The City of Onkaparinga has welcomed recent state and federal commitments to help coastal communities and businesses respond to the harmful algal bloom currently affecting Gulf St Vincent, and has called for local government voices to be included in further action.

The call comes as Acting Mayor Lauren Jew and Cr Gretel Wilkes, in her role as chair of the Adelaide Coastal Councils Network, visit Canberra as part of a delegation to urge Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to commit to extra measures.

The delegation also met with Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie and other South Australian MPs from across the political spectrum of Parliament.

Acting Mayor Lauren Jew says the funding so far is a good step toward acknowledging the wide-ranging impact of the bloom across local communities, businesses, and the environment.

“Tourism and sustainability are at the heart of Onkaparinga’s offering, but this harmful algal bloom has disrupted our economy, our community, and our coastal environment.

“We’re encouraged to see governments stepping up with support, because our residents, surf schools, dive operators, fishers, tour providers, and hospitality businesses are all feeling the strain.

“What’s most important now is that we work together – federal, state and local government alongside community – to deliver programs and projects that will make a real difference.”

The City of Onkaparinga and neighbouring councils have outlined practical measures as next steps that deliver both short and long-term outcomes, including:

• Tourism and coastal businesses – further emergency small business grants to offset immediate revenue losses, as well as the deferral of tax obligations such as BAS and PAYG payments to ease short-term cash flow press.
• Mental health and community resilience – directing the much welcomed $4m federal funding to grants that support equipment and training for residents in citizen science coastal monitoring activities such as Community Plankton Counters. These initiatives give residents—particularly young people – meaningful ways to channel concern into positive action.
• Coastal resilience and natural infrastructure – scaling up long-term ecological monitoring, including establishing comprehensive, long-term monitoring and baseline data collection for the Great Southern Reef.

“It’s fantastic to see commitment to natural infrastructure such as more artificial shellfish reefs, which build on projects like the O’Sullivan Beach shellfish reef that relied on collaboration between all levels of government,” Acting Mayor Jew says.

“We’re asking that the state and federal government work with us to build on the momentum they have created.

“This is about safeguarding both the Onkaparinga coastline and South Australia’s broader blue economy.

“Together, we can support affected businesses and communities while building long-term resilience for generations to come.

“All affected SA councils are united and ready to roll up our sleeves alongside state and federal governments to deliver positive change where it matters most.”

The Great Southern Reef Harmful Algal Bloom Delegation to Canberra includes:

• Mayor Amanda Wilson, City of Holdfast Bay
• Mayor Heather Holmes-Ross, City of Mitcham/LGA South Australia
• Mayor Claire Boan, City of Port Adelaide Enfield
• Mayor Angela Evans, City of Charles Sturt
• Mayor Diana Mislov, City of Port Lincoln
• Acting Mayor Lauren Jew, City of Onkaparinga
• Acting Mayor Richard Carruthers, Yorke Peninsula Council
• Mayor Paul Simmons, Coorong District Council
• Councillor Gretel Wilkes, Adelaide Coastal Councils Network
• Dr Georgina Wood, Flinders University
• Professor Charlie Huveneers, Flinders University
• Stefan Andrews, Great Southern Reef Foundation
• Zoe Doubleday, Marine Ecologist
• Shaun De Bruyn, TicSA