Alexandrina Council

Funding available! 🌟 Planning an event in Alexandrina? The South Australian Tourism Commission is offering financial support through its Algal Bloom Event Support Fund – Grants up to $20,000 for coastal events held between 1 Dec 2025 and 31 Mar 2026. These programs aim to boost visitation, strengthen regional economies, and showcase SA’s vibrant culture. 📅 Algal Bloom Event Support Fund applications close 1 March 2026 (or until funds are exhausted) 👉 Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/gtWzH3rd #SouthAustralia #EventFunding #TourismSA #RegionalEvents #SATC #AlexandrinaCouncil #EconomicDevelopment

🪧Sign of the times - a ‘Cittaslow (slow town)’ value in action🐌 Cittaslow Goolwa’s welcome sign has a new look thanks to reclaimed timbers salvaged from the 2024 restoration of the town’s historic wharf. The old metal frame for the welcome sign was rusting and approaching its end of life when Cittaslow members approached Council for some assistance with a replacement. The new frame for the sign - made by Council’s Field Services Team - epitomises the Cittaslow values of sustainability, local culture, and community wellbeing. Some of the timbers are now back in the Goolwa Wharf Precinct from which they were salvaged. Cittaslow (or ‘slow town' in Italian) is an international movement promoting quality of life and sustainability in communities. With Council advocacy, Goolwa became Australia’s first accredited Cittislow town in 2007. Find out more at https://lnkd.in/gzBkb5i3 📷Alexandrina Mayor Keith Parkes, left, Cittaslow Goolwa Vice President Michael Keen, and Alexandrina Field Service Team Members Jim Garrod and David Mullins.

📝Coastal hospitality businesses: registrations now open for Dining Cashback program. The new Coast is Calling Dining Cashback initiative will enable up to 300,000 South Australians to receive up to $50 cashback on meals this summer. This program is designed to support hospitality businesses in coastal regions impacted by the recent algal bloom. 📅 Business registrations are now open. 🔗 Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/g-6Jcvw4 @fleurieu-peninsula-tourism

🎉We are thrilled to share that the spotlight shone brightly on Alexandrina at the 2025 South Australian Tourism Awards last Friday night. 🔦 🥇 In a remarkable achievement, Spirit of the Coorong and The Big Duck Boat Tours were inducted into the prestigious Tourism Hall of Fame, having won Gold in the Ecotourism and Tour & Transport Operator categories for three consecutive years. 🥈 Alexandrina Council’s own South Australian Wooden Boat Festival 2025 was awarded Silver in the Festivals and Events category. 🥈 The Foodbuilder won Silver in the Food Tourism category. Congratulations to all! 👏🏽 #AlexandrinaCouncil #EconomicDevelopment #SATourismAwards #WoodenBoatFestival #SAWBF #SpiritOfTheCoorong #BigDuckBoatTours #TheFoodbuilder #VisitAlexandrina #SouthAustralia

Showcasing economic activation and collaboration at the Goolwa Wharf Precinct👏⛵ Council’s Economic Development team recently hosted the Regional Development Australia Board on a visit to the upgraded Goolwa Wharf Precinct, a key site in our region’s evolving economic and cultural landscape. The tour provided an opportunity to showcase the significant work Council has undertaken to revitalise the precinct, both through $18M worth of infrastructure investment and strategic activation. The wharf is now a vibrant destination for hospitality, authentic heritage and ecotourism, visual arts, and First Nations storytelling. New offerings include Goolwa Visual Arts in the Chart Room and Café Imbiss in the Wharf Shed. The precinct was officially launched at the South Australian Wooden Boat Festival in April, an event that brought together all three levels of government to celebrate the completion of the wharf upgrade. The festival is now a finalist in the 2025 South Australian Tourism Awards. The visit from RDA AHFKI (@regional-development-australia-adelaide-hills-fleurieu-and-kangaroo-island-incorporated) underscores the importance of regional collaboration in shaping sustainable growth and prosperity. 🔗 Learn more about the Goolwa Wharf project at https://bit.ly/4odF73n #GoolwaWharf #AlexandrinaCouncil #EconomicDevelopment #RegionalDevelopmentAustralia #FleurieuPeninsula #EconomicGrowth #GrowthNetwork #RDAHillsAndCoasts #SAWBF25

Calling tourism operators: expressions of interest opening soon for Round 2 of travel voucher program. A second round of the Coast is Calling Travel Vouchers has been announced, with 30,000 vouchers to be released in December for travel through to April 2026. This initiative supports coastal tourism businesses impacted by the recent algal bloom. 📅 Expressions of interest are open from 27 October to 7 November for experience and accommodation providers in eligible coastal regions. 🔗 Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/gSnA_ZPa

⛵Our own SA Wooden Boat Festival is a finalist in the SA Tourism Awards! 🥳 The 2025 Festival, held at the Goolwa Wharf Precinct in April, has been nominated in the Festivals and Events category, and we couldn't be prouder. 😀 Being named a finalist is a huge achievement and a testament to the hard work of the SAWBF Committee, our dedicated volunteers, the wonderful boating community who helped bring the Festival to life, and our incredible partners and sponsors.👏🏽 Being shortlisted in the Festival and Events Category is one achievement, but we'd love to win the People's Choice Award. 👉 Cast your vote and show your support for this iconic event that highlights the best of Alexandrina, the River Murray, and our vibrant wooden boating community. Voting closes 13 October. Head to https://bit.ly/vote-sawbf The 2025 SA Tourism Awards will be celebrated with a Gala Dinner in early November at the Adelaide Convention Centre. 📽️ Video overview of Festival by Click Films hashtag#SAWoodenBoatFestival hashtag#SATourismAwards hashtag#GoolwaWharf hashtag#AlexandrinaCouncil hashtag#AlexandrinaBusinessServices hashtag#SAWBF2025 hashtag#SouthAustralia hashtag#Alexandrina hashtag#Goolwa

🏆 Not one but two Local Government Information Technology SA Awards for Alexandrina! 👏🏽 We’re thrilled to announce that our Business Solutions team was recognised at the 2025 LGITSA Awards held at the National Conference Gala night in late September. Lydia McGuinness received the prestigious “High Achiever Award” for her outstanding contributions to the delivery of our TechOne Animal Compliance module, all while balancing full-time studies in Software Engineering. What an incredible achievement! 👏🏽🥇 Our Business Solutions Team also took home the “Excellent Team of the Year Award” for their inspiring work on “Transforming Legacy into Leadership”. This honour reflects the team’s dedication, creativity, and collaborative work across the organisation. These awards are a wonderful reflection of the progress Alexandrina is making on our digital transformation journey. We're thrilled to see our Team's efforts being recognised at a State level!

🎉 Celebrating Small Business Week with local businesses in Strathalbyn! 🛍️ Council recently collaborated with key economic development groups to host an event for local businesses in our renovated Strathalbyn Town Hall.🏨 The event, "Smarter & Faster Business: Tools to Accelerate Your Business Growth," featured keynote speaker Dan Levy from More Space for Light who explored how AI is transforming business and how local businesses can leverage it. This Small Business Week 2025 event attracted a packed house of passionate local businesses. The panel discussion included insights from Nicole Clarke from Kimbolton Wines and Andy Ide from HorseRecords, who shared how their businesses are navigating the opportunities and challenges of AI. 👏 A huge shoutout to the Strathalbyn business community — your energy, engagement, and turnout made the event truly special. 👏 A big thank you to our event partners Rural Business Support, Regional Development Australia Adelaide Hills Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island Incorporated and Office for Small and Family Business. 📷 Keynote speaker Dan Levy from More Space for Light with Fiona Burrows from Fleurieu Hampers and RDA Economic Development Officer David Ridley. 📷 Dan Levy from More Space for Light delivers his keynote address in the Strathalbyn Town Hall. #AlexandrinaBusinessServices #AlexandrinaCouncil #Alexandrina #StrathalbynTownHall #SmallBusinessWeek #BusinessGrowth #AIForBusiness #CommunityConnection

🗣️Today is #ruokday2025, and across Australia, people are coming together to connect, share stories and start more life-changing conversations. 💙 Here at Alexandrina, we reckon nothing starts a conversation in the office - or out in the field - like someone bringing in sweet treats to share!🤗 With some culinary assistance from a local Goolwa bakery, we’re reaching out with themed R U OK doughnuts, some mental health information resources, and asking each other R U OK? R U OK? Is a conversation for every day, because a conversation can change a life. 🤝Need some extra support? For confidential advice and support 24/7, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Further support can be found at: 📞Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 📞Mensline - 1300 78 99 78 📞Kids Help Line - 1800 55 1800 📞13 Yarn (ATSI) - 13 92 76