The Local Government Association of South Australia (LGA SA) has welcomed the findings of a Senate Inquiry into the state’s algal bloom crisis.
The Association says the Inquiry made a number of key recommendations that strongly align with advocacy on behalf of councils and coastal communities.
LGA made a submission to the Inquiry, together with the Adelaide Coastal Councils Network and SA Coastal Councils Alliance, and supported a delegation of South Australian Mayors, industry leaders and marine experts who travelled to Canberra in August to urge Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other ministers to commit extra measures to address the crisis.
The Inquiry recognises the significant environmental, economic and community impacts of the algal bloom event and the need for stronger national coordination, funding, and long-term resilience planning.
Importantly, several of the inquiry’s recommendations reflect priorities raised by LGA and the delegation including:
- Recommendation 1: The committee recommends the Australian Government show leadership by developing a fit for purpose framework for research, monitoring and responses to climate induced, slow-onset and significant ecological events such as harmful algal bloom.
- Recommendation 3: The committee recommends the Australian Government defines the roles of the Commonwealth, states and territories and local governments throughout the management and response of climate induced, slow-onset and significant ecological events such as harmful algal blooms.
- Recommendation 4: The committee recommends that the Australian Government consider sustained funding for long-term oceanographic and algal bloom-specific research and monitoring programs at the national level, including through the utilisation of the Office for Algal Bloom Research in South Australia.
- Recommendation 5: The committee recommends that the Australian Government consider options for substantial funding to be directed to projects that deliver largescale, long-term marine ecosystem restoration and resilience including meaningful reef restoration along the South Australian coastline.
- Recommendation 7: The committee recommends that the Australian Government and South Australian Government evaluate the current investment towards community resilience programs and mental health support services and explore continued or further investment as required for communities impacted by the toxic algal bloom.
- Recommendation 9: The committee notes the current investment to supporting coastal communities and recommends that the Australian Government consider allocation of joint funding for community financial support, which could be delivered through local governments as untied grants.
- Recommendation 13: The committee recommends that the Australian Government consider establishing a dedicated Local Government Resilience Fund to provide ongoing and flexible financial assistance to support local councils in responding to climate induced and slow-onset and significant ecological events.
Importantly, LGA SA welcomes the Senate findings which recognised that local government has been at the frontline of the algal bloom response, and that it was an active and key contributor – stating:
“Local governments were forced to bear the brunt of clean-ups at a significant financial cost and which impacted their ability to continue their core functions.”
The Association says it will continue to engage with both State and Federal Governments to ensure the recommendations are implemented.
To read the Senate recommendations and findings, visit: Algal blooms in South Australia.
