ABC South East SA

06/10/2026

About 1,000 people celebrated the opening of a new Hindu temple over the weekend with plenty of colour, joy and community spirit.

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir opened in Mount Gambier, with a procession through the city on Saturday and a community gathering at Wulanda on Sunday.

Local man Ravi Patel was one of the volunteers who dedicated their time to the mandir project.

"It was very magical seeing from what [the building] was to what it's become," he said.

05/10/2026

The combined impact of bird flu and a proposed wind farm near Nelson poses risks to threatened bird and bat species, ecologists say.

But developer HMC Capital says the project has undertaken extensive measures to mitigate the risks.

Victorian ecologists are warning of the "compounding risks" of bird flu and a proposal for the nation's tallest wind turbines on threatened species.

05/10/2026

South Australia is looking to join New South Wales and Western Australia with a registry for short-stay accommodation.

The scheme is still being shaped but the initial feedback from operators has been mixed, with some raising concerns about security and the impact on local government decisions.

The scheme is still being shaped but some operators are raising concerns about security and giving local governments control over land use and deciding rates.

04/10/2026

Audiences in the South East will lose access to Network 10's terrestrial channels, after the network and WIN Network failed to reach an agreement on a new deal.

"This is a business decision that reflects the realities of regional broadcasting," a WIN spokesperson said.

After a three-month reprieve, WIN confirms Network 10 will go from Mount Gambier, the Riverland and Griffith.

02/10/2026

Nearly $13 million has been committed to more than double the size of the Naracoorte Child Care Day Centre to help ease the town's shortage.

The centre is expected to move to the former TAFE site in 2029, and will expand from 35 to 90 places, with funding for the project from the state and federal governments.

The centre's waitlist has more than 80 children on it, with places taking 18 months to two years to open.

The site will also feature health, wellbeing and early education services for families.

01/10/2026

Dozens of jobs could be lost at one of Australia's largest paper mills near Millicent.

New owner Arbex is proposing what it is calling a "transformation project" at the 66-year-old mill.

"Local reports and rumours suggest the number of jobs at risk could be as high as 100, around a quarter of the workforce."

Dozens of jobs could be lost at one of Australia's largest paper mills as new owner Arbex flags a "transformation project" aimed at keeping the business sustainable.

29/09/2026

Under grey clouds there was a somber atmosphere at the Mount Gambier Police station this morning, as officers and community members commemorated National Police Remembrance Day.

Limestone Coast Superintendent Trent Cox said he hoped the public takes the time to reflect on the sacrifices officers make.

While there have been no police fatalities in SA the past 12 months, the 2023 death of Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig near Bordertown was one of many lives remembered.

“The passage of time doesn’t deaden the pain that people feel,” he said.

29/09/2026

Zara finds her forever home 🐕❤️

Earlier this year, Zara the kelpie survived a brutal hatchet attack.

Read the story: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-27/hatchet-attack-on-dog-at-nairne-prompts-rspca-appeal/106503154

After months of veterinary treatment, care and rehabilitation with RSPCA South Australia, she has made an incredible recovery and found her forever home.

Zara now lives in the country town of Penola with her devoted carer, Jodie, and fellow kelpie companion, Red.🥰

29/09/2026

Have you heard of companion ponies? 🐴🏇

Also known as stablemates or lead horses, these ponies play a special role on race day for the bigger horses at the track.

Edenhope-based horse trainer Sharni Julian says her companion pony Charlie Brown "keeps everyone in line".

"He is the most favourite horse in our stable. He goes to the races with us every time and every track ride," she said.

"They get quite unsettled when he's not there, he just stands beside them all day and his calm rubs off on them."

Listen back to Becc Bird's interview with Sharni here: https://ab.co/3TRGt9Y

28/09/2026

Women in SA's south-east have gathered at a forum to discuss the gaps in perinatal care in the region.

They are encouraging others to share their pre- and post-birth experiences with the Senate Select Committee on Women's Health, with its findings to be delivered next August.

Taegan Partington was stunned by the care gaps she found moving to regional SA after giving birth. She and other women want to have their say.