The Murray River Council (MRC) is encouraging the local community to steer clear of Moama Beach following extensive damage caused by the October 2022 flood event.
The council approved a budget realignment on January 24 of up to $90,000 to allow a staged reopening at the Moama Beach site.
After Moama Beach succumbed to floodwater, the area had been left open to many dangers like exposed electrical services, the risk of falling trees, irrigation and septic system damage, turf damage, tree debris and silt deposition.
“We understand that this area is a high-profile site for our community and visiting tourists and they want to use it over the summer period,” MRC Planning and Environment director Rod Croft said.
“However, we need people to understand that whilst the flood waters have receded, we are now left with the task of undertaking significant repair works with contractors regularly accessing the site.
“Over the next few months, we will be focused on reinstating the area back to pre-flood condition.”
Moama Beach has been closed to the public since November and is forecast to reopen on March 13, over the Victorian Labour Day long weekend.
The reopening of the area is dependent on the availability of contractors, considering the region has several flood-damaged resources.
“There was substantial damage to the electricity infrastructure, the septic system and irrigation systems, not to mention the unknowns around the safety of people sitting underneath the redgum trees,” Mr Croft said.
“Even access to the site for heavy vehicles has been problematic with a soft road base under the lower sections of the sealed road accessing the site, which has meant our contractors haven’t been able to access the site until recently.
“The closure will remain in place until the subsequent safety and essential repair works are completed to ensure access and limited facilities at Moama Beach can be provided.
“We continue to encourage the community to abide by the closure and follow all signage at the site, which indicates that the site remains closed to vehicles, pedestrians and water users.”