Rising water levels along the River Murray created an urgent flood risk for riverfront communities, businesses, and critical infrastructure across the Riverland. Forecasts indicated prolonged and sustained high river levels rather than a short peak event, placing increasing pressure on existing levees and exposing gaps in flood preparedness. Traditional flood protection methods such as sandbagging and earth bunds proved unsuitable for the scale and duration of the threat, as they required significant labour, time, and materials that were difficult to mobilise quickly under emergency conditions.

Local councils and emergency services were under intense pressure to respond rapidly while working within constrained access, limited resources, and constantly changing ground conditions along the riverfront. Key commercial areas and public infrastructure located close to the river were particularly vulnerable, with little buffer against overtopping or seepage. This situation highlighted the need for a flood protection approach that could be deployed quickly, adapted to site-specific conditions, and deliver reliable performance over an extended flood period rather than serving as a short-term or stop-gap measure.

To address the immediate risk posed by rising floodwaters, authorities deployed the EBS MAC system, previously known as DefenCell MAC. EBS MAC is one of Maccaferri’s modular solutions designed specifically for flood risk mitigation, alongside other widely adopted systems such as FlexMac DT, which is used globally in emergency response scenarios.

Maccaferri’s modular protection barrier systems are purpose-engineered for flood protection and emergency works, where rapid deployment, adaptability, and structural reliability are critical. The flood barriers were selected because they can be rapidly deployed using locally available fill materials, enabling a fast and practical response without the delays and labour demands associated with traditional sandbagging.

The systems consist of a multicellular structure formed from hexagonal double twisted steel wire mesh, reinforced with vertical steel rods and internally lined with a non woven geotextile sleeve. Once installed, the cells are filled in situ to create a stable and continuous barrier capable of withstanding sustained water pressure. This design allows FlexMac DT to function effectively as a fast-to-deploy flood barrier, for raising embankments, and for providing buttressing support in temporary works.

Through the use of EBS MAC and FlexMac DT, authorities were able to efficiently construct flood defences, protect vulnerable infrastructure and riverfront assets, and significantly reduce manual handling and installation time. Their proven performance during flood events also makes them suitable for integration into longer-term flood mitigation strategies, providing communities along the River Murray with a practical, dependable, and resilient defence when time and conditions are critical.

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