Houseboat owners are being forced to move away from Ral Ral Creek after being notified that Renmark Paringa Council will not renew their leases to moor there after June 30.

Key points:

  • Up to 25 houseboats have been asked to vacate from moorings at Ral Ral Creek
  • Renmark Paringa Council is forging ahead with a new marina for the nearby Jane Eliza Estate
  • Houseboat owners are not sure where they will go next

Up to 25 houseboats are expected to relocate from their moorings near the council-owned Jane Eliza Estate.

It comes after the council announced an expansion of the estate, including the development of up to 780 new homes, a marina and a commercial precinct.

With only months until the leases end, Renmark Paringa Houseboat Collective founder Jenny Troeth said the Ral Ral Creek community was not sure where they would go next.

“There’s a huge amount of uncertainty and insecurity down there as to what their future holds and where they’re going to be able to moor their boats,” she said.

“Their world is just being turned upside down.”

There is also fear among owners of neighbouring vessels along the Liba Liba marina that their moorings will also be taken away. 

Houseboat owners at the nearby Liba Liba marina are concerned for their neighbours along Ral Ral Creek.(ABC News: Sophie Landau)

Retirement plans hits a snag

Some locals have moored their boats on the waters of Ral Ral Creek for more than 20 years, which Ms Troeth said would make relocating even more challenging.

“There’s people down there that have sunk their life savings into these things to provide a future [for] their retirement.”

While houseboat owners will have the opportunity to continue mooring at the site when the marina development is complete, some worry that could be years away.

Houseboat owners at Ral Ral Creek want reassurance that the council will help them relocate to other moorings.(ABC News: Sophie Landau)

And Ms Troeth said some houseboat owners were reluctant to even consider going into a marina.

Some members of the Ral Ral Creek houseboat community said the council had not properly consulted with them.

Houseboat community alive and kicking

Ms Troeth, who moors her boat at Lock 5 Road marina near Paringa, said the houseboat industry in Renmark Paringa was “very alive” and had a large economic impact on the region.

Ms Troeth says the Ral Ral Creek boat owners have curated an environmentally friendly neighbourhood which they call home.(ABC News: Sophie Landau)

“[It] brings an awful lot of money into this town by way of tourism,” she said.

“I’ve just been into Renmark yesterday and today, and I’ve spent $500 in there to go up river for a week, and that’s just one boat.

Ms Troeth is in consultation with other houseboat advocacy groups to assess what steps can be taken to reach a resolution for the community.

The Renmark Paringa Council has been contacted for comment.