The announcement on whether or not works would commence was expected this week, but the Minister for the River Murray, Karlene Maywald, announced on Tuesday the decision will be “reassessed” in two months’ time.

“Every month, the SA Government analyses seasonal forecasts and advice from the Murray Darling Basin Authority to take into account the impacts on the Lower Lakes,” she said.

“Decisions such as the recent decision to cease pumping into Lake Albert also impact on whether we need to build the weir or not.”

She said the decision on the building of the weir will depend on rainfall from SA and interstate over the coming months.

“Reassessing the situation at the end of August will give us enough time to determine how the winter season is unfolding and whether rainfall and inflows are going to be sufficient to improve the current critical drought situation.”

Ms Maywald remains adamant the weir is an emergency measure, and not something the government actually wants to build.

“But in the event we are unable to secure sufficient freshwater flows, we must have contingency plans in place to protect supplies.

She says the state government will be taking the next steps to secure approvals for the weir, should it prove to be required, and will be forwarding a response document to the Federal Government on submissions received during the weir’s Environmental Impact Survey (EIS) process in March and April.

The EIS for the proposed weir was released on March 12 and information session were held in the region.

Once the state government release the supplementary document, the Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has 40 working days to make a decision.