Our resilient regions
There’s no doubt South Australia’s regional communities are doing it tough, whether it’s due to drought or the ongoing algal bloom along the coast. We spoke to a few people about how these natural disasters are impacting them and how they’re fighting back
Words: Jeremy Rochow
Dealing with drought
“From December last year to May this year, it was definitely the driest period we’ve had in our lifetimes,” says central Yorke Peninsula farmer Katrina Nankivell.
“There wasn’t a blade of green anywhere and trying to keep stock alive during that period was very difficult.”
Katrina and her husband Ashley have cattle and crops on their Maitland farm, which has been in the family for six generations.
The couple’s daughter and their grandchildren also help on the farm regularly.
Between February 2024 and March of this year, the Yorke Peninsula recorded its lowest rainfall since at least 1900, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Katrina and Ashley had an average harvest in 2024, but the dry conditions in early 2025 has them concerned about this year’s crops.
“In the back of your mind, you don’t know whether it’s going to rain during spring or be drier than usual,” Katrina says.
The drought doesn’t just impact farmers but the whole community.
“When there are dry conditions, everyone tightens their belts,” Katrina says. “People will put machinery purchases and other things like that on hold because you just don’t know what the next year brings.
“There’s definitely a flow-on effect through the community.” Thankfully the Nankivells had enough hay stockpiled to feed their cattle during the driest period. Without knowing what lies ahead, they’ve taken advantage of government grants to buy rainwater tanks to capture water from the shed roof.
They’ve also bought water troughs for the stock as well as more grain storage. Yorke Peninsula isn’t the only area doing it tough, with other South Australian regions also experiencing drought conditions.
“I would say the epicentre of the drought is in the Mid North region of the state, so around Jamestown and that area,” Katrina says. “I have family at Hallett and it’s been very dry for about two or three years, so longer than here.”
Grant Chapman (above) whose farm is near Orroroo in the state’s Mid North, has experienced drought conditions for about three years.
The fifth-generation farmer had crops and livestock on his farm until about three years ago, when he decided to stop cropping and focus solely on sheep.
He was running about 2000 breeding ewes but had to reduce that to about 1200 due to the recent drought.
“We had to sell quite a few of our breeding stock and reduce our numbers because we weren’t able to feed that many,” Grant says.
“We were into our third year of poor seasons or drought, but we’ve had good rain since July, so things have improved dramatically feed-wise in our area.
“I think the feed drought is probably finished, but the financial drought is far from over.”
Grant had to change his farming practices while dealing with the drought, relying on confinement feeding – when farmers keep livestock in pens or small paddocks – and investing in hay and pellets to feed them.
“It’s been a huge outlay of money to keep the stock we’ve got,” he says. “But, it will take about two to three years to bounce back if we have a couple of good seasons now.”
Grant says the Mid North community has come together to help each other by supporting local businesses and holding drought-related events.
“Getting people together and talking about the drought with your friends, neighbours and community is good,” he says. “I think that probably goes a large way to helping with the problem.
A problem shared is a problem halved, isn’t it?”
Seas under siege
About 50 fishing families operate out of the Gulf St Vincent, providing seafood to South Australians and the world.
So, when they can’t fish due to the state’s current algal bloom crisis, there are ramifications for both commercial fishers and the wider community.
Port Wakefield-based commercial fisher Bart Butson (above) has been in the business for about 35 years and is a third-generation fisherman.
He first noticed the algal bloom in the Gulf St Vincent in June, with the water becoming cloudy and turning green.
“It progressed over several weeks and we noticed cuttlefish dying,” Bart says. “There were hundreds and hundreds of them floating of the surface – it was terrible to see.”
Bart had to stop fishing and is now living off savings while he waits to see if he qualifies for an Algal Bloom Support Package from the State Government.
First detected in March 2025, the algal bloom has spread across parts of the South Australian coast, impacting Fleurieu, Yorke and Eyre peninsulas, Gulf St Vincent, Port River, West Lakes, Kangaroo Island, and Spencer Gulf.
Bart says the southern section of the Yorke Peninsula, where locals rely more on tourism, has been hit hard.
“Tourism has slowed down because people aren’t going there to go fishing,” Bart says. “People go down to the bottom of Yorke Peninsula to either go fishing or be by the seaside, and people are worried about [the algal bloom].
“It’s caused widespread economic downturns, which is having a real impact on local businesses.”
While many South Australian coastal regions are doing it tough due to the algal bloom, Bart says locals have come together.
“The community do pull together to share their challenges and lobby for assistance,” he says. “I’ve seen a real togetherness, and I think that’s what will get us through in the end.”
While he’s been unable to fish, Bart has been advocating for other commercial fishers, attending a Senate Inquiry in September. He’s also hoping to work with State Government researchers to assess the impact of the algal bloom.
Although Bart’s been keeping himself busy, the impact of the algal bloom has impacted his mental health.
“I’m struggling a little bit as all of the fishermen in my position are,” he says.
“Personally, I’ve kept myself busy advocating on behalf of the industry, but there are about 50 fishing families that operate in this area, and we’re struggling in one way or another.”
So, how can we help the coastal regions impacted by the algal bloom?
“These regions are still great to visit, and we really need people to come to the regions and just look at all the other attractions we have, whether it’s museums or walking trails,” Bart says.
“So, come to the regions, and support us because we really need it.”
IMAGES: RAA/Mike Lockheart; Bec Smart.
