Permanent protection for Giant Cuttlefish | 28 November

The Giant Australian Cuttlefish now has permanent protection, following the passing of new legislation to safeguard the iconic species in parliament.

Full protection is now enshrined in law through the Fisheries Management (Cuttlefish–Northern Spencer Gulf) Amendment Bill 2025 which formalises regulations that prohibit taking cuttlefish in the northern Spencer Gulf. Anyone caught taking Giant Cuttlefish will now face a fine of up to $20,000.

Each winter, tens of thousands of Giant Cuttlefish gather near Whyalla to spawn, creating an incredible underwater spectacle and attracting visitors and divers from around the world.

Police to target speeding motorcycle riders | 26 November

Operate Safe Hills will target speeding motorcyclists around the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Barossa, as well as the outer metropolitan areas this festive season.

The initiative, aimed at reducing fatalities and serious accidents on the road, comes after seven motorcyclists have lost their life on our roads so far this year, with 162 receiving serious life-changing injuries. There have been 650 collisions involving motorcycles.

In the past five years, 81 motorcyclists and one motorcycle passenger have lost their lives. Of these fatalities, 96 per cent were men.

"We know that the majority of motorcycle deaths occur from speeding, drink or drug driving or dangerous driving," Officer in Charge of Traffic Service Branch Shane Johnson said.

"Most deaths occur when motorcycle riders hit a fixed object or leave the road out of control, so lowering your speed can save your life something goes wrong."

Got a favourite SA wine tourism business? Vote now | 26 November

Six local businesses are in the running for the Global Great Wine Capitals Best Of Wine Tourism People's Choice Award.

South Australian winners in the 2026 Best Of Wine Tourism Awards announced in September are now eligible for the award. They are:

• Mount Lofty House and Estate, Adelaide Hills - SA winner, Accommodation
• Vinteloper, Adelaide Hills - SA winner, Architecture and Landscape
• Wonderground Barossa, Barossa - SA winner, Art and Culture
• Maxwell Wines, McLaren Vale - Global winner, Culinary Experiences
• Bottle Shock, Gumeracha - SA winner, Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences; Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices
• SA eBikes, McLaren Vale – South Australian Winner, Wine Tourism Services.

Voting closes on 8 December 2025. For more information visit: People's Choice Award - Great Wine Capitals

Viking Age exhibition digs up historic return - 24 November

The Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard has become the South Australian Museum's most successful ticketed event to date, attracting more than 70,000 visitors and generating an estimated $12.2 million in economic activity for the state.

It was the first time the collection, which showcases the richest Viking-Age hoard ever discovered in Britain or Ireland, had travelled outside the United Kingdom.

The exhibition, which ran from February to July 2025, attracted visitors from across the state, Australia and overseas.

Lower speed limits in Coromandel Valley | 21 November

The speed limit has been reduced and a dedicated pedestrian crossing installed near the Coromandel Valley Primary School to encourage safer driving behaviour.

From November 29, the speed limit on Main Rd, between Keith Rd and just south of Black Rd, has been lowered from 60km/h to 50km/h, and work on the new crossing (external site) will start in early 2026.

This follows public consultation collated by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport on what was important to local residents, with concerns about speeding, tailgating and blind corners on Main Rd, and the need for safer shared paths, among issues raised.

Citizen scientists support | 20 November

This year's Waterbug Bioblitz - which encourage the community to get involved in caring for their patch - has attracted strong interest from people wanting to play a role in protecting the health of South Australia's catchments.

Events run by Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu have sold out, and in the Barossa, the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board received double the number of participants compared to last year.

Waterbug Bioblitz is a series of one-day events that bring together community groups, individuals, landscape board staff and aquatic ecologists to collect as much information as possible about macroinvertebrates (waterbugs) and the water quality of a catchment.

The work contributes valuable information to the National Waterbug Database via the SA Flora and Fauna Data Dashboard, which helps track long-term environmental trends, informs Water Allocation Plans and helps educate communities.

For more information visit Landscape South Australia (external site).

South Australians get behind boring machine contest | 20 November

Julia Drillard, Borer the Explorer and Tina Churner – these are just some of the imaginative names South Australians have come up with for our new tunnel boring machines.

Almost 2000 suggestions have already been submitted as potential monikers for the TBMs, which will play a vital role in delivering the $15.4 billion River Torrens to Darlington Project.

Naming TBMs is a tradition dating back to the 1500s, with female names chosen in honour of Saint Barbara, the patron saint of tunnellers.

And along with the Diggy Azaleas and Drilltop Hoods there have been plenty of more serious suggestions honouring great South Australian women, including Dame Roma Mitchell, Lowitja O’Donoghue and Mary MacKillop.

The public has until 30 November to submit their naming proposals (external site).

Aerial shark patrols resume | 19 November

Shark spotting flights have started this week and will monitor our metropolitan and Fleurieu Peninsula beaches until late April next year.

Regular daily flights will occur from North Haven to Rapid Bay, extending to the south coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula on weekends, public holidays and school holidays.

If a trained shark spotted aboard a Shark Patrol branded light aircraft spots a shark that may Ipose a risk to the public, the aircraft will fly in a circle over the location and sound a siren, alerting swimmers in the vicinity to leave the water. They will also immediately advise the South Australia Police (SAPOL), who will then provide an appropriate response.

Last season, the shark patrol aircraft undertook more than 450 flights and activated the siren more than 90 times.

Violent and abusive parents put on notice | 17 November

Schools, preschools and children's services now have greater powers to act against violent and abusive parents under new legislation which has come into effect.

The legislation broadens the circumstances in which an order barring an individual from an education and care site can be issued, as well as increasing the maximum length of those orders. Penalties for breaching an order have also tripled.

It follows a dramatic rise in the number of incidents of parental abuse, leading to a 200 per cent increase in parental bans in public schools from 2019 to 2023 over the past five years.

Latest data reveals that in 2025, public schools issued 107 barring notices and sent 206 formal warning letters. This is similar to 2024. More than half of all barring orders issued in 2025 have been for threatening behaviour, while five were issued after actual physical violence towards a parent, student or staff member.

Adelaide Hills intersection upgrade | 14 November

The State Government is upgrading a notorious intersection in the Adelaide Hills, making it safer for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.

Major works have started at the Shepherds Hill Rd, Brighton Parade, and Waite St intersection, with the project including the installation of new traffic lights, pedestrian crossings on all four approaches to Shepherds Hill Rd and dedicated bicycle lanes on both sides of the road.

These improvements are the final part of the State Government’s $20 million Mitcham Hills Road Corridor upgrade which also included the recently completed Russell St, Main Rd, and Sheoak Rd junction upgrades.

Foster carers step up | 14 November

More South Australians are currently looking at becoming a foster carer than at any time in the past three years.

The renewed interest comes off the back of a digital campaign highlighting the need for emergency and short-term care options for children and young people.

More than 60 South Australians answered the Foster the Feeling advertising campaign call.

There are approximately 4900 children in care in South Australia and the reasons for this are varied, complex and heartbreaking. The state has around 1850 kinship households and about 1400 foster care households.

Prospective carers can get in touch by visiting www.fostercare.sa.gov.au(external site) (external site) (external site) (external site)

Missing persons search powers | 13 November

The State Government has moved to ensure that police have all the powers they need at their disposal to investigate high risk missing persons cases, with reforms introduced to State Parliament this week.

At present, police only have the power to enter and search a premises without consent in cases where they reasonably suspect that a crime has been committed or where a person has died or is otherwise in need of medical or other assistance.

Under the reforms, senior police officers will have the power to authorise entry to a specified premises, vehicle, vessel or other place where they reasonably suspect that a high-risk missing person is on the premises or that there is information on the premises that may assist in relation to the investigation of the person’s disappearance.

The proposed laws would apply in relation to a missing person who is ‘high risk’, being a missing person who is under the age of 14 or a person who police reasonably suspect may suffer serious harm if not found quickly.

Illicit tobacco closure orders | 13 November

One hundred stores across South Australia have been hit with 28-day closure orders, as part of the state's ongoing fight against illicit tobacco and vapes.

Two long-term closure orders have also been issued since June 5 - when new closure order powers came into effect - with another five being progressed in the Magistrates Court.

The State Government has now seized products valued at approximately $50 million including more than 41 million cigarettes, 140,000 vapes and 13,585kg of loose tobacco.

LIV Golf is world's best | 13 November

LIV Golf Adelaide has again been named the World's Best Golf Event.

It was the third year running that the popular event picked up the title at the World Golf Awards. LIV Golf Adelaide 2025 welcomed yet another record-breaking crowd of more than 102,000 fans, generating an $81.46 million boost to the South Australian economy.

The 2026 event (external site) (external site) (external site) will be held at The Grange Golf Club from 12-15 February.

Lower Mitcham crossing upgrade | 11 November

The rail crossing over Grange Rd at Lower Mitcham and Hawthorn is being upgraded to improve safety for motorists, pedestrians and train passengers.

The work is in response to a high number of incidents reported in recent years at the crossing, which is used by more than 7000 vehicles each day.

The safety improvements include installation of new traffic signals on the crossing's western side, re-grading of the road to improve visibility, and the removal of the right turn from Verco Ave.

Major construction of the $3 million project will take place from December 2025 into March 2026.

Volunteers' coastal clean-up | 7 November

Volunteers have spent more than 13,000 hours helping to keep beaches clean as part of the state’s algal bloom response.

More than 240 Disaster Relief Australia volunteers from around the country have supported the beach clean-up operations on rotation since the start of September.

The organisation’s two-month operation in South Australia ended this week to allow volunteers to prepare for Australia’s upcoming higher-risk weather season, including bushfires, floods and cyclones.

The volunteers collected about 9000kg of dead marine life from metropolitan beaches between North Haven and Seacliff. The bulk of the material has been recycled into commercial compost.

The Algal Bloom Co-ordination Unit is managing the $6.3 million beach clean-up operations to help local councils and ensure people can continue to enjoy visiting the beach this summer. An extra 40 temporary staff will join the crews from this month to replace the Disaster Relief Australia volunteers.

State exports hit all-time high | 7 November

South Australian exports to the United States have hit an all-time high, latest ABS stats have revealed.

Sales to the US reached $2.49 billion in the year to September 2025, up more than $352 million - or 16 per cent - on the previous year.

The US remains South Australia’s second-largest export market, behind China, with our state’s exporters showing remarkable resilience by increasing their sales while trade headwinds persist.

Sales to Canada have risen by more than $58 million (12 per cent) to $528 million and follow a concerted effort to diversify into the market by the State Government.

Ovingham dry zone | 6 November

An interim 14-day dry zone has been introduced surrounding the Ovingham Underpass while an application for it to be a permanent dry area is considered, following concerns about anti-social behaviour.

The dry zone boundary encompasses the reserve, land and associated road reserves, kerbs and footpaths beneath and near the Torrens Road Underpass, Ovingham.

The anti-social behaviour includes excessive alcohol consumption, vandalism, harassment, theft and serious incidents of violence with approximately 64 calls out from SAPOL to the area in the past year.

Victor Harbor hospital upgrade | 5 November

A new $16.8 million emergency department at the Southern Fleurieu Health Service will open in the coming weeks.

The first major upgrade for the Victor Harbor hospital in a decade, it will quadruple patient capacity - from 5 to 20 patient spaces - and ensure the ED will continue to meet the needs of Encounter Bay and surrounding areas for many years to come.

The upgrade includes six enclosed treatment bays, six open treatment bays, two emergency resuscitation beds and an Extended Care Unit with three beds for clinically stable patients who are expected to be discharged within 24 hours.

Locals are invited to tour the new ED as part of community open days this Friday and Saturday (November 7 and 8) ahead of the facility opening to patients from Wednesday 19 November.

Seaton's new park | 1 November

A new public park (pictured) has opened in Seaton as part of the ongoing transformation of the suburb.

Named Karra Reserve after the River Red Gum on its northern edge - with 'Karra' meaning red gum in Kaurna language - the park is the first to be delivered within Renewal SA's Seaton redevelopment.

By 2035, a total of 1452 new homes will be built across the revitalised community.

The 2000sq m reserve is bounded by Frederick Rd, Glenburnie St, Lark Ave and Mathews Ave and features two large open lawn areas, park benches and barbecue facilities.

Tackling dumped shopping trolleys | 1 November

Councils will be given new powers to tackle dumped shopping trolleys, under new laws recently passed in State Parliament.

The changes, which are set to take effect in the first half of 2027, include:

• Labelling shopping trolleys with retailers’ trading name and contact information or a QR code to report abandoned trolleys and enable them to be returned.
• Setting timeframes for the collection of shopping trolleys.
• Supporting councils to work with premises where abandoned trolleys are an ongoing problem, such as installing additional signage or extra trolley bays.

Upon being notified of a dumped trolley, retailers will have three business days to collect the trolley or face council-issued penalties, including an expiation fee of $500 or a maximum penalty of $5000 if councils decide to prosecute through the courts.