Renmark continues to account for most recent Queensland fruit fly detections in the Riverland. In the four weeks to 31 August 2025, about 77% of detections were in Renmark, Cooltong and Chaffey.

The biggest barrier to eradicating fruit fly in Renmark is “no access” to properties meaning there are land holdings where PIRSA is unable to check or treat fruit. Providing property access to PIRSA staff is critical to returning to Fruit Fly Free status.

What you can do

PLEASE, let PIRSA fruit fly staff access your property if they call or knock.

• Dispose of fallen fruit correctly.
• Pick, collect, and check homegrown produce to protect your patch.
• Utilise the free self-baiting program for Riverland growers. Get started by calling the Fruit Fly Hotline 1300 666 010

The State Government has put significant resources into controlling this fruit fly outbreak in the Riverland. However, they cannot do it alone. This is our chance to work together to restore our Fruit Fly Free status. Let’s finish the job!

Rescheduled Works –  Planned Water Shutdown

Previously planned and notified works to repair a leak at the corner of 25th Street and Renmark Avenue were postponed due to complications isolating the affected area. These works have been rescheduled and now require a full system shutdown.

Start: 9:00 PM, Sunday 10 August 2025
End: 11:59 PM, Wednesday 13 August 2025
Location: Corner of 25th Street & Renmark Avenue, Renmark
Affected Areas: Full system shutdown

Please ensure your holding tank is filled before the shutdown. As per Trust requirements, your tank should provide sufficient storage to carry you through the outage.

These works are weather dependent and may be delayed if frost is forecast. We will provide updates if the schedule changes.

Changes under Water Market Reform

New regulations under the Commonwealth’s water market reform are now operative. Renmark Irrigation Trust is disappointed to advise customers that from 1 July 2025, it is unable to provide services that could be regarded as a water market intermediary service under the new laws. This means that the Trust cannot provide services to facilitate any water trades of allocation or entitlement between customers (e.g. Form 4 Buy/Sell Orders). Transfers of water between accounts or on/off licence, where the Trust is an approval authority only, may still occur (e.g. Form 3a, 3b and 3c).

We will keep you informed of any further developments.

A new schedule of charges will be in place from July 1 2025. The Schedule can be found on the Customer Portal or a copy can be downloaded here

Join our ecologist this National Science Week for two unique, hands-on experiences on Renmark’s floodplains.

Guided native bird tour– Sunday 10 August | 9:00 AM

Look for native woodland and wetland birds on Renmark’s restored floodplains.

Insect collection workshop– Saturday 16 August | 2:00 PM

Help record the first-ever invertebrate collection for Renmark’s floodplains.

Spots are limited! Register here.

More event details here.

What happened to Chowilla Dam? Billed in 1960 as the antidote to SA’s water security issues, by 1971 plans were shelved, the tramway pulled up, and Dartmouth Dam in Victoria was the front runner. As part of SA History Month, we ran a panel event at the Renmark Paringa Library about the history of the Chowilla Dam project. It was a whirlwind time when salinity, water security, and economic survival were hot topics on the political agenda.

A video of the event is now available here

Background information to the event is here

All irrigators are advised that pumping will cease at 9pm on SUNDAY 11 May to 11.59pm FRIDAY 16 May 2025

The annual shutdown enables planned preventative maintenance and other works to be completed which cannot be carried out while normal pumping is in progress.

Domestic and industrial water users should maintain storage capable of holding up to 7 days supply at all times.

Captain Colin Frank Williams MC

Colin Williams, a clerk in the RIT office from around 1936, was given leave from the RIT to enlist on the 5 September 1940. At the Board Meeting on 23 September 1940 his enlistment was acknowledged and a guarantee was given that his job would be returned to him after the war. He enlisted at Keswick into the 2/48^th Battalion which was in the process of formation and entered the army with the rank of Lieutenant due to his prior involvement with the 48^th Militia Battalion. Colin was a keen local sportsman and was mentioned often in the Renmark cricket and golf reports. He was a past student of Renmark Agricultural High School¹ and his family lived in Renmark for 13 years from 1922 to 1935.²

Following a period of training at Wayville in Adelaide the unit was given pre-embarkation leave from Thursday 17 October 1940 to Tuesday 22 October. He returned to Renmark immediately and on Friday 18 October he married Gweneth Yvonne Saies, daughter of the late Mrs F.W. Saies, at St Augustine’s Church. The church was decorated by friends of the bride, Mrs A E Sage, Mrs N Hagley, Miss C Riedel and Miss Mollie Saies. ‘A guard of honour was formed by members of the Renmark Transport Unit, of which the bride is a member, and men of the 48^th Militia Battalion. About 40 guests were entertained at a reception, held at the home of the bride’s aunt and uncle Mr and Mrs R.N. Saies.’³ On the night of Monday 21 October Colin and Gwen Williams were absent from the Renmark Institute where a crowd of 500 people had gathered to farewell around 20 local soldiers also set to embark. Instead Colin’s parents, Mr and Mrs R A Williams, accepted gifts of a propelling pencil and cigarettes from the Mayor of Renmark and socks from the Comfort Funds Committee on behalf of their son.⁴

On Tuesday 22 October Lieutenant Williams returned to his unit and Gwen Williams to the new family home at 64 Murray Avenue⁵, Renmark. On the 7 November, less than 3 weeks after the wedding Lt Williams embarked with the 2/48^th for the Middle East. The Battalion was soon involved in action in North Africa in what became known as the Benghazi Handicap. Axis forces were forced to the west across North Africa until German reinforcements halted the push and then forced the Allied units, mainly the 9^th Division, back towards the East. They made a stand at Tobruk where the 2/48^th remained from 10 April 1941 to 12 October 1941.

During the Siege of Tobruk the defenders became known as the Rats of Tobruk and the 2/48^th began a reputation that led to it becoming the most decorated Australian battalion of the Second World War. Lieutenant Colin Williams was promoted to Captain on 16 April 1941.Following the evacuation of the battalion from Tobruk in October, Christmas 1941 and the early part of 1942 were spent in Palestine recovering and rebuilding. The 9^th Division then returned to North Africa, this time to halt the advance of Rommel’s army towards Cairo in the battle of El Alamein.

One of the precursor battles to El Alamein was for the strategic Tel el Eisa ridge and railway station on 10 July 1942.

Captain Williams never learned of his bravery award as he was killed in action as the battle continued at Tel el Eisa twelve days later on 22 July 1942. His body was later moved to the El Alamein War Cemetery.

Source https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1229989

Gwen Williams was presented with Colin’s Military Cross in May 1945 at Government House in Adelaide. She married Lieutenant Rollo Treloar of Broken Hill on 15 November 1945.

Thanks to Geoff Bull for compiling the research and editing this article in March 2025. The original article was published in November 2020. Please contact the Trust Office with any comments or additional information.

[1] Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record, 30 Apr 1942, Anzac Observances at Schools, p5

[2] Ibid, 14 Feb 1935, After Thirteen Years, p10

[3] Ibid, 24 Oct 1940, Williams-Saies, p12

[4] Ibid, 24 Oct 1940, Soldiers on Leave Honoured, p9

[5] Murray Avenue North was renamed James Avenue in 1949. Prior to that time even numbered properties were in Murray Avenue North and odd numbered properties in Murray Avenue South.

The Trust Office will be closed from 4.30pm Thursday 24 April and will reopen at 9am on Monday 28 April.

For any emergencies with your water delivery please ring 8586 6050