WHILE the sun has come out on the plains north of Adelaide, growers say the damage from recent flooding will continue to effect them, even once the water subsides.
Vegetable grower Hung Nguyen, who estimates his damage bill was “easily” $200,000, had capsicum seedlings that were completely destroyed.
“It was about 30,000 capsicum plants,” he said.
Mr Nguyen said it would be months until his family could profit again.
“It will take three months before we can plant and another four until we can pick again,” he said.
“It will be about seven months until we have income.”
Mr Nguyen said the $10,000 grants were welcome but wouldn't be enough.
“Everything is still saturated two weeks later and we’ve got a long way to go,” he said.
Mr Nguyen said when it flooded 11 years ago, they were also given $10,000.
“While it helped, it’s definitely not enough for a business like this to start a new season,” he said.
“You need about $100,000 to $150,000 to get started again, for seedlings, workers, chemicals, fertilisers, water, the list goes on.”
Mr Nguyen said a man-made river through Buckland Park and new infrastructure along the Gawler River was the answer.
