SA councils get $19m for flood recovery

Some places received more than 200 millimetres of rain within 24 hours in January, with downpours and flooding widespread. Meteorologists described the deluge as a one-in-200 year weather event.

The state government says it will also increase its level of assistance to individuals from an original 75 per cent of the total cost under guidelines, to 90 per cent.

Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham says the upgrade follows disaster recovery assistance being made available to 14 local government areas.

These were in northern, central and western parts of South Australia, with the funds jointly provided under Commonwealth-state disaster recovery arrangements.

"Recent severe weather has seen widespread damage across parts of South Australia causing significant disruptions to key transport routes and local communities," Mr Basham said in a statement on Saturday.

"I visited the Eyre Peninsula to see firsthand the extent of the damage and this extra support will enable these local councils to immediately undertake critical repair works.

"In some cases, there has been water over roads two weeks after the event, roads that are impassable or that have been washed away completely."

Member for Flinders Peter Treloar says the extra money will be welcomed.

"With seeding activities due to start on the Eyre Peninsula in the coming months it's critical for local farming communities to have road access restored," he said.

"This extra funding will be a significant help and will allow important recovery work to start as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, repairs have been completed across 300 kilometres of rail line between Adelaide and Tarcoola, restoring freight routes through SA into both Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation says the repairs involved 100 staff working separate shifts around the clock for 24 days to restore 18 separate breaks.