Environment and Land Management

After a disaster, the land and animals around you may need to be treated differently. There’s a range of information, services and resources available to help you look after your own property and animals, and the native vegetation and animals in your area.

For advice on land management issues such as soil protection, weeds, foxes and rabbits, farm planning, pasture recovery, river and creeks, and bush vegetation, contact your Landscape South Australia office or visit Landscape SA

Livestock

For advice or assistance with treating injured livestock contact your local veterinarian.

Alternatively, you can call the PIRSA Agriculture and Livestock Hotline on 1800 255 556.

PIRSA can help:

  • assess injured livestock
  • advise on how to access veterinary services
  • assist with euthanasing severely injured livestock on welfare grounds
  • locate livestock
  • inspect livestock
  • provide advice on disposal options for deceased livestock
  • coordinate emergency fodder, water and fencing through Livestock SA
  • coordinate recovery measures.

More recovery information is available on the PIRSA website.

Advice on disposing of animal carcasses and other forms of waste is available on the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) website or phone 8204 2004.

Native animals 

If you encounter an injured native animal after a disaster, contact your local wildlife rescue group for further advice.

If you intend to care for an injured native animal short-term, and have the skills and resources to do so, you must obtain a permit.

Rescue or rehabilitate native animals permit information

Feeding native animals is generally not recommended as it can affect their natural behaviour, nutrition intake and cause the spread of disease. However, some animals may benefit from short-term supplementary feeding after a disaster, until the natural environment has recovered.

The Department for Environment and Water has further information on feeding wildlife

Aboriginal heritage is protected, even after natural disasters

Aboriginal heritage sites, objects and remains in South Australia are protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988, including after natural disaster events. While a disaster may impact or obscure Aboriginal heritage, it can also result in greater visibility of Aboriginal sites in the landscape.

You should submit an online search request via Taa wika to manage any risk of impact to reported or determined Aboriginal sites if you need to:

  • undertake ground disturbance
  • clear fire breaks
  • back burn

To discuss Aboriginal heritage issues in impacted regions, please contact Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation

Drinking water

With water flow levels in the River Murray continuing to rise, our priorities remain providing you with safe and reliable water and wastewater services, and keeping our people and the community around us safe.

There are currently no impacts to our water or wastewater services for customers, but this may change as the high flows reach peak levels.

For more about flood water information, visit the SA Water Website.

Dams and waterways

The EPA works to protect SA waters from adverse impacts of pollution.

For more about water quality visit the EPA website.

Blue-green and other algal outbreaks

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (WA) has some simple control methods for algae.

If you would like to speak to someone about the quality of water in your dam or waterways, please contact Landscape SA staff.