Helping South Australians get out on the water this summer

Monday 1 December 2025

Boaties will have free access to boat ramps across the state starting from today (December 1), as part of the State Government’s initiatives to support recreational fishing and ensure South Australians can enjoy visiting our spectacular coastline this summer.
 
The State Government has worked with local councils to provide free boat launch facilities to all recreational boat owners for the next 12 months.
 
As part of the comprehensive Algal Bloom Summer Plan – jointly funded with the Federal Government – the Department for Infrastructure and Transport is also providing a 50 per cent discount on recreational boat and light boat trailer registrations for 12 months, benefitting up to 55,000 boat owners across the state.The initiatives will support boating communities and coastal businesses affected by the algal bloom by encouraging more people to get out on the water this summer.

Along with not having to pay launch fees – which vary according to council districts but are typically about $10 per launch – boat owners could save hundreds of dollars over the year.

Boat registration fees vary depending on the length of the vessel. The current annual registration fee for a light boat trailer is $95. This initiative will see the registration component for light boat trailers reduced by 50 per cent, saving $47 for trailer owners annually.

If you own a boat or boat trailer registered in South Australia, the 50 per cent reduction will be applied to the registration fee and levy (applicable for boats only) on your renewal notice from 1 December 2025.

If your boat or boat trailer is currently unregistered and you wish to use it, you will need to register it before use as normal.

To mark the first day of summer, Surf Life Saving South Australia (SLSSA) patrols have also increased to seven days a week, up from weekends and public holidays, at eight popular beaches between now and April 6, 2026.

The beaches are Semaphore, Henley Beach, Glenelg, Brighton, Port Noarlunga, Moana, Aldinga and Goolwa.

As always, the safest place to swim is between the red and yellow flags. This summer, SLSSA patrols will check conditions every day and place the flags where the water is safest, giving everyone confidence to swim between them.

The patrols will be mobile and able to move to alternative beaches depending on conditions.

The free Beachsafe app, and its companion website Beachsafe.org.au, will now include four reports a day – up from one morning report – from 23 popular beaches across the metropolitan and southern coast.

Using the Beachsafe app or website is the best way to check daily conditions to help plan your visit to the beach.

South Australians can use Beachsafe to access up-to-date information for popular beaches including whether there is any abnormal foam, abnormally coloured water and when the beach was cleaned. Each report features a new beach photo with water views.

The State Government is continuing to coordinate daily clean-ups along metro and key regional beaches in partnership with local councils and other organisations, ensuring people can enjoy visiting the beach this summer.

For more information on the algal bloom, including how the State and Federal governments are supporting coastal communities and ways to get involved in the recovery, visit algalbloom.sa.gov.au.