Yorke Peninsula Council has taken its harmful algal bloom advocacy all the way to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Acting Mayor Richard Carruthers joined a delegation to Canberra and met with the Prime Minister to seek greater support for Yorke Peninsula on Thursday, 28 August.

The delegation also met Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley as well as various Ministers and almost every South Australian Senator.

“It was important for Yorke Peninsula to be represented as part of this delegation, as Council has persistently fought for our region to be recognised as the worst affected by the harmful algal bloom,” Mr Carruthers said.

“To make our case directly to the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, and so many other key decision makers in Canberra was an important step toward getting more help for our community.

“They know who we are, they know that we are affected, and that is really important.

“The delegation follows other efforts by Council, including presenting to State Cabinet and other political and stakeholder representatives, hosting public meetings, direct industry support, marketing initiatives, tourism discounts, fee relief for professional fishers and more.

“It is great to see several things we have asked for – expanded business grant support, environmental resilience projects, marketing support, and a tourism voucher scheme – already happening, but there is more work to be done.”

The delegation comprised mayors, scientists, tourism operators and seafood industry representatives, and travelled to Canberra with three key objectives:

1. To establish a national legislative policy framework recognising large scale marine mortality events;
2. To secure funding for the development and delivery of a Community Wellbeing and Resilience Framework to support social and mental health outcomes in communities affected by harmful algal blooms; and
3. To secure sustained state-commonwealth investment in permanent coastal and marine biological and ecological monitoring and baseline data collection.

 

Algal bloom public meetings in Edithburgh, Ardrossan

 

The State Government is hosting two more community forums to discuss the harmful algal bloom on Yorke Peninsula this month.

The first will be held at Edithburgh Institute (Town Hall) from 5:30 until 7:00pm on Wednesday 10 September. Register here.

The second is at Ardrossan Town Hall (main hall) from 5:30 until 7:00pm on Thursday 11 September. Register here.

Yorke Peninsula Council will also participate in a public hearing to be held as part of the Senate Enquiry into algal blooms in South Australia in Ardrossan earlier on Thursday, 11 September.

Council submitted a thorough and detailed response to the Senate Enquiry last month. Submissions closed as of 22 August.