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Once in a quarter-century boat cruise after record spring rainfall

Trevor Wray says it's eerie to jump in a boat through his front paddock - ABC

Eight months ago, a farming family from Laurie Park in South Australia were running out of water â?? now they are eight metres underwater.



Battling their driest two years on record, the Wray family to drink and carting water for their livestock.

Today, eight meters of swampy wetlands are lapping against flourishing red gums across their undulating green pastures.

They are on track to have their wettest year ever.



For the first time in more than 25 years, Trevor Wray had the opportunity to row his boat across his front paddock.

"It's very eerie, because it's so rare. It hasn't sunk in yet."

Mr Wray said his main concern traversing the wetland was whether the tin boat would hold: it has been a while since he has used it.

"The main thing is that this little boat keeps floating."



Last year drought devastated the Wray's farm business, with significant crop losses and little to no feed for their livestock.

Ms Wray was "fairly concerned" about the household's water supply.

"We were running out of water for our house," she said.

The south-east of South Australia, known for its high rainfall, was brought to its knees during the last two years, with many farmers struggling to remain viable.

But recent heavy rains that many farmers have not seen in decades have flooded areas of South Australia and Victoria.

The rain has caused water logging and erosion issues for many farmers, but despite the logistical challenges, Mr Wray was still more than grateful for the rain.

"I'd much rather it this way then the other way, because we all know what droughts are," he said.

"There's no money in dust."

Ms Wray is also very pleased, boasting about their "water front views" and blooming trees which haven't flowered in decades.



The fierce bite of climate change

Mr Wray indicated the severe disparity between this season and last drives home the harsh reality of climate change.

"I tend to think there is some climate change, in recent years such a disparity has got to be questioned," he said.

"What's been happening for some time is pretty unnatural for the south east."

Mr Wray does not believe the new generation of farming will have it "any easier" than his.

"Maybe, in some ways, we can implement change to a certain degree," he said.

He believed "generally thinking" farmers need to "just accept it and try and get on with it".

Many producers who rely on underground water supplies in south-east South Australia have expressed concern over the sustainability of the underground water resource.

Mr Wray believed the recent rainfall and subsequent water-logging would do wonders for the aquifer.

"Hopefully the majority of it will soak down and replenish the aquifer, because that level has dropped significantly in the last few years."

The promise that decent rainfall brings primary producers cannot be understated.

The Wrays believe they're on track to have their best year to date.

"I think I can confidently say we're pretty well set up."


- ABC

© ABC 2016

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