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Want $50 back on your next coastal meal? Here’s how to claim it

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Want $50 back on your next coastal meal? Here’s how to claim it

  • Maan
  • By Maan
1760401010386.png Want $50 back on your next coastal meal? Here’s how to claim it
$50 cashback on coastal meals—don’t miss out! Image source: Pexel/ Taryn Elliott | Disclaimer: This is a stock image used for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual person, item, or event described.

When was the last time a government paid you to enjoy a meal?


South Australians now have that chance, with $50 cashback vouchers available at coastal restaurants hit by a toxic algal bloom.


The initiative aims to support local businesses while giving residents a reason to visit affected beaches and enjoy a meal by the sea.




The scale of the algal bloom


The algal bloom was first spotted in mid-March 2025 near Waitpinga and Parsons beaches on the Fleurieu Peninsula, quickly spreading to cover about a quarter of South Australia’s coastline.


Marine scientists describe the event as the largest environmental disaster in living memory for the state, affecting roughly 400 species of fish, invertebrates and other marine life.


Premier Peter Malinauskas announced a $15 million dining voucher program alongside federal Environment Minister Murray Watt, calling it 'unique' and 'a big investment' to boost coastal communities ahead of summer.


The program allocates 60,000 vouchers each month from November through a public ballot, offering $50 cashback for every $100 spent at eligible eateries in affected areas, exclusively for South Australians.


The bloom’s underlying cause is a marine heatwave that began in September 2024, which raised water temperatures by about 2.5°C and created ideal conditions for the harmful Karenia mikimotoi algae.




The role of climate change


Climate change has amplified the problem, with autumn 2025 air temperatures soaring up to 10 degrees above average, combined with calm seas and nutrient-rich runoff feeding the algae.


Karenia mikimotoi is toxic to marine life, killing fish and invertebrates through gill tissue damage and suffocation from algae-filled gills.


The visual impact is stark—beaches along the Port River, West Lakes, Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula and the Coorong are now discoloured or foamy, deterring visitors and harming local businesses.



'We are dealing with something that is just really hard. It's new.'

Marine biologist Shauna Murray, NewsWire


The human toll extends beyond marine life.


Port Lincoln Mayor Diana Mislov described fishermen who haven’t seen squid in usual spots since April, forcing them to travel 600 kilometres to the west coast, dramatically increasing fuel costs and cutting income.


Tourism parks, recreational fishing suppliers and coastal hospitality businesses are suffering revenue losses as visitors avoid affected areas, with summer holidays looming.




Government support measures


In July 2025, the state’s Emergency Management Committee approved a $28 million harmful algal bloom support package, with dining vouchers forming one component.


The government is also waiving fees for affected licence holders from April to June 2025, conducting daily inspections at 23 beaches, and providing real-time updates via Surf Life Saving’s BeachSafe app, alongside record beach patrols.


Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt affirmed federal backing, stating the government will continue working closely with South Australia for the duration of the crisis.


The bloom’s movement is unpredictable, influenced by weather and currents, but monitoring systems allow residents and visitors to make informed decisions.



How to stay informed and safe



  • Check algalbloom.sa.gov.au for daily updates

  • Download the BeachSafe app for real-time beach conditions

  • Call the algal bloom hotline: 1800 774 779 (9am-5pm daily)

  • Look for discoloured or foamy water before swimming—swim only at patrolled beaches between the flags





Long-term environmental concerns


Scientists had long predicted that climate change would increase harmful oceanic algal blooms, and South Australia is now witnessing these predictions in real time.


Similar events are occurring across Australia, from southern fish kills to coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo, showing how quickly environmental changes can affect local communities and economies.


The bloom raises long-term concerns about toxic compounds accumulating in seaweed and seagrass, potentially disrupting marine ecosystems for years.


The dining voucher program offers South Australians a chance to support coastal businesses while enjoying subsidised meals, with a monthly ballot giving multiple opportunities to participate.


Bacchus Bar owner Jodi Dimond at Henley Beach described the vouchers as a 'great idea' and expects they will draw people from across the city to coastal areas in need of visitor dollars.


The initiative symbolises more than economic support—it reflects solidarity with communities facing the unpredictable impacts of climate change along Australia’s coastline.



What This Means For You


Want $50 back on your next coastal meal? Here’s how to claim it. The government is offering a limited number of dining vouchers that give you $50 cashback for every $100 spent at eligible coastal restaurants.


This is more than just a chance to enjoy a meal by the sea—it’s an opportunity to support local businesses that have been hit hard by environmental challenges. Whether you love a quiet lunch overlooking the water or a relaxed dinner with friends, this program makes it easier to enjoy a coastal dining experience without stretching your budget.


It’s simple to participate, and the vouchers are allocated through a monthly ballot, giving plenty of opportunities to get involved and make the most of this unique offer. For those looking to combine a day out by the coast with a bit of savings, this is a chance not to miss.






If the idea of getting cashback while enjoying meals caught your attention, there’s another way to make your spending work for you.


Shopping doesn’t have to be just about buying what you need—it can also put money back in your pocket.


We’ve rounded up a guide that shows how to maximise cashback opportunities in everyday purchases, similar to how dining vouchers help stretch your budget.


Read more: Seniors are getting paid to shop! Here's the ultimate guide to cashback shopping



Have you considered using the dining vouchers to support struggling coastal businesses, or witnessed the algal bloom’s impact firsthand?

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And that gutless, useless PM of ours wouldn't call it a disaster.
This useless and gutless bloke is an absolute disaster for Australia .... :mad:
 
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Climate change has amplified the problem, with autumn 2025 air temperatures soaring up to 10 degrees above average, combined with calm seas and nutrient-rich runoff feeding the algae.

What a load of rubbish!

Victor Harbour, which is on Fleurieu Peninsula, had a mean March 2025 temperature of 25.5 deg C versus a 25 years mean 23.6 deg C. April had a 2025 mean of 23.1 deg C versus 21.5 deg C and May 19.6 deg C versus 18.6 deg C over 25 years.

Where is the 10 degrees over average?

In the warped minds of climate change nutjobs!

 
Please tell me what the Prime Minister has to do with a natural phenomenon.

Did Albanese get blamed for Cyclone Tracy? 🤣
Absolutely nothing Veggie; just sick to death of this turd ..... ;) I am merely saying that Albanese is a walking disaster, nothing else .....
 
Last edited:
And that gutless, useless PM of ours wouldn't call it a disaster.
Yes, completely gutless, apart from standing up to Trump by disagreeing with him about climate change, recognising Palestine and the tariffs imposed on Australia.

And yes, absolutely useless, apart from reducing the rate of income tax for all Australians when the Liberals policy at the last election was to increase income taxes, strengthening the health system by increasing Medicare bulk billing, 60 day PBS prescriptions thereby reducing the costs of medications, increased child care rebates, funding to ensure a nurse is on duty in every aged care facility, construction of urgent care clinics in every state to reduce pressure on hospitals, making the superannuation system less of a tax avoidance scheme for the super rich by reducing tax concessions, reducing unemployment (including the highest level of job creation in a single parliamentary term by any Australian government), $4 billion dollars in savings by reducing the level of consultants and contractors in the Australian Public Service, reducing student's HECS debt by 20%, introducing the world's first ban on social media for children under sixteen, increasing real wages for the working class (including 28% increase for aged care workers), criminalising wage theft, fee-free TAFE courses, increased single parent payments, increased paid parental leave by 6 months, legislated superannuation for maternity payments, 27.5% increase in Commonwealth Rental Assistance, first budget surplus in 15 years (including back to back surpluses) that had not been achieved by Rudd, Gillard, Abbott, Turnbull or Morrison, signing Australia's first defence pact for seventy years (PNG), getting China to remove it's damaging tariffs on Australia imposed after Morrison wrecklessly accused it of causing the Covid epidemic, enhancing the transition to renewable energy by providing substantial subsidies for solar systems and home batteries resulting in 30,000 installations a month, and $300 energy bill relief for low income households.

So yes, Albanese is a useless, do nothing PM who needs to be turfed out at the next election.
 
Yes, completely gutless, apart from standing up to Trump by disagreeing with him about climate change, recognising Palestine and the tariffs imposed on Australia.

And yes, absolutely useless, apart from reducing the rate of income tax for all Australians when the Liberals policy at the last election was to increase income taxes, strengthening the health system by increasing Medicare bulk billing, 60 day PBS prescriptions thereby reducing the costs of medications, increased child care rebates, funding to ensure a nurse is on duty in every aged care facility, construction of urgent care clinics in every state to reduce pressure on hospitals, making the superannuation system less of a tax avoidance scheme for the super rich by reducing tax concessions, reducing unemployment (including the highest level of job creation in a single parliamentary term by any Australian government), $4 billion dollars in savings by reducing the level of consultants and contractors in the Australian Public Service, reducing student's HECS debt by 20%, introducing the world's first ban on social media for children under sixteen, increasing real wages for the working class (including 28% increase for aged care workers), criminalising wage theft, fee-free TAFE courses, increased single parent payments, increased paid parental leave by 6 months, legislated superannuation for maternity payments, 27.5% increase in Commonwealth Rental Assistance, first budget surplus in 15 years (including back to back surpluses) that had not been achieved by Rudd, Gillard, Abbott, Turnbull or Morrison, signing Australia's first defence pact for seventy years (PNG), getting China to remove it's damaging tariffs on Australia imposed after Morrison wrecklessly accused it of causing the Covid epidemic, enhancing the transition to renewable energy by providing substantial subsidies for solar systems and home batteries resulting in 30,000 installations a month, and $300 energy bill relief for low income households.

So yes, Albanese is a useless, do nothing PM who needs to be turfed out at the next election.
Like I said before, replying to a previous post ..... this bloke is a disaster ..... btw Crowman, I totally agree with your comments .... 👏 The sooner we can get rid of this turd (preferably before the next election), the bloody better ....
 
Climate change has amplified the problem, with autumn 2025 air temperatures soaring up to 10 degrees above average, combined with calm seas and nutrient-rich runoff feeding the algae.

What a load of rubbish!

Victor Harbour, which is on Fleurieu Peninsula, had a mean March 2025 temperature of 25.5 deg C versus a 25 years mean 23.6 deg C. April had a 2025 mean of 23.1 deg C versus 21.5 deg C and May 19.6 deg C versus 18.6 deg C over 25 years.

Where is the 10 degrees over average?

In the warped minds of climate change nutjobs!

Climate change nutjobs?? The perfect description of these fanatics. 😫😫🤮🤮
 

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