Glenelg beach blanketed with foam as Premier announces algal bloom hotline

ABC NEWS (Australia)

South Australians with questions about the state's algal bloom will soon be able to call an official government hotline. The Premier says the call centre will provide the latest information about the bloom and combat conspiracy theories on social media. It comes as the state government seeks more Commonwealth funding for its eagerly anticipated summer plan, which is due to be released later this month.

Transcript

00:00Another day, another foamy beach.

00:05This is pretty, pretty disgusting really to look at, yeah, as a visitor.

00:10Glenelg's south shoreline this morning covered as the algal bloom persists on the metropolitan coast.

00:16It's pretty foamy, the wind's coming offshore so it's like blowing up onto the footpath and everything.

00:21Everyone's getting covered in foam, cars are getting covered in foam, so it's pretty gross.

00:25The latest data shows the highest algae concentrations stretched from the northern St Vincent Gulf down to Brighton.

00:31Authorities say they're not surprised foam events are becoming more frequent.

00:35Given our understanding of where the algae is and how it's moving down the coast,

00:39and the likely onshore winds and conditions, then we will see that event.

00:45From October 3rd, those concerned about going to the beach can call a new algal bloom hotline for official information.

00:52It'll be open seven days a week for questions about beach safety, business support grants, and the latest health advice.

00:59The Premier says the government is competing against conspiracies on social media.

01:03If someone sees something on social media, they're not too sure if it's accurate or not.

01:06One thing they can do, they can go to the government's website, or they can pick up the phone and ask someone.

01:10The Premier making an ask of his own today with the Federal Environment Minister in town.

01:15The state government seeking funds from the Commonwealth for its algal bloom summer plan.

01:19There is going to have to be funding allocated to this because this is a new effort.

01:23This is new policy measures.

01:25These are things that we are going to be doing that we haven't done before.

01:29We would consider any request made by the South Australian government and that will stand by South Australia.

01:33The opposition wants to see the details now.

01:36The government said that the plan would be here in October.

01:39Well, guess what? We're in October now. Where is the summer plan?

01:43A persisting bloom with persistent politics.

01:49Thank you very much indeed.

01:51Aag the

01:54katai

01:56A

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