictions do not apply to:

  • Any vessels operated by the South Australian emergency services that are providing assistance to reduce the risk to life and injury of a persons
  • This also includes any vessels operated by a volunteer organisation or association that may be providing assistance to any South Australian emergency services
  • Any vessels operated by the SA Department for Environment and Water, SA Water or the Murray Darling Basin Authority or any of their contractors used in conjunction with any river monitoring or related purpose.

Paringa Bridge

To protect the safety of river users and infrastructure on this key travel route, an exclusion zone is now in place near the Paringa Bridge at Paringa.

With water levels continuing to rise, the clearance under the Paringa Bridge is now too low for vessels to safely travel underneath the bridge, while fast-flowing water in this area is also a risk to both to the safety of river users and the potential for a loose or uncontrolled vessel to damage the bridge.

Paringa Bridge remains open to road traffic.

Restrictions

The following restrictions apply to boating and water activities near the Paringa Bridge:

  • No motorised vessels are permitted to operate within 50 metres of either side of the Paringa Bridge
  • No human-powered vessels or any other water traffic (including canoes, kayaks, surf skis, rowboats or aquatic toys) is permitted to operate within 250 metres of either side of the Paringa Bridge
  • No swimming, bathing or diving or entering the water within 250 metres of either side of the Paringa Bridge.

Exemptions

These restrictions do not apply to:

  • Any vessels operated by the South Australian emergency services that are providing assistance to reduce the risk to life and injury of a persons
  • This also includes any vessels operated by a volunteer organisation or association that may be providing assistance to any South Australian emergency services
  • Any vessels operated by the SA Department for Environment and Water, SA Water or the Murray Darling Basin Authority or any of their contractors used in conjunction with any river monitoring or related purpose.

More information

Marine safety teams and SAPOL officers will continue to have increased presence on the water, with any person or vessel operator found in breach of any one of these restrictions may be subject to a maximum Court imposed penalty of $10,000.

River-users are reminded not to swim, ride, walk or drive in high flow waterways.

Locals are also urged to check that their vessel moorings are secure as water levels rise, if it is safe to do.

For more information on all current restrictions and the latest marine safety advice, please visit Marine Safety SA.

For more on River Murray high flows, please visit the State Government’s dedicated website at www.sa.gov.au/floods.