October 2025 edition

Management of Land During the 2025/2026
Fire Danger Season

The Fire Danger Season in the District Council of Karoonda East Murray runs from 1 November 2025 to 30 April 2026. With low rainfall and hot conditions, vegetation dries quickly, now is the time to ensure your yard, block, or land is properly cleared.

Council requirements:

• Land under 1 hectare: Maintain all undergrowth at or below 10 cm (4 inches).

• Vacant land over 1 hectare: Establish a 5 m fuel break around the perimeter, keeping grass, weeds, pest plants, and undergrowth to a maximum of 10 cm.

• Rural land: Clear grass, weeds, and undergrowth within 5 m of dwellings and 20 m of sheds.

One mow or slash is not enough to meet legal requirements under the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005. Landowners must continue to monitor and maintain vegetation throughout the season. Council may issue a legal notice to clear land if it poses a fire hazard.

Responsibility for maintaining your land rests with you. Contact a service provider if needed to ensure compliance.

For questions or assistance, please contact Council on 8578 1004.

Australian Government Mobile Service in Karoonda

The Australian Government Mobile Service will be in Karoonda on Thursday, 6 November 2025, from 9:30 am–3:00 pm opposite the Council Office on Railway Terrace. Services staff can help with Medicare and Centrelink services, including myGov accounts, card enrolments, payment options, and social work support. Free Wi-Fi is available, and face-to-face assistance means you can get help locally without a long trip.

Social Media Age Restrictions

From 10 December 2025 Australian young people under 16 will not be allowed to create or hold accounts on certain social media platforms. Delaying account access allows more time for young people to build digital literacy and greater resilience.

Click the link below to visit eSafety’s social media age restrictions hub to find out what’s happening and how to prepare. The hub includes practical guidance for parents and carers and young people, including get-ready guides and actions plans to prepare for the change.

Nominations OPEN: 2026 Citizen of the Year Awards!

Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond in our community? Council encourages you to nominate them for the 2026 Citizen of the Year Awards. The awards recognise and celebrate individuals and groups that have made an exceptional contribution to our community. 

Nominate them today and give them the recognition they deserve!

Categories include:

• Citizen of the Year (for Australian Citizens)
• Young Citizen of the Year (16–30 years old)
• Community Event of the Year
• Award for Active Citizenship (open to all)

Nominations close 16 November 2025! 
Click the below link to learn more and nominate someone today! 

Celebrating Rural Women! 

Earlier this month, we marked International Day of Rural Women, a United Nations initiative recognising the vital role women play in rural communities worldwide. To celebrate, Council hosted a special luncheon on the Karoonda Town Oval, bringing together over 50 community members! Guests enjoyed a delicious lunch, great company, relaxing massages, and wellbeing goodie bags to take home.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the event such a success.

This event was proudly delivered through the Connecting Communities Program, supported by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions under the Family and Business Support Program.

Rock Tree Gets A Glow Up!

Recently, Karoonda’s Rock Swap Tree got a splash of colour with a brand-new plaque created by Brock Marchant, now proudly placed at its base.

How to Join the Fun:
1. Find clean, unpolished rocks (river stones work best!).
2. Use acrylic paints or permanent markers to decorate them.
3. Add “SA ROCKS” to the back of the rock and include your postcode so people can see how far your rock travels!
4. If you can, seal the rock with a clear coat to protect it from the weather.
Once you’ve made your rock, you can hide it at the tree or around town.

Found a Rock?
Take a photo and post it to the SA Rocks Facebook page. Then you can:
• Re-hide it somewhere new and update the Facebook group with the new location.
• Or keep it, but be sure to paint and hide your own to keep the fun going.

Santa Claus is Coming to Karoonda! 

Join the community on Saturday, 6 December 2025 as the Mallee Business Association proudly presents the 2025 Karoonda Christmas Parade.

Bring your family and friends for an afternoon of fun, starting from 4pm in the Karoonda main street! Enjoy the magical Christmas parade, delicious food, fun for all ages! 

Mark your calendars and don’t miss out on this wonderful community event!

*** Are you entering a float in the parade? ***
Click the below link to complete your registration form today! 

Have You Collected a Pallet Christmas Tree?

If you’ve collected a pallet tree to decorate, please return it to the Council office by Friday, 31 October 2025.This gives the council team time to prep each tree for installation in November, with the trees to be displayed along Karoonda’s main street for everyone to enjoy.

We can’t wait to see all your creative displays! 

Karoonda Silos glowing with local creativity! 

The Karoonda Silos are glowing with a creativity this October, with 2 amazing exhibitions playing each night from sunset! 

Enjoy the colour-rich works of Mannum Creative Communities, celebrating local talent from our neighbouring Mid Murray region, and the thought-provoking digital art of Dulce Maria Diaz-Llanos Montes, exploring the impact of social media on mental health.

Catch the exhibitions every night in October from sunset!