Residents and businessowners in SA town affected by toxic algal bloom call for outbreak to be declared a national disaster

ABC NEWS (Australia)

It's been four months since a toxic algal bloom was first seen on a South Australian beach, yet it's only now that major federal and state assistance is being delivered. $28 million has been allocated to support affected businesses, conduct research and to help clean up the masses of dead sea creatures. There's been a mixed reaction to the funding package as calls continue for the outbreak to be declared a national disaster.

Transcript

00:00It's seafood like this that usually lures tourists to Port Vincent.

00:07But local cafe owner Chris Keyes says the town is empty.

00:11Probably down on revenue would be around about 20% at least.

00:15He's one of countless business owners affected by a toxic algal bloom,

00:19which was first spotted on the Fleurieu Peninsula in March

00:22and has spread to cover an area at least twice the size of the ACT.

00:26It's killed countless sea creatures and decimated the fishing, aquaculture and tourism industries.

00:33The federal and state governments have pledged $28 million to tackle the problem,

00:37but Mr Keyes says that's not enough.

00:40The amount of industry that's going to have to support, not just in our place,

00:45but the whole of South Australia in fisheries, no.

00:48On Adelaide beaches, council workers are being called to remove dead sea creatures.

00:53That requires heavy machinery to come in to actually lift the remains into the front end loaders.

00:59The mayor welcomes the government funding, but is concerned about long-term impacts on tourism and the environment.

01:06We're heartbroken to see the unfolding scenes here.

01:09The combined funding will be spent on clean-ups, research and a new testing lab and industry support grants.

01:15If the algal bloom continues to expand and is here in the summer months when our marine environment is more frequently used,

01:23then absolutely it will require more support.

01:25The South Australian Government wants the algal bloom declared a natural disaster,

01:30but the Federal Environment Minister says it doesn't meet the criteria.

01:34Minister Murray Watt was at this beach for 11 minutes on Monday to assess the damage.

01:39He says the bloom is the responsibility of the state, not the Federal Government.

01:44He says the flag will produce more and more requirements.

01:47For the central government's leaflets of the Pacific Islander,

01:50one of the buildingsreviews that have been represented in the marine environment.

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