Environment Minister Murray Watt commits $14m to tackle deadly algal bloom, warns no ‘overnight’ fix for South Australian coast

Murray Watt will commit $14m to tackle the toxic algal bloom plaguing the SA coast, however he warned the problem will not be solved “overnight”.

Environment Minister Murray Watt has approved a $14m funding request to combat the “unprecedented” giant toxic algal bloom decimating the South Australian coastline, after the government was accused of being “flat-footed” with their response.

While non-toxic to humans and animals, the harmful algae has resulted in the closure of a number of beaches and the death of thousands of fish, rays and other marine life.

Speaking from Adelaide on Monday, Senator Watt said the federal government was “unified in recognising that this is a very serious event facing South Australia”.

The $14m, which was requested by the state government on Sunday, will go towards the short-term requirements, and longer term needs to combat the algae bloom.

However, he said specific details had yet to be confirmed.

Environment Minister Murray Watt says there is no ‘overnight’ fix to the algal bloom. Picture: Martin Ollman / NewsWire

Some examples could include beach clean up, the removal of dead marine life, as well as support for small businesses and community awareness.

Conceding the problem won’t be solved “overnight”, Senator Watt also acknowledged the need for further science and research to prevent and combat future events.

“The reality is we are in uncharted waters here, this is an unprecedented event and one of the difficulties has been understanding exactly what its impacts are and what sort of response is required,” he said.

Thousands of marine animals have been washing up on South Australian beaches. Picture: Stefan Andrews / Great Southern Reef Foundation

“We are, to some extent, relying on weather conditions to help disperse the algal bloom but as you can see from this announcement today, the federal government remains absolutely willing to support South Australia in its management of this effort, and will continue to work South Australia.”

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said that while the funding was welcomed, it was “nowhere near what will be needed”.

“This is a catastrophe, an environmental disaster and an increasingly a community disaster. I am disappointed the minister stopped short of declaring a disaster,” she told the ABC.

“I understand the point around it does not fit in the checklist. I don’t care about the bureaucracy.”

The South Australian senator has made repeated calls for the federal government to declare the algal bloom a natural disaster or a national disaster, which the Senator Watt dismissed as algal blooms are not considered natural disasters, and do not meet the requirements as a national disaster.

However Senator Hanson-Young said the laws should be changed to “fit the crises we are facing,” and said current legislation was not “fit for purpose”.

“If it happened on Bondi Beach I think this government would have responded much sooner, the national media would have been much more focused on it, it has been very late coming but I’m glad we are there and it is down to the hard work and advocacy of the South Australian community,” she said.

The dead marine life includes rays, sharks and seahorses. Picture: Stefan Andrews / Great Southern Reef Foundation

Nationals Leader David Littleproud has also accused the government of being “flat-footed” in its response, and urged Labor to reinstate the Regional Investment Corporation, which would allow fisherman to access interest-free loans for two years.

The “Farm Household Allowance and other measures” should also be “triggered immediately”, he said.

“The government’s been flat-footed on this. If you cast your mind back to the fishkill and the Menindee Lakes, we actually had a $75m package within a matter of weeks,” he said.

“This government sat on this, watched it and watched livelihoods be torn up.”

Mr Littleproud also indicated support to broaden the definition of a natural disaster, which would allow for the easier transition of funds between commonwealth and state governments.

Originally published as Environment Minister Murray Watt commits $14m to tackle deadly algal bloom, warns no ‘overnight’ fix for South Australian coast