Police are seeking information from the public after a building site in McLaren Vale was broken into and electrical cable was stolen.About 1.30 pm Thursday 26 June two unknown men have entered the site at Strout Road and McMurtrie Road.The suspects have cut up and stolen a large quantity of electrical cable from the site before leaving in a silver Volkswagen sedan.Police are investigating the incident. You can anonymously provide information to Crime Stoppers online or free call 1800 333 000Reference 25-89M

City of Onkaparinga will begin repair works on the storm-damaged Port Noarlunga Jetty early this week, with the aim of reopening it to the public as soon as possible.The jetty sustained significant damage during recent storm events, prompting an immediate closure to ensure public safety.The council says an engineering assessment has since confirmed the need to replace several structural elements, including girders, cross beams, decking and kickboards.To minimise delays, it fast-tracked procurement of the necessary hardwood materials, which have a lead time of approximately four weeks.It also engaged a specialist marine contractor to confirm availability and work through construction methodology, given the risks associated with marine infrastructure repairs.The council is aiming for completion of priority works by the end of August, weather permitting.Built in 1921, the Port Noarlunga jetty is a state government asset leased to the council.Under the lease agreement, the Department of Infrastructure and Transport covers the cost of major storm repairs, with the council contributing the first $18,000.Additional repairs identified in the engineering report will be scoped as part of the council’s 2025–26 Project and Capital Works program.These include repair of several jetty pylons – a project already in early planning stages before the recent storms.The council says this future work is currently being designed for delivery in early 2026, outside the peak summer period, to minimise disruption.

As we head into the new week, motorists are reminded that mobile speed cameras will be active across the Fleurieu Peninsula and throughout South Australia tomorrow, Monday June 30.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.ALDERSHOT RD, LONSDALEALDINGA BEACH RD, ALDINGA BEACHBALOO ST, INGLE FARMBEOVICH RD, INGLE FARMBLACKS RD, GILLES PLAINSBRIAR RD, FELIXSTOWDYSON RD, CHRISTIES BEACHELIZABETH RD, MORPHETT VALEFREMANTLE RD, PORT NOARLUNGA SOUTHGAGE ST, FIRLEGORGE RD, ATHELSTONEGRAND JUNCTION RD, HOPE VALLEYGRAVES ST, NEWTONGRIFFITHS DR, MOANAGULF PDE, MASLIN BEACHHILLIER RD, MORPHETT VALEMAIN SOUTH RD, MORPHETT VALEMAIN SOUTH RD, OLD NOARLUNGAMCLAREN FLAT RD, KANGARILLAMORROW RD, LONSDALENORTH EAST RD, ST AGNESNORTH EAST RD, MODBURYSHERRIFFS RD, MORPHETT VALESTRADBROKE RD, ATHELSTONEWANDANA AVE, GILLES PLAINS

Farming with a difference: inspiring sustainability through educationWords Tahney Fosdike - Thanks to Coast Lines magazineEmma Gilbert runs The Farm Clarendon - a successful commercial poultry hatchery – and is a finalist for the SA Rural Women’s Award 2025. She recalls getting the keys for what was then a rundown old farmhouse on a 40°C day.“It’s a special memory that I won’t ever forget—I didn’t know how incredible a journey this farm would take me on from that moment on,” she says. “It’s really inspiring to look back almost six years from when we started to how it’s grown and what we’ve developed and built from scratch.”Emma credits span agriculture, education, and sustainability and her achievements don’t stop with The Farm; she has also developed an innovative app, IncubatePro, and leads other entrepreneurial initiatives inspired by her love for regional life.Living in the country isn’t a novelty for Emma, who was raised in Victor Harbor and lived in the southeast for a short time, with some of her upbringing spent on a vineyard. She met her partner, Ryan French, through mutual friends in their rural hometown of Victor Harbor. “I was 19, and I haven’t looked back since. He’s come on every journey and crazy idea I throw at him. I’m a very left-brained creative person. He’s a very type A perfectionist,” she says. The couple has been together for 13 years.Emma says that while she was always interested in animals, she didn’t achieve the scores needed to train as a vet. She has a background in marketing, while Ryan has worked for the Metropolitan Fire Service. Her passion for animals and agriculture has always remained strong—leading to the purchase of their dream eight-hectare property in Clarendon in their early 20s.“We couldn’t have pictured a better spot. It has the best of both worlds for us,” she says, speaking about the property’s position between Adelaide and the Fleurieu Peninsula. “We’re chalk and cheese, but work very well together. It’s good to keep each other on our toes. Now, we’re just creating this empire of hairy cows and crazy chickens.” The pair began the mammoth renovation and infrastructure project while still in full-time jobs. They later transitioned to focus solely on their sustainable farming and heritage livestock business, all while starting a family—a journey that has had its challenges.“We wake up, start our day, do the rounds, make sure all the animals are fed, collect eggs, check, pack, and send orders,” she says of their daily lives. “I can be going to schools teaching workshops or educational sessions around IncubatePro, or run a Cuddle a Cow session. It varies depending on the weather, bookings, season and orders coming through the door.” “Farming is not easy,” Emma says. “There’s storm damage, livestock loss and rapid business growth. When you’re a small operation, like us, it’s also tricky to make sure everyone–including our customers–is happy.”Their farming venture isn’t just about getting the job done—it’s underpinned by a passion to care for and preserve the land and its ecosystems.“We are the next generation of doers, thinkers, and caretakers of this land,” Emma says.The couple focuses on poultry breeding and produce, selling 80 varieties of heritage chickens and ducks and hatching tens of thousands of eggs annually, while also finding ways to share their passion with the community.This includes developing IncubatePro, a tool Emma created, while still working full-time, to manage hatchlings amidst her busy schedule. “It was designed to help anyone hatch anything from an egg,” she says, explaining that the app tracks and monitors poultry egg hatchings, guides users through the embryo development process and teaches them about farming and sustainability.IncubatePro has been rolled out as an educational tool, with over 100 students across multiple schools in Australia using the app. But the impact has been far-reaching, with users in the United States using it to hatch reptiles.“It’s bizarre to think my app is helping alligators hatch,” Emma laughs.Her agricultural digital innovation also extends to social media—with over 30,000 people following The Farm Clarendon’s Instagram page.“It’s our point of difference,” she says. “Without social media, we wouldn’t have a business. Many farmers are scared to use it; they don’t understand it or are not confident. All I can say to new businesses, whether in agriculture or not, is to embrace social media in a way you feel comfortable with.”“Don’t just follow the trends. Create your own style, which is what we’ve done on The Farm. No one’s done what we’ve done before.“Just be authentic.”For Emma, doing agricultural life a little differently also extends into the offline: the business is known for its rainbow eggs and brightly coloured flowers, and Emma spends time consulting at schools and teaching students about chicken care, as well as hosting workshops and demonstrations on the farm. There’s also the beloved ‘Cuddle a Cow’ experience—a community-oriented hour-long session for up to six people to get up close and personal with Highland cattle and get a taste of the mental health benefits of rural life.Emma’s love for agricultural education and advocacy for eco-friendly farming practices led to her becoming a finalist in the SA Rural Women’s Award, alongside three other inspiring South Australian women: Marie Ellul (Adelaide), Annabelle Homer (Clare Valley) and Kelly Johnson (Murraylands).“It’s a privilege and honour to be selected as a finalist,” Emma says. “The women who are part of it are incredible humans. The alumni will also be a great asset in my network to bounce ideas off. I’m excited to be part of it. Even though I’m not a winner, there’s exciting opportunities that will come from it.”The award has encouraged her to continue to leverage her work and inspire more people to embrace agriculture, including the expansion of IncubatePro. “I really want to bring more advanced features like bloodline tracking and fertility tracking on a commercial and breeder scale,” she says.Anyone interested in having their own food source can download the app, Emma says, also suggesting they can start a veggie patch. “You don’t need a lot of space to be more self-sufficient.” She says that she and Ryan want to help everyone, even those who don't plan to live on a farm, to live more environmentally conscious lives. Beyond practicalities, Emma believes grit and determination are essential for entering agriculture and living more sustainably—two qualities she credits for achieving what she has at The Farm.“We’re not tenth-generation chicken farmers,” she says. “There’s no blueprint for what we’re doing—we’re really reinventing the wheel.”She hopes that through these ventures and values, she can inspire others to also connect with the land, embrace its opportunities and live more sustainable lives.

Nunga Screen will kick off NAIDOC celebrations in Alexandrina at Centenary Hall on Thursday 3 July.It celebrates First Nations’ culture, stories and language through film; sharing stories of history, healing, belonging, community and connection to Country.The program features short films from First Nations filmmakers, including Ngarrindjeri man Josh Trevorrow’s Kumarangk – The Hindmarsh Island Bridge.Family friendly films will screen from 7pm to 7.45pm, with general viewing from 8pm to 9pm.Nunga Screen is free to attend and no booking is required. View the full program online.NAIDOC celebrations will conclude with a family fun day at Ratalang on Sunday 13 July from 10am to 2pm.The free event at Basham's Beach Conservation Park, in Port Elliot, will include music, kids activities, weaving, a smoking ceremony and food.This year’s NAIDOC theme is The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy; celebrating the achievements of the past and the bright future ahead. Find out more about NAIDOC on the website. 

Final master plans for the Cape Jervis and Penneshaw harbour precincts have been released, with a vision to deliver local benefits while meeting region-wide needs according to the state government.It says the master plans have been informed by extensive engagement with the community and key stakeholders, along with technical analysis, to help guide decisions and ensure both harbour precincts are well prepared for the future.Port upgrades for Cape Jervis and Penneshaw are currently underway to increase the facilities’ lifespan, support continued ferry services between Kangaroo Island and the mainland, and to accommodate Sealink’s new ferries. The port upgrades will also allow for future freight growth.Two options have been developed for the Cape Jervis master plan, capable of being delivered over multiple stages. The Cape Jervis master plan also incorporates key recommendations from a more detailed Cape Jervis parking and traffic study.Elements of the Cape Jervis master plan include a new link road with Main South Road, improved long-term car and truck parking, and a larger boat ramp with multiple launch lanes and pontoons to accommodate recreational and commercial boaters.Proposed public realm improvements aim to entice visitors beyond the ferry terminal to lookouts, new cultural spaces, the Heysen Trail and harbour attractions, with new and upgraded paths and loop trails, and a comfortable pedestrian arrival plaza near the ferry terminal.Cultural reflection and sharing spaces will reflect the important and active Ngarrindjeri culture and values of the Cape Jervis area.Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tom Koutsantonis says Cape Jervis and Penneshaw harbours are important places for locals and visitors and play significant roles in South Australia's tourism and agriculture industries. “They play key roles in moving goods and people on and off Kangaroo Island."We recognise the importance of ensuring the actions in the Cape Jervis and Penneshaw master plans are well-suited to each harbour precinct and reflect the community and the region’s priorities, while meeting the needs of the diverse range of people who use these areas."Engagement with stakeholders and the community was a key aspect of the planning process to inform the master plans. It allowed us to gather valuable local insights that helped refine and improve various elements of the draft plans."Through the master planning process, we committed to finding a viable replacement for the Cape Jervis jetty that was removed as part of the port upgrade."We’re now exploring options to deliver a new fishing platform that will provide anglers with a similar fishing experience to the previous jetty."The actions in these master plans will ensure both precincts best serve locals and visitors well into the future."The Penneshaw master plan includes improvements such as an upgraded heavy vehicle marshalling area, intersection safety and car park upgrades, and a redesign of the coach parking area.It also includes improved pedestrian access and a new footpath to the jetty, safety improvements to reduce potential conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians, and enhancements to public spaces.Also included is a Penneshaw ‘infinity walking loop’, providing a walking route around Penneshaw town centre, connecting to local points of interest and minimising interaction with ferry traffic.The master plans will be used to inform future funding considerations and opportunities for these projects to be delivered.To view the master plans, please visit the DIT website.

South Coast Chamber Orchestra will hold a charity concert at the Victor Harbor Lutheran Church this Sunday 29 June.It will run from 2.30pm to 3.30pm with the theme ‘Our Favourites'; funds raised go to support the Encounter Community Centre.The community string orchestra is based in Mount Compass and has been performing across the Fleurieu for more than 30 years.Tickets at the door cost $10 for adults, $7.50 concession, with children 12 and under free.Find out more about South Coast Chamber Orchestra on its website.

There are more than 22,000 legitimate dams in the Mount Lofty Ranges, but high-resolution aerial imagery has identified around 400 new dams that have been illegally constructed in the last 10 years, and around 300 existing dams that have been illegally enlarged.As a result, the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board is increasing efforts to educate land managers about their water management responsibilities, and working to remove illegal dams so water can get to legitimate users.General Manager Michael Garrod says this is of particular concern given there has been a moratorium on building new dams in the area since 2013.“Water catchments in the Mount Lofty Ranges were under stress even before the current drought, and this illegal water storage will worsen the situation. These new dams will reduce water availability for legitimate water users, including rural landholders, industries, primary producers, and the environment,” he says.“Capturing water in an illegal dam amounts to water theft. When more dams are built or enlarged, less water flows downstream, and that can leave legitimate water users struggling to meet their domestic and primary production needs.“It also means that vulnerable aquatic ecosystems are robbed of the water they need to survive. We could see the local extinction of many threatened species, like the southern pygmy perch and the mountain galaxias, if they don’t receive the water they need.“With climate change resulting in the region facing drier and more variable conditions, fair and responsible water management is more important than ever. All land managers planning work in a watercourse or on a dam should be obtaining development approval or a water affecting activity permit.“This system exists to ensure fair distribution of available water and protect the environment,” Mr Garrod says.Compliance officers are reviewing dams across the Adelaide Hills and southern Fleurieu to identify those built or enlarged without approval. While several hundred illegal dams have been identified, some are linked to single landholders who have built multiple dams. Mr Garrod says  overall, most landholders are doing the right thing.“Given the seriousness of the issue, the state government has provided additional funding to support our increased education and compliance efforts.“We want to work with land managers to ensure they have the right information and advice to meet their legal responsibilities. Encouragingly, most landholders contacted by our compliance team so far are taking the necessary steps to address any issues.“If a dam has been built or enlarged without authorisation, or if there’s uncertainty about whether it is compliant, we encourage land managers to discuss the matter with us. We’ll work together to achieve the best outcome for everybody.”Where a landholder refuses to voluntarily rectify an illegal activity they can be compelled to act, and risk penalties if they do not.“To strengthen our monitoring, we’re also developing an automated satellite imagery ‘change detection system’, which will allow us to quickly identify new and enlarged dams,” Mr Garrod says.For more information visit the Landscape SA website.

Finniss MP David Basham has paid tribute to the dairy industry, globally and locally, while celebrating World Milk Day. A former dairy farmer, Mr Basham praised the dairy industry for its vital role in agriculture, diet, technology and in advancing the economy of rural communities worldwide during a motion to the House of Assembly in Parliament last week. “Dairy is the third largest rural industry in Australia. It produces 8.376 billion litres, worth about $6.2 billion. There are just under 4,000 dairy farmers nationally, 1.3 million cows and the industry across the country employs over 31,000 people.” Mr Basham also highlighted the export power of Australia’s dairy industry with over 257,000 tonnes of dairy products going to China and Japan each year, and South Australia contributing a significant amount of that.  “We have a wonderful dairy industry here and bat above our weight in cow production. In South Australia, we have gone from just under 3,200 litres per cow per year to what is now the highest in the country of nearly 7,400 litres per cow annually. South Australia has very much taken the lead in being able to get efficiency from cows and turning feed into large volumes of milk.”  Mr Basham said technological advancements have had a particular impact on the local industry where dairy farmers can now collect huge amounts of data to monitor and manage milk yields and assess the health of their cows. “I think one of the most exciting things that we are seeing in the industry is the adoption of robotics into dairy farming. I had the privilege of recently opening a new robotic dairy in Mount Compass, owned by the Jacobs and Hicks families. Many other farms in South Australia, and throughout the world, are heading in this direction.” Several members spoke to the World Milk Day motion in State Parliament, including Treasurer, the Hon. Stephen Mullighan MP who thanked Mr Basham for bringing the motion to the House of Assembly and for his ongoing strong support of the dairy industry. “I want to put on record my personal thanks, as well as the government’s appreciation for the advocacy and the effort that the member for Finniss has put in to raise the government’s attention to dairy farmers issues.”     

May’s destructive storms wreaked havoc across the region and District Council of Yankalilla has counted the toll on jetties and other coastal infrastructure along the Fleurieu Coast.Very high tides, strong winds and heavy surf impacted jetties, causeways and beach stairs at  Normanville, Carrickalinga, Second Valley, Rapid Bay, Myponga Beach and Cape Jervis. In conjunction with Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) the council has been assess the damage, make safe through interim measures, begin the clean-up and plan for the repairs needed to safely restore access.Normanville jetty will stay closed while qualified engineers make a detailed inspection and report to council exactly what repairs are required.There was also damage to the walkway to the jetty and the boat ramp and the beach stairs at Normanville are also closed, awaiting a full engineering assessment.Normanville pontoon’s ladder was damaged, but its  structural integrity is fine. It will be stored over winter while the council explores options for sponsorship or support to bring it back for future summers. DIT will repair the state heritage-listed causeway at Second Valley, which will include specialised stonework.Temporary repairs have already been completed to the Second Valley jetty, but a detailed engineering inspection is required to check for any further issues.Severe damage has closed the beach stairs at Myponga Beach and the council is reviewing whether they can be repaired or if they will need to be replaced. Diving, swimming and boating are now prohibited around the entire structure of the old Rapid Bay jetty after inspection revealed major safety risks.The exclusion zone has been expanded to cover beneath the jetty and 20 metres on either side and at both ends.DIT will begin maintenance works on the new Rapid Bay Jetty on Tuesday 1 July. The work aims to improve the jetty’s structural integrity and lifespan and will continue until mid-September, with some weekday closures required for safety. For more information visit the DIT website. Severe flooding damaged the Rapid Bay campground with some fencing needing repairs as well as damage to the access road. For more information about coastal damage and remediation across the District Council of Yankalilla, visit the council website.

The Fleurieu has four of the worst hotspots for car crashes with kangaroos, according to the RAA.Car crashes with kangaroos continue to skyrocket across the state – with RAA insurance receiving more than 2,100 claims for kangaroo collisions in the past year. That’s a 44 per cent jump on the same period two years ago – likely due to the state’s lack of rainfall bringing kangaroos towards the road in search of food. RAA has also analysed the last three years of insurance claim data to reveal which suburbs are worst for kangaroo crashes, with the biggest hotspots being busy regional towns. Mount Gambier in the state’s South East recorded 64 kangaroo collision claims at RAA in recent years, followed by Whyalla (57), Port Augusta (53) and Mount Compass (47). McLaren Vale (45), Myponga (43) and Victor Harbor (40) also featured in the top ten.While the RAA insurance data shows 77 per cent of kangaroo collisions occur in regional areas, a significant number are also recorded in the outer metropolitan areas – highlighting the need for all drivers to be vigilant.  RAA Senior Manager Safety & Infrastructure Charles Mountain urges drivers to be aware of the heightened risk of kangaroo crashes. “Kangaroos in particular are unpredictable creatures that can seemingly come out of nowhere and pose a significant safety risk. “They can also do a lot of damage to your vehicle – from minor damage up to a complete write-off. “If you’re driving in regional areas especially, make sure you’re alert to the possibility of animals near the road and drive to the conditions. “If you do happen to encounter one on the road, brake safely and sound your horn if it’s safe to do so. “But do not swerve as that could cause a more serious crash and put yourself and other road users at even greater risk.” 

South Australian parents are being urged to vaccinate their children against the flu as cases continue to rise across the state this year.  Currently, less than one in five SA children under the age of five have had a flu vaccine according to Health Minister Chris Picton, who says this is too low, even though it’s higher than the national average.“Young children are especially vulnerable to the serious impacts of flu and more likely to end up in hospital,” he says. “We’re listening to the health experts by providing an excellent program that provides free flu vaccines to around 600,000 South Australians including children under 5, people over 65, pregnant women, all Aboriginal people over 6 months of age, and those with underlying health conditions. “South Australians have a strong record for rolling up their sleeves. Overall, our flu vaccine uptake is higher than the national average and better than any mainland state – we just need more parents to get their young kids vaccinated.So far this year, 781 children under the age of five have been diagnosed with flu in South Australia, with 87 of those diagnosed resulting in hospitalisation. Across the state, there have been 6,754 flu cases reported so far this year – compared to 4,267 cases at the same time last year. The flu vaccine is free for at-risk groups including children less than five years, people aged more than 65 years, pregnant women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those aged more than six months with certain health conditions. People can find out if they are eligible by visiting the SA Health website. SA’s flu vaccine uptake across the board is once again above the national average and the highest of any mainland state, according to the state government, with almost 30 per cent of South Australians vaccinated.For more information on flu vaccines for children under five years, visit the SA Health website.    

With some steady rain finally arriving Alexandrina Council has started rolling out its street tree planting program for 2025.The council Tree Team aims to plant 800 street trees this season, focusing on the townships and suburbs with the lowest levels of tree canopy cover.This includes Milang, Clayton Bay, Middleton and Goolwa Beach.Across the district, the council says the tree canopy varies significantly from just under 12 per cent in Milang to nearly 50 per cent in Ashbourne.It uses a combination of local knowledge, on-ground observation and aerial imagery to identify areas with low canopy coverage. Once a location is confirmed the council installs signs, marks locations and delivers notices to neighbouring residents of the intent to plant. Residents have a month to raise any concerns or questions.There are more than a dozen types of tree on the council’s preferred species list for its planting program.They include apple gum, coastal banksia, pink flame tree, lemon-scented gum, flowering ash and native frangipani.The council encourages everyone to consider the long-term benefits of even a single tree, as street trees create cooler environments, enhance liveability and support biodiversity.Find out more about the Alexandrina street tree planting program on the council website. 

The state government has outlined details of its $2.5 million comprehensive mental health support strategy for South Australian communities impacted by drought.         The Mental Health Support Program forms part of its $73 million drought assistance package, which was first announced in November last year and expanded in April. More than $1.2 million will be invested in expanding trusted NGO mental health service providers across regional SA including Centacare (with KWY), Uniting SA, Mind and Skylight, enabling these skilled and trusted local services to deliver more support to individuals and groups. These programs will involve mental health support workers on the ground who will work directly with affected community members. Referral pathways are also being broadly expanded to ensure these services can be accessed through a range of new and locally established referrers, including Rural Financial Counsellors (via Rural Business Support), Family and Business Support Mentors and local GPs, plus self-referral from 1 July.At least eight Men’s Tables will be formed over the next year – men’s mental health, suicide prevention and community-building initiatives that bring together groups of local men so they can build genuine connections over dinner – at a cost of $200,000, starting with the South East and expanding to at least one in every drought-affected region. Increased mental wellbeing resources and the promotion of effective mental health tools for farmers and primary producers are also being rolled out. An $80,000 investment is being made in tools such as ifarmwell, an online platform developed by farmers for farmers which teaches skills to better cope with stress. More than $600,000 is being invested into other wellbeing, resilience and mental health initiatives, including the provision of access to training, support, information and resources for the broader community as well as Aboriginal and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities. Targeted support such as counselling and suicide prevention will also be established to help each community’s most vulnerable people.Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven says the Drought Mental Health Support Program will ensure that even those facing the worst of circumstances will feel connected, supported and informed – if, and, or when they are ready to take that important next step towards getting the help they need.“We know that the impacts from this drought will continue to be felt for some time, including the mental and emotional toll, which is why we have made a significant investment in mental health services as part of our Drought Support Package.“I encourage those impacted by the drought to make the most of these services and reach out for support during this difficult time.”Those needing mental health support or advice can call the Medicare Mental Health Line between 8.30am and 5pm on weekdays at 1800 595 212. Support is also available 24 hours a day, every day of the year through Lifeline (131 114) or, for urgent matters, by calling the Emergency Triage Liaison Service on 131 465.Further information and resources can also be found at the SA Health website’s Drought Mental Health Support page. For broader drought related matters, the PIRSA Recovery Hotline is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, at 1800 931 314. PIRSA also provides drought response updates on its website.

Strong winds and high tides are expected across South Australia.The South Australian State Emergency Service (SA SES) is asking South Australians to prepare for windy weather by tying down and putting away loose items around their property and to take extra care around coastal areas of South Australia. Derren Halleday, SES Chief of Staff said now is the time to prepare ahead of the windy conditions. “Securing items in your yard or putting them away can avoid them being blown around and causing property damage during intense wind gusts,”“Unusually high tides are dangerous to swimmers, surfers and rock fishers. Stay away from coastal areas until conditions subside”Jonathan Fischer from the Bureau of Meteorology said “Damaging winds are likely from later today (Monday 23 June) until Wednesday morning. Large waves and elevated seas are expected.“A deep low pressure system to the south will extend a series of vigorous fronts over southern SA during the next 48 hours. This will result in widespread gusty winds, squally showers and storms with local heavy falls possible and coastal impacts from large waves, rough and elevated seas.” “Elevated sea levels are forecast around high tide on Tuesday, with some coastal impacts likely.”Prepare for severe weather and storms:Secure loose items in your yard including outdoor furniture and play equipmentClean your gutters and downpipes of leaves and debrisPark vehicles away from trees and under cover Prepare for high tides:Stay away from coastal areas until conditions subside.Know your limitations around beaches, tidal rivers and creeks. Monitor warnings and conditions. Supervise children at all times.If you have a moored boat or watercraft, check that your mooring and lines are secure.Be aware that unusually high tides could cause flooding at the coast.You should never walk, ride or drive through floodwater. For emergency storm assistance call 132 500For life threatening emergencies call Triple Zero (000)To prepare for storms, visit: ses.sa.gov.au/storm

Many people are gearing up for a winter celebration of Christmas in July, but the Goolwa Community Association is planning ahead for warmer days and the main event. The Goolwa Christmas Lights and Lantern Flotilla will be held on Saturday 20 December and the Association is calling on all boat lovers in the community to join in.It wants to launch a brand-new festive tradition in Goolwa, with decorated boats illuminating the river with lights and lanterns, celebrating the season in true coastal style. The first-ever Christmas Flotilla will end pageant day in a magical fashion with lights on the water to celebrate the season in a night to remember.Anyone who wants get involved can enter free online, or email for details.

A driver has died following a serious crash at Meadows on Sunday morning.About 2am Sunday 22 June, police and emergency services responded to Morris Road at Meadows after reports that a car had collided with a tree.The driver of the Toyota ute, a 28-year-old man from the Mid North, sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.Sadly, the man has since died.The passenger of the ute, a 47-year-old man from Meadows, was seriously injured and remains in hospital.Morris Road was closed while Major Crash investigators examined the scene, however, has since re-opened.The driver's death is the 38th life lost on South Australian roads this year.

The end of financial year usually sees delivery of printed calendars for rubbish, green waste and recycling collection to households across Alexandrina, Victor Harbor, Yankalilla and Kangaroo Island.This year the Fleurieu Regional Waste Authority will transition to digital calendars, in the interests of sustainability.FRWA says the change will help reduce waste from unused calendars and supports better recycling practices, especially since magnets attached to calendars can prevent proper recycling if not removed.The digital calendars can be downloaded from the FRWA website and can be tailored to a specific address, so only the relevant collection days are shown.Council-wide calendars can also be downloaded.Anyone who still needs a printed version can collect one from their local council office or contact FRWA.

A driver has died following a serious crash at Meadows on this morning.About 2am Sunday 22 June, police and emergency services responded to Morris Road at Meadows after reports that a car had collided with a tree.The driver of the Toyota ute, a 28-year-old man from the Mid North, sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.Sadly, the man has since died.The passenger of the ute, a 47-year-old man from Meadows, was seriously injured and remains in hospital.Morris Road was closed while Major Crash investigators examined the scene, however, has since re-opened.The driver's death is the 38th life lost on South Australian roads this year.