Tuesday, 5th
August 2025
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Algal Bloom
Support Fails Local Businesses
Victor Harbor Chamber slams
delayed response and flawed grant program, says business confidence, certainty
and trade has been lost!
Business Victor Harbor (BVH) has rebuked the State
Government’s response to the harmful algal bloom crisis as “delayed and deeply
inadequate,” warning that the economic damage to local trade and tourism has
already been done — and won’t be reversed by late-stage advertising or narrow
grant schemes.
In the past three months, businesses across marine tourism,
hospitality, accommodation, and seafood retail have reported downturns of up to
40%, according to member feedback and informal surveys. “This isn’t support —
it’s spin,” said BVH Executive Officer Colin Shearing. “You can’t parachute in
a policy months later and expect businesses to suddenly recover lost revenue.
Confidence & certainty is harder to restore than cashflow.” While the
recently announced $10,000 Small Business Support Grant is a welcome gesture,
BVH says the narrow eligibility criteria makes the scheme largely unworkable
for the types of businesses hardest hit in the Fleurieu region.
Key concerns include:
• The requirement for applicants
to be registered with the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) — which
excludes operators in seafood, hospitality, and other sectors not typically
listed or promoted through the platform.
• A flawed turnover comparison period — including Easter in
2025 but not in 2024 — which artificially inflates current figures and
disqualifies many seasonal operators despite clear downturns. BVH, the South
Australian Business Chamber and Tourism Industry Council of SA have stepped up
quickly to support affected operators, despite other agencies such as the SA
Tourism Commission and FPT which have remained largely silent.
“Victor Harbor
was left to fend for itself” said BVH Chair Gavin Daniell. “But that’s exactly
what we’ve done — and we’ll continue to do so. Our message remains clear:
Victor Harbor is open for business.”
Business Victor Harbor is calling for:
• Immediate review of grant eligibility settings, including
the ATDW requirement
• Revised trading period comparisons that reflect seasonal
realities
• Properly funded recovery and confidence campaigns for
impacted regions
• Transparent communication about environmental causes and
long-term solutions
• Recognition and backing of local initiatives like Small
Business Week Victor Harbor, which BVH will deliver this September to support
resilience, visibility and connection across the business community
“This is a
moment that called for leadership, clarity, and practical action” said
Shearing. Instead, we got silence, red tape, and delayed promises. The Fleurieu deserves better — and we’re not afraid to say
so.”
Victor Harbor is open for business! Recovery takes more than slogans.
Media contact: Colin Shearing Executive Officer – Business
Victor Harbor eo@businessvictorharbor.com.au 0413 282 641
