The Islander

26/12/2025

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24/12/2025

The Kangaroo Island Health Service Upgrade when complete will see a new two-storey staff accommodation building, including eight one-bedroom units, an entry road and car parking.
The state government meanwhile recently announced five semi-detached homes would also be built in Kingscote thanks to its Regional Key Worker Housing Scheme.

Locals in recent weeks would have noticed the fencing going up around the old Island Motel site adjacent to the [...]

23/12/2025

Now that the summer peak weekly collection of recycling has commenced, Fleurieu Regional Waste Authority (FRWA) wants to let residents, businesses and visitors know about waste services over the busy Christmas, New Year and summer holiday period. And what better way to do that than with a special list from Father Christmas himself?

Now that the summer peak weekly collection of recycling has commenced, Fleurieu Regional Waste Authority (FRWA) wants to let residents, [...]

22/12/2025

Geoff Rogers was fishing in the Bay of Shoals channel at Kingscote when he caught an Australian salmon sporting a blue tag.
That fish ended up earning him $5000, as it had been tagged and released nine days earlier in the bay by Gavin Mathews, a director at RecFish SA.
The tagging was part of the Let’s Go Fishing competition, meant to boost morale and activity in the recreational fishing community in the wake of the still ongoing harmful algal bloom.
Third prize in Round 2 was still to be won and any of the fish that Gavin tagged could be the one to earn another lucky fisher some cash.
“There’s still 49 out there with tags and the third prize of $2500 is still available,” Gavin said.
The fishing on Kangaroo Island had been mixed with the algal bloom responsible for sharks and rays, as well as other sea life, washing up at Emu Bay and Nepean Bay.
However, there were the large schools of salmon off Kingscote, where anglers had been also catching King George whiting off the main jetty.

Geoff Rogers was fishing in the Bay of Shoals channel at Kingscote when he caught an Australian salmon sporting a [...]

19/12/2025

So far, 77 businesses have received funding through the Small Business Grant, 75 businesses have accessed the Fisheries and Aquaculture Assistance Grant, and applications for the recently-opened Resilience Grant are being actively assessed.
Application closure dates have been extended and the number of payments businesses can receive has increased, so business owners who already applied for or received a grant should check if they are eligible for additional payments.

The State Government’s Department of State Development is providing a range of measures to support impacted businesses, and their owners [...]

18/12/2025

Catch the algal bloom feature in this week's Islander, including how you can support affected businesses and how businesses can apply for support.
As part of the Summer Plan, the government is investing $21.5 million in fishing and marine sector support, including an $8 million extension of the Algal Bloom Fisheries and Aquaculture Assistance Grants and the Small Business Support Grants, plus $3 million for Algal Bloom Resilience Grants.

DINING cashbacks and travel vouchers issued by the State and Federal governments’ Algal Bloom Summer Plan are making a difference [...]

17/12/2025

SA Country Fire Service crews worked overnight on Dec. 17 to secure the perimeter of the Haines grassfire with earth-moving equipment and a small stubble burn to secure control lines before heightened fire weather is predicted for Kangaroo Island today.
Tasked to the Haines grassfire on Wednesday were 60 CFS volunteers on 10 trucks, supported by seven aircraft, including firebombers and observational aircraft.
Assisted by farm fire units, the firefighters worked hard to contain the fire edge and remained on the fireground into the evening.
The fire burned through 41 hectares of paddocks and scrub, with a boundary of 3.5 km.
SA Police were also on scene and the cause of the fire is undetermined and was being investigated.
Five additional trucks from the mainland were again sent to support local crews for this evening and into Thursday, Dec. 18, with trucks from McLaren Vale, Rapid Bay and Yankalilla.
Mainland crews also assisted in the Birchmore fire in November, which was allegedly sparked by slashing equipment.
Roads have been closed due to the Haines grassfire, including Boundary Road and American River Road.
Kangaroo Island faced temperatures of up to 39 degrees on Thursday with a High fire danger rating, while areas on the mainland including the Fleurieu Peninsula and Adelaide were facing an Extreme fire danger.
Winds north to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h shifting south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late afternoon.

SA Country Fire Service crews worked overnight on Dec. 17 to secure the perimeter of the Haines grassfire with earth-moving [...]

17/12/2025

The SA Country Fire Service at 12.41pm on Wednesday, Dec. 17 issued a “Watch and Act - Leave Now” order for a fire at Haines, 7 km southwest of American River.
The Haines bushfire is uncontrolled. This grass fire is burning in a south to south sast direction towards Boundary Road, Hog Bay Road, American River Road. Conditions are continually changing.
The advice was to leave now. This bushfire may threaten your safety. Check that the path is clear and go to a safer place. Do not enter this area as conditions are dangerous.
At 1pm there were 15 appliances, six aircraft and farm fire units responding.
For updates, check the CFS website at cfs.sa.gov.au or phone the Information Hotline on 1800 362 361.

Update 1.20pm: American River resident Thea Meadows was among residents in the area evacuating and reported aircraft just started water bombing at 1.15pm. She was watching the fire from the intersection of Moores Road and Hog Bay Road.
Meanwhile, the forecast for Kingscote was 34 degrees, with moderate to gentle northwesterly winds, shifting to southwest and southeast in the evening. The forecast for tomorrow, Dec. 18, was a very hot 39 degrees.
CFS volunteers on 7 trucks, supported by 7 aircraft, including firebombers and observational aircraft are on scene working to extinguish the fire.
The operations are also being supported by SA Police and farm fire units.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
Roads have been closed due to this incident, including:
- Boundary Road, Haines
It is unknown when roads will be reopened at this time. Emergency services may be working on and around roads in the area, and motorists are advised to stay away. If you need to travel on roads in the area, please take care and drive to the local conditions.

The SA Country Fire Service at 12.41pm on Wednesday, Dec. 17 issued a “Watch and Act - Leave Now” order [...]

16/12/2025

As we all know, many individuals and families on KI are living with financial stress and with Christmas just around the corner, we know sadly this stress is going to be at an all-time high.
This year the Community Centre again partnered with the school as a student community initiative with students helping to pack the hampers and write supportive cards for recipients.
An added bonus this year, the Community Centre also received donated toys from “The Island Riders” a group of 16 bikers and six passengers who held a ride collecting toys from around the island.
If you are needing support this Christmas or know a family who might, please ask them to reach out to the KI Community Centre on 8553 2809.

As we all know, many individuals and families on KI are living with financial stress and with Christmas just around [...]

16/12/2025

Check out all of our photos from the Kingscote pageant and parade in this week's Islander out from tomorrow - six pages of them!
The Islander print edition takes a break next week, but stories will continue to go up online over the holidays, ready for our next and final print edition of 2025 out on Dec. 31.
Have a great and safe holiday season and happy New Year!

The Advance Kingscote Christmas Pageant at the oval on Friday evening, preceded by the Penneshaw carols the week before, kicked [...]

16/12/2025

The Kingscote Farmers & Artisans Market is excited to announce that its new container stalls will be available to rent over summer, with stall holders able to open them whenever they want. Applications must be submitted to the committee at [email protected] by December 31.
The two containers consist of four partitioned stalls in each one and offer stall holders the opportunity to operate semi-permanent micro-businesses, as well as participating in the markets.
While not suitable for food preparation, food could be brought to be sold, while the individual stalls were large enough to share between two vendors.

The Kingscote Farmers & Artisans Market is excited to announce that its new container stalls will be available to rent [...]