SA: Rainfall offers mixed blessings across SA

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2008
SA: Rainfall offers mixed blessings across SA

ADELAIDE, Dec 12 AAP - Soaking rain across South Australia has closed roads, sparked
local flooding and offered mixed blessings for farmers.

The weather bureau said on Friday falls of up to 80 millimetres were recorded in some
parts of the north and mid-north, the best for months.

Flooding was reported in numerous regional towns and cities including Ceduna and Whyalla,
with the State Emergency Service taking calls for assistance.

Transport officials said about 30 roads across the state's north were closed and others
restricted to four-wheel drives.

Farmers said the rain was good for some but not for others, with cherry growers in
the Adelaide Hills expected to be the hardest hit.

Farmers still harvesting grain crops were also concerned the rain would cause damage.

Further south, rainfalls were lighter but still the best for most parts in recent months
after an exceptionally dry spring.

The weather bureau said a low pressure system and associated trough moved across the
state on Friday bringing areas of rain and isolated thunderstorms.

However, it said the rain would contract to the east on Saturday, bringing cooler conditions
with showers clearing by the afternoon.

As the rain fell across Adelaide, the South Australian opposition lamented the continued
loss of the city's stormwater to the sea.

Opposition water security spokesman Mitch Williams said so far this year 114 gigalitres
of stormwater had flowed into Gulf St Vincent, instead of being harvested for future use.

"A year's water supply has literally gone down the drain because the government has
no plan to capture stormwater," Mr Williams said.

"Adelaide has lost 114 gigalitres that could have been used to take pressure off the
River Murray."

AAP tjd/jl/de

KEYWORD: RAIN SA

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