MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: 8 December 2025
Council Expands Advocacy Push Ahead of 2026 State Election
District Council of Robe Advocacy Focus 2026
Photos: South Australian Tourism Commission, Adam Bruzzone
The District Council of Robe has intensified its advocacy ahead of the 2026 State Election, providing its Advocacy Focus 2026 document to key State and Federal representatives to highlight the critical priorities facing the community. The advocacy outlines three major projects essential to Robe’s long-term future: an Early Learning & Childcare Hub, high-risk Coastal Hazard Adaptation, and the Imagine Robe Town Centre Precinct Renewal.
Mayor Ruffell said the advocacy builds on recent efforts to raise awareness of the pressures facing small coastal councils.
“Robe is one of the smallest councils in South Australia, yet we carry some of the biggest challenges. Our coastline is vulnerable, our early learning services are stretched, and our town centre must safely manage extraordinary seasonal visitor numbers. More recently, we have been drawing attention to the financial pressures experienced by small councils like ours, including our very low Financial Assistance Grant allocation. This advocacy work brings all these issues together and clearly outlines what Robe needs to remain strong, resilient and liveable.”
On Thursday 27 November 2025, Mayor Ruffell and Chief Executive Officer Nat Traeger met with the Minister for Education, the Hon Blair Boyer MP, at Parliament House to present the advocacy document and discuss the significant pressures on early learning in Robe. Discussion included the looming impact of universal three-year-old preschool, rising demand for childcare, and the limitations of the mobile CCOWS service model.
The advocacy document has now been formally shared with all relevant South Australian Ministers and Shadow Ministers, including those responsible for climate and environment, coastal management, planning, infrastructure, tourism, small business, local government, regional development, women, health and education. Federal representatives, including Member for Barker Tony Pasin MP, senior SA-based Ministers Amanda Rishworth MP and Mark Butler MP, and the Ministers for Infrastructure and Environment, have also received the material.
Chief Executive Officer Nat Traeger said the challenges highlighted in the advocacy document are interconnected and increasingly urgent.
“We are at a point where multiple pressures are converging—severe weather damage to our coastline, constrained early learning facilities, and a town centre experiencing significant seasonal congestion. At the same time, our status as a very small council with one of the lowest per-capita Financial Assistance Grant allocations in the state presents real financial constraints. These issues cannot be solved by Council alone. They require partnership with State and Federal governments.”
The Advocacy Focus 2026 document seeks commitment to progressing a purpose-built Early Learning & Childcare Hub, accelerating Robe’s Coastal Hazard Adaptation and Implementation Plan, and supporting the staged renewal of the town centre precincts through national funding programs such as the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program and the Disaster Ready Fund.
Mayor Ruffell said Council will continue to advocate strongly in the lead-up to the election.
“Robe contributes enormously to South Australia’s tourism identity, heritage value and regional economy. We are making sure that those who shape the next government understand our needs and our aspirations. This is about ensuring Robe continues to thrive for generations to come.”
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Contact:
Mayor Ruffell Nat Traeger
Mayor Chief Executive Officer
mayorruffell@robe.sa.gov.au ceo@robe.sa.gov.au
0474 581 595 0429 799 526