When the local ferry closed due to flooding, Jason came up with a creative solution

The state government says it has secured more than 22,000 nights of accommodation for those affected by the flooding, but residents are feeling the effects of rising waters.

Key Points:South African government sets up temporary housing for people unable to stay in their homesRiverland residents have to travel long distances by car and boat to workDykes protect towns from flooding, but not all properties

Chemist Kylee Potterat has to make the long trek around the Murray River as rising flood waters put her local ferry out of service.

She now drives from Lyrup via Renmark and Berri at least five days a week, spending an extra 45 minutes in the car each day.

"That's 1,100 kilometers I make in a fortnight," Ms. Potterat said.

She's starting to feel the financial pressures as a single mom, with the extra fuel adding hundreds of dollars to her bills .

"This means we must s cutting things down," she said.

"I have to stretch the budget a bit more so we can accommodate that extra gas, we can't not allow us few lux uries."

With the Lyrup ferry out of service, other members of the community have developed their own patches.

Jason Fowler's journey to work now involves a car parked on either side of the river and a canoe, since the ferry went out of business.

" The first trip, I almost got out of it, but she's fine now. I learned how to do it," Mr Fowler said.

His boss lent him the canoe and a work car to park on the Lyrup side of the river, which which saved him 40 minutes in the car if he made it the long way.

"It's frustrating, but it's a once-in-a-lifetime [event] - you just have to do what you have to do to work around it,” he said.

Riverland resident Jason Fowler has been forced to get creative to get to work as flood levels rise. (ABC News: Che Chorley)

The state government is securing safe emergency accommodation along the river over the coming weeks and months,” Malinauskas said.

Beginning this week, 16 humanihuts will be erected at the Riverland Exhibition Center to accommodate 64 people. .

The center can also accommodate 200 caravans with electricity and water.

The state government said it had also secured 35 recovery pods that could be set up in properties where homes could not not be inhabited.

A disabled-friendly site has also been secured.

Mr Malinauskas said people should always visit the area safely to support communities in need.

"The dykes are very committed...along the river and the need o f these levees are very exposed," he said.

"Visiting the Riverland is always a completely safe proposition.

"We' encourage South Australians to continue to visit communities up and down the river."

Producers concerned

Below Berri, lowland producers close to the Murray River are frustrated for different reasons.