Peter's business depends on water, but too much has left him with no income

Floodwater from the River Murray wiped out Peter Singh's Renmark vineyard late last year - and now he's faced with the difficult question of what to do next: rebuild or sell?
Key points: Floodwaters have receded in the Riverland but people are still working out costsGrapes are dead and owners are debating whether to replantHomeowners have suffered from reduced bookings even if the water hasn't touched their properties
In December, his vineyard fell under water, and now that the water has receded, he's left with row after row of dead vines.
"We lost everything," he said.
"We have no income."
But Mr. Singh said ongoing costs, including water and tariffs, were still the same.
" We don't pay the spraying because we couldn't get in, we don't pay the grape picker, but we don't get any grapes either," he said.
Peter Singh's flooded vineyard in Renmark in December. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
He feared rising recovery costs would last for the next three years.
" We have to dig over 60-70% of our vineyard to replant - if I replant it," he said.
"[I] go through ideas to do something else."
Peter Singh isn't sure about replanting his vines. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
He has family and a new takeaway store that are keeping him in town, but he suspects other home and business owners along the Murray River would also weigh in on their future, which could impact on the life and economy of the towns along it.
"It's a ripple effect - the towns will empty out, the shops will empty out," said he said.
Industry group Riverland Wine said while the number of growers who suffered flooding was low, the damage they suffered to their vines was vs catastrophic.

General manager Lyndall Rowe said the wider industry - one of Australia's biggest rowing regions - was grappling with the climate damp affecting yields and flooding affecting tourism.
"About half of our members have smallholdings and depend on off-farm income and mainly tourism, such as the gates of cellar and accommodation, which are all affected,” she told SA Country Hour.

Agrotech Mar 8, 2023 0 36 Add to Reading List

Peter's business depends on water, but too much has left him with no income

Floodwater from the River Murray wiped out Peter Singh's Renmark vineyard late last year - and now he's faced with the difficult question of what to do next: rebuild or sell?

Key points: Floodwaters have receded in the Riverland but people are still working out costsGrapes are dead and owners are debating whether to replantHomeowners have suffered from reduced bookings even if the water hasn't touched their properties

In December, his vineyard fell under water, and now that the water has receded, he's left with row after row of dead vines.

"We lost everything," he said.

"We have no income."

But Mr. Singh said ongoing costs, including water and tariffs, were still the same.

" We don't pay the spraying because we couldn't get in, we don't pay the grape picker, but we don't get any grapes either," he said.

A vineyard flooded with cloudy blue skies above

He feared rising recovery costs would last for the next three years.

" We have to dig over 60-70% of our vineyard to replant - if I replant it," he said.

"[I] go through ideas to do something else."

He has family and a new takeaway store that are keeping him in town, but he suspects other home and business owners along the Murray River would also weigh in on their future, which could impact on the life and economy of the towns along it.

"It's a ripple effect - the towns will empty out, the shops will empty out," said he said.

Industry group Riverland Wine said while the number of growers who suffered flooding was low, the damage they suffered to their vines was vs catastrophic.

General manager Lyndall Rowe said the wider industry - one of Australia's biggest rowing regions - was grappling with the climate damp affecting yields and flooding affecting tourism.

"About half of our members have smallholdings and depend on off-farm income and mainly tourism, such as the gates of cellar and accommodation, which are all affected,” she told SA Country Hour.