Fleurieu and KI dog and cat owners are being urged to ensure their pet’s details are up to date in the state-wide register ahead of annual registration renewals.In July renewal notices will be sent to dog and cat owners across the state and, to ensure a renewal notice is received, the Dog and Cat Management Board is calling on pet owners to update or register their information in Dogs and Cats Online this week.In South Australia, all dogs and cats must be desexed, microchipped and registered in Dogs and Cats Online within 14 days of taking ownership if the pet is older than three months.Dog and Cat Management Board Chair David Parkin says it is vital that owners take the time to update details and to register their pets as soon as possible.“If your pet happens to escape, the details on their microchip can be the difference of whether or not they can be returned to you,” he says.“For cats specifically, shelters have reported that 97 per cent of cats can’t be returned because owners have not registered a microchip in Dogs and Cats Online and kept the information up to date.“It is also important to note that, just because your pet is microchipped, it doesn’t automatically mean they are registered in Dogs and Cats Online. Microchip details might be listed on other databases, but in SA it is a requirement for them to be included in Dogs and Cats Online.“We strongly recommend that all pet owners head to Dogs and Cats Online to ensure their pets are registered on the site and that their details are up to date.”Owners will have until August 31 to complete their renewals in Dogs and Cats Online and pay any associated fees, or risk possible late fees.Anyone who needs help to register a dog or cat, contact the local council.The Board’s website has information on the state dog and cat laws, along with tips for potential and current owners.

This week, RSPCA South Australia is featuring two incredibly lovable cats, Cuddles and Ollie, as our Pets of the Week! These two are bonded best friends and are looking for their forever home together. For a limited time, you can adopt them both for just $90.💕 About Cuddles & OllieCuddles (pink nose, female) is the confident one who adores snuggles and loves to look out for her best friend.Ollie (black nose, male) is a little more timid at first, but once he settles in, he turns into a purr machine who loves cuddles and smooches.Together, they’re the perfect pair — affectionate, sweet, and happiest when curled up with their humans, soaking up attention and giving gentle head nudges in return.🏡 Their Ideal Home✅ Adaptable to most home environments ✅ A calm, patient family who can give Ollie time to settle ✅ Must be adopted together ✅ Slow introduction if other pets are in the home (the RSPCA SA cat team can provide advice)📍 Visit Cuddles (AID 195073) & Ollie (AID 195074) at RSPCA South Australia’s O’Halloran Hill animal care campus or learn more at www.rspcasa.org.au.

Biodiversity Victor Harbor will host a Community Planting Festival on The Bluff on Saturday 21 June.The community is invited give as much time as they can spare, between 9am and 3pm,  to help plant 2,500 native seedlings and make The Bluff bloom.Planting will take place next to the lower car park and Rotary Victor Harbor will provide a sausage sizzle for purchase. Tea, coffee and water will also be availableBiodiversity Victor Harbor has partnered with City of Victor Harbor to run the event as part of Whalefest.It has been funded by Bupa and Landcare Australia and is part of the planting of over 80,000 trees and plants across Australia, linking environmental health with community well-being.They say The Bluff Reserve is botanically, culturally and geologically, one of the region’s most significant reserves.Volunteers are asked to register online to help with planning and to find out where to go and what to take along. 

NRMA Insurance and Australian Red Cross will host an EmergencyRediTM Workshop to help Yankalilla residents prepare for extreme weather on Wednesday 18 June at Club Fleurieu.With extreme weather becoming more frequent and severe, Yankalilla residents are encouraged to attend the free workshop to help get prepared.It will provide participants with insights into local weather risks and practical support on how to prepare for an emergency.Research from NRMA Insurance shows a need for greater emergency preparedness as nearly 1 in 4 Australians (23 per cent) do not have a good understanding of extreme weather risks in their local area, and 1 in 3 are not aware of the steps they need to take to prepare for an extreme weather emergency. Additionally, 61 per cent of Australians do not have an emergency plan to help them respond to an extreme weather event.The EmergencyRedi workshops help people learn about local risks and gain useful knowledge and tools to prepare for future emergencies. Attendees build their own award-winning Australian Red Cross emergency RediPlan, which includes key contacts, meeting places, animal plans, key documents, special items, medical information and stress management strategies. The workshop forms part of Help Nation, an initiative created by NRMA Insurance to unite people, communities and organisations across Australia to get prepared and know their local extreme weather risks.The Yankalilla workshop will be held from 2pm to 3.30pm at Club Fleurieu on Main South Road.To register for the Australian Red Cross EmergencyRediTM workshop and learn more about how to get prepared for extreme weather, visit the website.

City of Onkaparinga has been recognised as a Tree City of the World by the Arbor Day Foundation and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), one of 210 internationally.It becomes one of 11 Australian cities honoured by the title, five of which are in South Australia.The international Tree Cities of the World program recognises cities and towns that leverage urban forestry to enhance the liveability and sustainability of their local area. It is jointly operated by FAO, a specialised agency of the United Nations, and the US Arbor Day Foundation and aligns with FAO’s Green Cities initiative, which is designed to strengthen green infrastructure in urban and rural communities. “Tree Cities of the World is more than a recognition program. It’s a rapidly growing global movement, transforming how communities view and value their urban forest,” says Sophie Plitt, program manager at the Arbor Day Foundation. “It goes beyond borders, connecting passionate organisers and tireless tree planters, and uniting them under the shared mission of making our world’s communities healthier places to live.” To earn Tree Cities of the World recognition, a city must uphold five core standards: establish responsibility for the care of trees; enact a law or policy that governs the management of trees and forests; maintain an updated assessment of local tree resources; allocate resources for a tree management plan; and hold an annual celebration of trees to educate local residents. In its newsletter Onkaparinga Now, the City of Onkaparinga says its recent development of a Tree Management Policy to help grow, establish, maintain and protect the hundreds-of-thousands of trees under the council’s care and control helped boost its application for the program. Setting up the One Tree Per Child Onkaparinga community program and tree giveaway events to encourage planting native species on private land also helped.“These initiatives were complemented by the council’s canopy mapping across the city, and achieving 63,000 trees planted towards our target of 100,000 trees in street verges, waterways and parks by 2037.“The council needs to uphold strict standards to maintain its accreditation, and any improvements to the region’s urban forest means Onkaparinga’s people, places and wildlife are better off.“There are a range of benefits to being part of the program on top of the international recognition, including being able to tap into the Tree Cities of the World global network – sharing and adapting best practices for managing urban trees and forests.”Find out more about Tree Cities of the World on the website.

As we head into the weekend, motorists are reminded that mobile speed cameras will be active across the Fleurieu Peninsula and throughout South Australia tomorrow, Friday, June 13.Police continue to monitor key roads as part of ongoing efforts to reduce speeding and keep all road users safe. With many locals and visitors travelling throughout the region and into the city, drivers are urged to stay vigilant, follow speed limits, and drive with care.A full list of mobile speed camera locations for tomorrow has been released. Remember — safe driving helps protect everyone on our roads.Friday, 13 June 2025ADDISON RD, PENNINGTONBAINS RD, MORPHETT VALEBARCELONA RD, NOARLUNGA DOWNSBARTLEY TCE, WEST LAKES SHORECOTTAGE LANE, HACKHAMDAVID WITTON DR, NOARLUNGA CENTREEASTERN PDE, GILLMANFLETCHER RD, BIRKENHEADHARGRAVE ST, BIRKENHEADHILLIER RD, REYNELLAMAIN SOUTH RD, HUNTFIELD HEIGHTSMAIN SOUTH RD, HACKHAMMAIN SOUTH RD, MORPHETT VALEMARLBOROUGH ST, FULHAM GARDENSMCKINNA RD, CHRISTIE DOWNSMILITARY RD, WEST LAKES SHOREO'SULLIVAN BEACH RD, LONSDALEOLD SOUTH RD, OLD REYNELLAPORT RD, QUEENSTOWNRIVER RD, PORT NOARLUNGASAINT VINCENT ST, PORT ADELAIDESOUTHERN EXP, LONSDALETAPLEYS HILL RD, FULHAMVICTORIA RD, PETERHEADVICTORIA RD, LARGS NORTHANZAC RD, PORT PIRIE WESTAUGUSTA HWY, LOCHIELAUGUSTA HWY, SNOWTOWNAUGUSTA HWY, CRYSTAL BROOKAUGUSTA HWY, REDHILLAUGUSTA HWY, NAPPERBYBARRIER HWY, HALLETTBARRIER HWY, HALLETTBARUNGA GAP RD, SNOWTOWNBAY RD, MOUNT GAMBIERCOCKBURN RD, JAMESTOWNCOCKBURN RD, JAMESTOWNCOMMERCIAL EAST ST, MOUNT GAMBIERDUKES HWY, KI KIDUKES HWY, TAILEM BENDDUKES HWY, YUMALIDUKES HWY, TINTINARADUKES HWY, BORDERTOWNDUKES HWY, COONALPYNDUKES HWY, KEITHFARRELL FLAT RD, CLAREGADD AVE, CRYSTAL BROOKGOYDER HWY, CRYSTAL BROOKGREY TCE, PORT PIRIEHURLSTONE ST, PETERBOROUGHMAIN NORTH RD, CLAREMAIN NORTH RD, CLAREMAIN RD, PORT PIRIEMAIN ST, PETERBOROUGHMARY ELIE ST, PORT PIRIEMOPPETT RD, PORT PIRIE WESTMOUNT GAMBIER RD, MILLICENTNORTH TCE, MOUNT GAMBIERPENOLA RD, MOUNT GAMBIERPICK AVE, MOUNT GAMBIERPIGEON FLAT RD, BORDERTOWNPRINCES HWY, MILLICENTQUEENS AVE, MOUNT GAMBIERRIDDOCH HWY, NARACOORTERIDDOCH HWY, PENOLARIDDOCH HWY, COONAWARRARIDDOCH HWY, NANGWARRYSHEPHERDSON RD, MOUNT GAMBIERSOUTHERN PORTS HWY, BEACHPORTSTURT ST, MOUNT GAMBIERSUTTONTOWN RD, MOUNT GAMBIERWANDEARAH RD, PORT PIRIEWANDEARAH RD, PORT PIRIE SOUTHWEHL ST, MOUNT GAMBIERWILKINS HWY, JAMESTOWN

The state Opposition is calling for an independent investigation into the response to the toxic algal bloom that has been detected in waters across South Australia – following the latest detection in the Coorong’s north lagoon.Since the harmful algal bloom was first detected in March, it has caused the death of marine life across the state – prompting concerns from both locals and ecologists who fear it may become a yearly occurrence if the cause is not investigated and determined.Shadow Minister for Environment and Finniss MP David Basham says this environmental disaster has had a devastating impact on aquaculture industries and coastal towns.“We are calling for an independent review into the response to this disaster so that we determine the exact cause and ensure that we’re doing everything we can to prevent more algal blooms in the years to come,” he says.“Locals, in both my electorate and beyond, have been incredibly frustrated at the lack of information about the health and environmental impact of the algal bloom.“If the Environment Minister is suggesting this won’t be the last time we see an algal bloom like this occur, then we need to do everything we can to learn from this incident and improve the response next time.“The Government has a poor track record of investigating itself and any review must be independent of government departments to ensure the public get the answers they deserve.”Mr Basham has written to Environment Minster Susan Close to formally request the investigation.

Police are investigating a serious crash involving three vehicles overnight, following a high-speed incident where one car allegedly failed to stop for police.At around 9pm on Wednesday, June 11, officers detected a white Holden Commodore sedan travelling at a dangerous speed of 146 km/h in a 60 km/h zone along Port Elliot Road, Middleton.Police patrols later sighted the vehicle in Goolwa, where it performed a u-turn. Officers activated their lights and sirens in an attempt to pull the vehicle over, but the driver refused to stop. The pursuit was called off shortly after, as the Commodore entered a 100 km/h zone on Port Elliot Road, heading back towards Middleton.Just minutes later, emergency services were called to the scene of a three-car collision at the intersection of Port Elliot Road and Boettcher Road.The 41-year-old alleged driver of the Commodore sustained serious injuries and was transported to hospital. A 65-year-old woman from Goolwa South, driving a Land Rover that rolled in the crash, also required hospital treatment. Both are reported to have non-life-threatening injuries.The third driver, a 35-year-old man from Goolwa North, was uninjured after his vehicle was clipped during the incident.All vehicles involved were towed from the scene, and the roadway has since been cleared and reopened to traffic.Police investigations are ongoing. Charges are expected to be laid against the driver of the Commodore for multiple driving offences.

The future of Port Stanvac is set to take shape with the public release of the site’s Master Plan, outlining a vision for the redevelopment of Adelaide’s southern coastline. The state government says this milestone heralds the next phase in transforming the former oil refinery into a thriving community hub, blending homes, businesses and open spaces while restoring public access to the coast. The development will return the site of the fomer oil refinery to the community and see Port Stanvac redeveloped area for a mix of housing, business and community services.City of Onkaparinga Mayor Moira Were has welcomed the announcement.“The transformation of Port Stanvac is a unique, one-off opportunity to drive new economic, social and environmental benefits to Onkaparinga and the state. “Following years of advocacy from the council, community and local businesses, we’re focused on working with the state government and MAB to ensure Onkaparinga’s wishes are front of mind to deliver a balance of affordable housing, industrial land supply and open space, including access to the stunning coastline.” Around 8,000 people are expected to be able to live in the new Port Stanvac, with an expected economic boost to the local community of $508 million. The release of the Master Plan coincides with the initiation of a new code amendment that will allow planning to proceed on the development site. It seeks to officially unlock the 230-hectare area, allowing for up to 3,600 new residential dwellings, including a mix of apartments, townhouses, aged care, serviced accommodation as well as low density allotments. Approximately 64 hectares of the area will be dedicated to employment uses, including retail and commercial uses within a neighbourhood centre. The development will also unlock 40 hectares of coastline, with plans to preserve sensitive environmental areas. More than 30 per cent of the site is planned to become open space. Reynell MP Katrine Hildyard says the release of this master plan is the start of what will be a significant redevelopment for the southern community. “This proposal opens up one of the most beautiful coastal locations in South Australia. It will be welcomed by O’Sullivan Beach and other nearby residents who have long advocated for access to this stunning beach, as well as for more green space and sporting fields, and housing for their kids and grandkids." Port Stanvac is close to major transport routes with Lonsdale/ Dyson Road and the Seaford train line including the Lonsdale train station, located immediately east of the site.

City of Victor Harbor’s Active Wellbeing Program will offer two free yoga and dance activities at Carrickalinga House on Saturday 21 June.To celebrate International Yoga Day, there will be three yoga sessions at 9.15am, 11.15am and 4pm.The first session is a gentle Hatha yoga class; session two is chair yoga and meditation; while session three will comprise flow, yin and relaxation.It’s all about connection — to self, others, and the wider world – so everyone, from complete beginners to experienced practitioners are welcome to join in.The evening will see a DJ and dance session at 6pm, featuring free-form mindful movement and dance guided by music.Bookings are essential on the council website to secure a place. 

Kangaroo Island Council is inviting community input on its 2025/26 Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget, which is now open for public consultation until 5pm, Tuesday 1 July.It says the draft plan outlines a realistic and responsible approach to fiscal repair, with the council implementing a multi-year budget stabilisation plan to strengthen long-term financial sustainability. The plan focuses on delivering essential services and community infrastructure while reducing debt, limiting expenditure, and adopting lean operational practices over the next two years, all while keeping the proposed 4 per cent rate increase for the 2025/26 financial year among the lowest in the state.“I’m committed to leading Council through this period of fiscal discipline,” says CEO Daryl Buckingham. “Our focus must be on reducing debt, streamlining services, and ensuring every dollar delivers value for the community. The 2025–2026 Annual Business Plan provides a pathway toward a more financially sustainable future, without compromising what matters most to Islanders.”To help residents better understand the proposed plan and contribute to the discussion, the council will host an informal session on Thursday 26 June at Kingscote Town Hall from 5.30pm. The community is encouraged to attend, speak directly with council staff and elected councillors, and ask questions in a relaxed, one-on-one setting.“These are important conversations, and we’re committed to working openly with residents throughout this process,” Mr Buckingham says.Mayor Michael Pengilly says, “Kangaroo Island is facing some tough financial decisions, but by working together, we can build a stronger, more sustainable Council. Community feedback is crucial to getting this right.”Topics expected to generate interest include:The proposed rate movement and its implications.Council’s debt reduction strategy.Long-term goals for financial sustainability.Planned capital and operational projects.For those unable to attend in person, the session will also be accessible online via Microsoft Teams.Feedback can also be submitted online.

The 2025-26 State Budget has provided welcome funding for some important road upgrades, according to the RAA, but road maintenance funding remains insufficient to address South Australia’s growing $2 billion backlog.The State Budget has allocated funding for a number of road and transport projects, including:$125 million to progress the High Productivity Vehicle Route which includes the Adelaide Hills Freight Bypass.$125 million to fund the $250 million Curtis Road level crossing removal project.$40m to fund the $80m upgrade of Main South Road between Myponga and Yankalilla.$110m road safety package including additional funding for road safety maintenance and safety cameras.$20.7m over four years to reduce public transport fares for students.$12.5 million to make on-demand bus services permanent in Mount Barker. RAA Chief Executive Officer Nick Reade says while these road and infrastructure projects are welcome, it appears South Australia’s $2 billion road maintenance backlog will continue to increase.“Ahead of this state budget, we called for $1 billion over four years to begin tackling our $2 billion road maintenance backlog which amounts to more than 2,500 km of our road network,” Mr Reade says.“That means the condition of our roads will continue to deteriorate, resulting in more potholes, crumbling shoulders and cracks that cause a risk to safety and wear and tear on vehicles.RAA has also welcomed the decision to make on-demand bus services permanent in Mount Barker, which has been a long-held advocacy position for RAA, but says it should be extended to the Fleurieu.“The on-demand bus service has been extremely popular in Mount Barker and RAA has been calling for some time to make this service permanent.“RAA continues to call on the Government to trial on-demand services in other regional and outer suburb regions like Victor Harbor and Goolwa.”

A man has been injured after a serious crash at Currency Creek on Monday evening.Just after 9pm Monday 9 June, police and emergency services were called to Alexandrina Road, Currency Creek after reports that a car had crashed into a tree.The driver, a 20-year-old man from Goolwa Beach, suffered life threatening injuries and was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition.Alexandrina Road was closed for several hours while Major Crash investigators examined the scene, however, has since re-opened.The man's car was towed from the scene for examination.

The state government has secured the future of marine research in South Australia with $44 million committed in the 2025–26 State Budget for a new state-of-the-art coastal research vessel.  The new 37.7-metre coastal research vessel will support a wide range of marine research, including fisheries, aquaculture, climate science, oceanography and significant marine events such as the Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) that is currently affecting South Australia. The vessel will be equipped with advanced sensors and technology, enabling the collection of critical data, which will significantly contribute to addressing known data gaps in national databases and enhancing oceanographic forecast models. It will also play a crucial role in deploying and maintaining coastal observing platforms, including moorings that can be equipped with advanced sensors designed to detect HABs, which will help guide effective response strategies. Equipped with hi-tech oceanographic tools, the vessel will also allow for collection of water samples and comprehensive data from various depths throughout the water column. It is funded through a $44 million commitment, comprising $25.35 million in State funding matched with $19 million from the Commonwealth Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy. It will enable the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), the research division of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, to progress into procurement and design, with construction expected to begin in 2027.  Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven says the state’s marine industries and coastal environment are vital to the economy and way of life. “This new vessel will enable world-class research to support our $477 million fisheries and aquaculture industries, expand our knowledge of the oceans, and strengthen our capacity to respond to climate change, biosecurity threats, and marine events like the algal bloom currently impacting South Australian waters.  “This is a once-in-a-generation investment that will benefit South Australia and the broader southern Australian research community for decades to come.”The new vessel will replace the 40-year-old MRV Ngerin, which has undertaken over 500 voyages but is now unable to meet the growing demands of modern marine science. The vessel will be the only dedicated coastal research vessel operating in southern Australia east of Esperance, giving South Australia a competitive edge in attracting national projects, research collaborations and supporting the development of the ‘blue economy’. Once operational, the vessel is expected to support over 200 days at sea each year, providing critical infrastructure for agencies, universities, and industry across the nation, and strengthening South Australia’s reputation for world-leading marine science. It is anticipated to be operational by late 2029.

Kangaroo Island Council is calling on the community to help celebrate the remarkable contributions of the Island’s youth, with nominations now open for the 2025 Kangaroo Island Young Achiever of the Year Award.The award recognises outstanding young people aged 12 to 25 who are making a positive impact across a range of areas including volunteering, sport, education, science, culture, the arts and the environment.Mayor Michael Pengilly says recognising the achievements of young people is an important part of building a strong and connected community.“Kangaroo Island is home to many inspiring young people who are already stepping up as leaders, innovators and community contributors,” he says.“This award is a chance for us to acknowledge their efforts and celebrate the bright future they represent for our Island.”Nominees must be residents of Kangaroo Island and can be nominated individually or as part of a group. A nominator and an independent referee are required as part of the nomination process.Nominations close at 5pm on Wednesday 25 June. Find nomination forms and further details on the council website.

The storm in late May and subsequent wintry weather has dissipated some of the algal bloom affecting the south coast and Kangaroo Island, but it has also now spread to the Coorong.Testing of water in the Coorong North Lagoon has confirmed the presence of the Karenia strain of algae.The testing, conducted by the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) and Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), shows the algae is present in the between Seven Mile Basin and Long Point.Experts believe the current Karenia algae strain flowed through the Murray Mouth and into the lagoon during the May 26 storm and May 27 high tide.The Karenia mikimotoi algae has been detected in numerous locations along the Fleurieu Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island since March this year.The agencies will test the water in the Coorong weekly to understand how the situation is developing and to inform any potential future management options.“The composition of the Coorong means that it flows naturally to the open Murray Mouth and vice versa when high ocean tides can enter the lagoon.“This current algal bloom is constantly changing, meaning that its spread and dissipation is dictated by the weather and ocean conditions.“The dynamic nature of the algae means its effect on people, coastal industries and the ecosystem is unpredictable.“Unfortunately, there is no feasible method to dilute or dissipate the bloom.”PIRSA has issued an update on the way the bloom is affecting Kangaroo Island and the south coast, saying sea surface temperatures have stabilised across shallow coastal and gulf waters.It says daily satellite measures of chlorophyll-a levels, an indicator of algae concentrations, have decreased in some areas but have increased off the southeastern tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula from Tunkalilla to Victor Harbour, and in a small hotspot observed near Goolwa and the Murray Mouth.DEW Strategic Projects Director Grant Pelton says the connectiveness of the Coorong to the ocean had numerous environmental benefits but also came with its risks.“The state government agencies involved will continue to monitor the algal bloom in the Coorong and the rest of the state.“While we can hope that water temperatures continue to drop and prevent the algae from growing in the ocean, the Coorong’s unique low water flow makes it more difficult to dissipate and there is a possibility that the algal bloom remains there for some time.“Discussions about the flushing of the North Lagoon will be considered, however there are positive and negative ramifications for the river’s ecology, all of which will need to be carefully considered by the experts.”The Coorong region remains open. Visitors are advised to check signage and avoid contact with discoloured water, foamy water, or water where marine life is dead or in poor health.For the latest updates on the harmful algae bloom, visit the DEW website.

City of Onkaparinga will hold its annual community tree giveaway and family fun afternoon on next Sunday 15 June at the Aldinga Community Centre.This year the council ran a trial for pre-registration for up to four free native trees for Onkaparinga households, local community groups and small businesses.Held in April, to coincide with Earth Day, the pre-registration was fully subscribed within a week with 1,000 available trees allocated.Lucky tree huggers can collect their tube stock trees by presenting their tickets between 2pm and 3pm.Everyone interested in native trees is welcome to attend, even if they missed out on the allocation, as there will also be entertainment and educational activities.These include a performance from Drumming Monkeys; free nature-themed kids’ activities and face painting; a pollinator workshop; expert tree planting advice; and community garden tours.If any trees are not collected they will be made available to people who may have missed out, between 3pm and 4pm.The tubestock trees have been grown by Trees for Life volunteers using local remnant seed and Arborgreen will provide free tree guards and stakes.One Tree Per Child Onkaparinga is a partnership between the council, One Tree Per Child, Green Adelaide, Arborgreen and Trees For Life.  Find out more on the council website.

Inspection fees will be waived for South Australian farmers importing fodder from interstate amid ongoing drought conditions. In recognition of the hardship being felt by many, South Australian farmers will not have to pay the $167 hourly fee usually required for inspections of incoming fodder to ensure it does not contain any pests such as Red Imported Fire Ants and Green Snail. Red Imported Fire Ants are one of the world’s worst invasive species and have infested parts of New South Wales and Queensland. Green Snail, from certain areas of Western Australia and Victoria, also poses a risk to South Australian producers. Biosecurity inspections are critical to protecting South Australia against these pests, which, if established, would have significant ongoing challenges for farmers. Biosecurity inspections will continue to occur, with no cost to drought affected farmers. Rebates will be available for inspection fees paid since November 2024, when the first drought package was announced. Details will be available on the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) website.Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven says times are incredibly tough and the fee relief will help support farmers through this difficult time. “It is critically important that biosecurity inspections continue and everyone complies with the requirements to protect our producers from the economic risk that results from the introduction of new pests.“ PIRSA’s Biosecurity division has been working with peak commodity groups such as Livestock SA and the South Australian Dairyfarmers’ Association to facilitate movement of hay into South Australia while still protecting our crucial biosecurity. PIRSA has also been working with all charities and associations involved in bringing hay into the state through the Donated Fodder Transport Drought Assistance Scheme to ensure compliance with biosecurity regulations. The scheme is part of the state government’s $73 million Drought Support Package and has seen thousands of tonnes of fodder delivered to farmers across the state with more deliveries to come. For more information on drought support visit the PIRSA website. 

RAA is urging safety on the state’s roads ahead of a wet and windy June long weekend – especially for those travelling throughout the regions.The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast showers and high winds over the weekend and a possible thunderstorm on Monday 9 June for the southern Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island.RAA says crash data shows drivers are more likely to hit roadside objects like trees and stobie poles in wet conditions – with ‘hit fixed object’ crashes accounting for 44 per cent of all wet weather crashes on high-speed roads.This compares with 28 per cent of dry weather crashes on those roads.Pedestrian crashes resulting in a serious injury or fatality increase by 43 per cent during winter compared to the rest of the year.In the five years between 2019-23, 130 crashes resulted in a pedestrian being seriously injured or killed during winter.RAA Senior Manager Road Safety Charles Mountain says drivers hitting the road for the long weekend should prepare for longer stopping distances and lower visibility.“The June long weekend brings with it additional challenges on our roads,” Mr Mountain says.“When the road is wet, the proportion of crashes involving drivers losing control and hitting roadside objects increases, so take extra care if you’re behind the wheel.“Cyclists and pedestrians should use designated crossing facilities where available to ensure they’re seen from a distance.“Make sure you turn your headlights on if it’s dark or the rain is reducing visibility don’t rely on the auto –on function.“Drive to the conditions and reduce your speed when there are potential hazards like curves or people near the road.”Mr Mountain says now is a good time to conduct some vehicle checks including headlights and tail lights, tyre tread (at least 1.5mm across the entire tyre width), windscreen wipers and engine oil.