District Council of Karoonda East Murray

17/09/2026

🚧 Reporting from the Roads: Patrol Grading Progress 🚧

Our dedicated Works Crew are continuing to work through Council’s Patrol Grading Program. This fortnight, our team will be focusing on the following roads in the district:

👉 Grader 1:
• Durdin Road
• Gribble Bore Road
• Goondooloo Road
• Bakara Road
• Netherleigh Road

👉 Grader 2:
• Frankel Road
• Charleson Road
• Jeffries Road
• McCabe Road
• Manuel Road

🚜 Please note completion of grading is subject to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

🚗 Reminder to motorists: Take care when driving on newly graded roads and always drive to the conditions. Additionally, please slow down when passing through work sites to ensure the safety of our team and everyone on the road. We appreciate your patience as we work to keep our roads safe and smooth for all.

More updates to come. 👋

17/09/2026

Get Creative at Live Well Karoonda 🙌

Looking for a fun and relaxing way to connect with others and try something new?

As part of Live Well Karoonda, we're offering a FREE Clay Workshop where participants can get creative, try something new and enjoy a hands-on activity.

No artistic experience is required. This workshop offers a relaxed and welcoming space to get creative, meet new people and enjoy working with clay.

📅 Thursday 8 October 2026
📍 Karoonda Institute, 15 Peake Street, Karoonda
🕜 1:30pm
💲 FREE to attend

📧 Registrations are encouraged. To register your interest, please contact Council by phone on 8578 1004 or email [email protected]

Attend for the workshop, stay for the activities, or make a day of it and enjoy everything Live Well Karoonda has to offer.

For enquiries or accessibility requirements, contact Council on 8578 1004.

👉 For more information, including the full event schedule, visit the Council website:
https://www.dckem.sa.gov.au/community/latest-news/2026/live-well-karoonda-free-event

17/09/2026

Prepare Your Property for Fire Danger Season 2026/27 🔥

As temperatures begin to rise and Fire Danger Season approaches, we encourage all landowners to start preparing their properties now to reduce fire risks and help protect our community.

Council will commence fire prevention inspections across the district this month to ensure properties are being maintained in accordance with the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005.

🏠 Around homes and on vacant town allotments
• Cut grass and remove fallen branches, leaves and dead undergrowth within 20 metres of your home.
• Maintain grass, weeds and undergrowth at or below 10cm.
• Prune lower tree branches up to 1 metre above ground level to help reduce the risk of fire spreading into trees.

🌾 Rural properties
• Establish and maintain fuel breaks around fence lines, dwellings, sheds, haystacks, hay sheds and fuel storage areas.
• Maintain grass and vegetation within fuel breaks to a maximum height of 10cm throughout the Fire Danger Season.

🍃 Vacant allotments greater than 1 hectare
• Construct and maintain a fuel break around the perimeter of the property.
• Fuel breaks should be at least 5 metres wide and maintained to a maximum height of 10cm.

One mow or slash is not enough. Landowners are required to continue monitoring and maintaining their properties throughout the Fire Danger Season.

👉 Council's Fire Prevention Officer will be inspecting properties across the district. Where properties do not meet minimum fire prevention standards, landowners may receive a notice requiring works to be undertaken, with penalties available under the legislation for non-compliance.

The responsibility for maintaining your land rests with you as the property owner. Taking action now can help protect your property, your neighbours and our wider community.

For further information, please contact Council on 8578 1004 or visit:
https://www.dckem.sa.gov.au/services/fire-prevention2

Thank you for doing your part to keep our district safe this fire season. 🙌

17/09/2026

Funding Available for Disability Inclusion Projects 🙌

Do you have an idea that could help make our community more inclusive and accessible?

Applications are now open for the Julia Farr Disability Inclusion Grants Program, supporting projects that improve inclusion and participation for people living with disability.

Community groups, organisations and eligible applicants are encouraged to explore this funding opportunity.

👉 Learn more and apply via the Department of Human Services website: https://dhs.sa.gov.au/how-we-help/grants/available-grants/julia-farr-disability-inclusion-grants-round-1-2026-2027

Applications for the Julia Farr Disability Inclusion Grants are open, with up to $100k in funding available!

We’re looking for creative projects that improve accessibility, build inclusion, support cultural participation, or increase digital access.

Eligible organisations include disability support services, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, local councils, community centres and neighbourhood houses.

Grant applications close 16 October at 1pm.

Find out more: https://bit.ly/4dmtBi1

17/09/2026

🦗 Be Prepared for Locust Activity This Season

🦗 Now is the time to prepare for spring hatchings of plague locusts.

The risk of plague locust activity has increased significantly across parts of South Australia following favourable seasonal conditions, increased egg laying and high locust numbers recorded across parts of South Australia and bordering states to the east.

Locusts are highly mobile pests that can cause significant damage to a wide range of vegetation, including broadacre crops, vineyards, orchards, horticultural crops, pastures and other agricultural production systems, when populations build to high levels.

Current forecasts indicate:

📍 Riverland and Mallee: Moderate to high chance of high locust numbers, with initial hatching expected from mid- late September (11-30 September).
📍 Flinders Ranges and Mid North: Moderate to high chance of high locust numbers, with initial hatching expected from mid September (11-20 September).
📍 Upper / Western Eyre Peninsula: Possible chance of localised high locust numbers, with initial hatching expected from mid- late September (11-30 September).

Landholders are encouraged to:

✅ Check paddocks, roadsides, fence lines and bare ground for signs of egg beds.
✅ Learn how to identify young locusts (hoppers).
✅ Review chemical and pest management plans now.
✅ Report any locust activity to PIRSA.
✅ Check eligibility for the South Australian Government's Locust Chemical Rebate Scheme to help reduce the cost of control activities.

Learn more about locust identification, preparedness, reporting requirements and the Chemical Rebate Scheme:
🔗 https://bit.ly/4yxFaMg
☎️ Report sightings: 1800 084 881

16/09/2026

🚛 PLEASE NOTE - Bin Collection Update 🚛

Residents on Coads Road, Stokes Road, Herrmann Crescent and Miel Street who missed their bin collection yesterday are advised that collections will be completed today, as per the update from our waste collection contractor below. 👇👇

Thank you for your patience.

16/09/2026

👀 Have you seen our upcoming South Australia Police Community Safety Information Sessions?

These free sessions cover a range of topics designed to help you stay safe, secure and informed. Held at the Karoonda School Community Library starting on Wednesday the 30th of September 2026 at 1pm.

See the full schedule and further details below 👇

🔒 Community Safety Information Sessions Coming to Karoonda

The District Council of Karoonda East Murray has partnered with the South Australia Police to bring a series of free Community Safety Information Sessions to Karoonda.

📍 Held at the Karoonda School Community Library
🕐 Wednesday at 1:00pm from 30 September to 4 November

Topics include scam awareness, personal safety, home security, vehicle and bicycle security, and rural security.

If any of these topics interest you, come along and join us. Sessions will be held at the Karoonda School Community Library, we thank the Library for kindly hosting these community sessions.

Please note: the Library will be closed to students during these sessions.

♿ We welcome everyone to attend. If you have any accessibility requirements or need support to participate, please contact Council prior to the session.

Contact Council on (08) 8578 1004 or email [email protected].

16/09/2026

Today we welcome Bridget Mather, who has been appointed as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the District Council of Karoonda East Murray until 31 December 2026.

Bridget brings extensive experience to the role, with more than 31 years in leadership positions across local and federal government organisations. Most recently, Bridget served as Interim Chief Executive Officer at the District Council of Tumby Bay. Some members of our community may also know Bridget from her time at the Coorong District Council, where she served as Chief Executive Officer for six years until January 2026.

Bridget will lead the organisation during the transition period while Council undertakes the recruitment process for its next permanent Chief Executive Officer.

We look forward to Bridget's leadership and guidance as we continue delivering services and progressing key initiatives for our community.

15/09/2026

Save the Date 🌟 School holidays are just around the corner! 🌟

Grab your snacks and join us for a free School Holiday Movie Afternoon at the Karoonda Institute!

We're screening Minecraft: The Movie (PG) on Tuesday 29 September!

🍿 FREE popcorn
🎟 FREE entry
🛋 Bring along a bean bag, pillow or blanket and get comfortable!

📅 Tuesday 29 September 2026
⏰ Starts at 1:30pm
📍 Karoonda Institute

Mark it in your calendar and get ready for an afternoon of movie magic!

15/09/2026

The Karoonda Swimming Pool is an important part of summer in our community, providing a place for families, children and visitors to cool off, stay active and connect.

To operate safely, the pool requires qualified lifeguards on duty. At this stage, Council has received limited expressions of interest for our upcoming free lifeguard training.

Without enough lifeguards, the pool cannot operate.

We're calling on community members to consider becoming part of the pool team for the 2026/27 season.

Why Become a Lifeguard?
✅ Paid casual employment at the Karoonda Swimming Pool
✅ FREE lifeguard training provided by Council
✅ Gain valuable skills and qualifications
✅ Help provide an important community facility

Whether you're a student, young adult, parent, teacher, retiree or someone looking for flexible seasonal work, we'd love to hear from you.

FREE TRAINING DATES:
• Full Qualification Course: Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September
• Refresher Course: Sunday 27 September

📌 Pre-requisite:
Participants must hold a current HLTAID011 Provide First Aid certificate prior to the course. Note: While many teachers may hold HLTAID012 (First Aid in an education and care setting), it is essential that the HLTAID011 unit is current (within 3 years of issue)

👉 Register Your Interest here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/D3KJBZC

Alternatively, if you would like to discuss the opportunity or have any questions, please contact Council:
Phone: 8578 1004
Email: [email protected]