Lyrup Road

Background

Lyrup Road is of strategic regional significance to the Riverland and was considerably damaged by the 2022/23 River Murray flood. About nine months after the flood waters subsided, Berri Barmera Council became aware of significant longitudinal cracks along the verge of Lyrup Road.

Had the damage been identified within three months of the water subsiding, the State Government would have fully funded the repairs as part of Local Government Disaster Recovery Assistance Arrangements (LGDRAA).

However, given the damage was identified after the three-month deadline, Council was expected to fund 30 per cent of the estimated $2.99 million repair cost. In August 2024, Berri Barmera, Renmark Paringa and Loxton Waikerie councils wrote to the Department of Treasury and Finance to request extraordinary assistance as part of the LGDRAA.

In October 2024, the State Government committed to fully funding the repair of Lyrup Road. Since then, State Government departments have expressed interest in potential flood-mitigation measures, with investigations currently under way.

Project to include ecological benefits

In August 2025, the Department for Environment and Water’s (DEW) South Australia Constraints Measures project announced it would integrate culvert infrastructure into the reconstruction of the road to improve floodplain health.

As part of the Lyrup Road rebuild, a culvert structure to channel water underneath the road will be installed to support natural floodplain connectivity and reduce the barrier to natural flows created by the road embankment.

For the full media release, click here.