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AAP
AAP
National
Tim Dornin

SA lifts Murray flooding emergency declaration

Peter Malinauskas says SA has lifted its emergency declaration to flooding on the Murray River. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

South Australia has lifted its emergency declaration in response to flooding down the Murray, but authorities say challenges remain for river communities.

Water levels along the length of the Murray continue to fall. Flows at the Victorian border have dropped 50 gigalitres a day, down from a high of about 190GL at Christmas.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said along with revoking the 80-day emergency declaration, officials had also lifted a range of restrictions around activity on and around the river, including some related to fishing, boating and swimming.

He said the changes were an indication that "we have got through the worst of this" and the situation was well within the capability of the State Emergency Service and other agencies to manage.

"The focus of the government now continues to be around recovery," the premier said.

"Just because the emergency management declaration is over doesn't mean that the state can forget the challenges that still confront river communities.

"We stand at the ready as a government to respond accordingly."

Mr Malinauskas said the full recovery for river communities was going to take time.

SES chief officer Chris Beattie said most of the levees along the river were now "disengaged" or no longer holding back floodwaters.

He said four levees remained in action protecting key assets, including one at a caravan park at Mannum, east of Adelaide.

Mr Beattie said SES crews continued to monitor river levels and the amount of debris floating downstream.

"There has been a significant drop-off in the debris, but we're still seeing quite a bit in the main channel," he said.

Mr Beattie said the SES was also working closely with other agencies to assess the impact on infrastructure along the river, including local roads and buildings.

He said work was under way to support the clean-up across the region.

A small number of people remained in temporary accommodation after nearly 4000 properties were inundated or impacted in some way.

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