• More than a spoonful of dollars into Adelaide from theatre success
• Adelaide and South Korea team up to tackle methane emissions
• Asian giants hungry for South Australian produce
• Flinders Port agrees to new fleet
• Electric vehicles remain popular with South Australians
• Fleurieu Milk Company rolls out reusable kegs and bottles
• CHIA SA recognises artists living in community and social housing

More than a spoonful of dollars into Adelaide from theatre success

Popular musical Mary Poppins added a spoonful of dollars to South Australia’s economy as it emerged as one of the Adelaide Festival Centre’s most successful shows, generating $23.4 million for the state. 

Arts Minister Andrea Michaels heralded the show as the highest attended production since the pandemic, with record-breaking attendances of more than 110,000 people at the Adelaide Festival Centre during its almost eight-week run.

“Its success demonstrates not only the incredible cultural benefits of the arts with many children experiencing the theatre for the first time, but also the extraordinary economic return with thousands of people visiting Adelaide to see the show boosting our hotels, restaurants and small businesses,” Michaels said. 

Almost 20 per cent of musical goers hailed from regional South Australia, interstate or overseas. 

A new economic study by Barry Burgan Economic Research Consultants found the musical delivered an estimated total expenditure of $23.4 million to South Australia, including $20.5 million of new money. 

“Mary Poppins was one of our most successful shows ever at Adelaide Festival Centre and it’s wonderful to see the positive impact it’s had on the cultural landscape of our city and the state’s economy,” Festival Centre CEO Douglas Gautier said.

– Belinda Willis

CH4 Global is partnering with South Korea’s Lotte International to reduce methane emissions. Photo: supplied.

Adelaide and South Korea team up to tackle methane emissions

Adelaide and Nevada-based climate technology company CH4 Global (CH4) has partnered with South Korean multinational conglomerate Lotte International (Lotte) to reduce methane emissions in cattle.

The partnership sees CH4 providing up to four million South Korean cattle with the company’s enteric methane-reducing feed supplement made using Asparagopis – a red seaweed variant native to South Australia that reduces methane emissions from livestock by up to 90 per cent.

Upon receiving regulatory approval in South Korea, the partnership is expected to reduce Lotte’s cattle emissions by up to 10 million metric tonnes yearly, starting in 2025.

The initial supply from CH4 will go to the Lotte-owned Australian Wagyu Beef Feedlot in Queensland and feed up to 7000 cattle.

– Elisabeth Marie

South Australian exports of legumes and pulses to India grew by 210 per cent to $483 million. Photo: Pixabay.

Asian giants hungry for South Australian produce

South Australia’s export growth is two-and-a-half times greater than the national average due to demand from India and China as the state records a 17 per cent export increase to $17.7 billion.

India became SA’s fifth biggest export market with exports increasing by 10 per cent to $1.1 billion – most significantly, exports of green foods such as legumes and pulses to India grew by 210 per cent to $483 million.

China remains the state’s largest export market and has grown 48 per cent to $2.9 billion over the past 12 months with exports of iron ore and concentrates increasing by 50 per cent, copper by 172 per cent and wheat by 330 per cent.

Next month, Trade and Investment Minister Nick Champion will lead a trade mission to India to continue export growth – the first by a South Australian minister since 2017.

– William Barker

Flinders Port General Manager Carl Kavina with Hart Marine Managing Director Mal Hart. Photo: supplied.

Flinders Port agrees to new fleet

South Australian ports operator Flinders Port (FP) has agreed to upgrade its pilot vessel fleet by purchasing three new vessels from Melbourne-based boat builders Hart Marine over the next three years.

FP, which ranked seventh on this year’s South Australian Business Index of the state’s top 100 companies, chose Hart Marine as its technology reduces fuel usage, offers alternative fuels and uses fuel cell technologies that will see a 20 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency for FP with a carbon reduction equating to 43 tCO2 per vessel per year.

FP is also working with Hart Marine to improve safety measures, which include self-righting capabilities and a larger Pilot Vessel size providing crews additional room on the outer deck for pilot transfer and coxswain activities.

FP General Manager Carl Kavina said the agreement has sustainability top of mind.

“Working with Hart Marine to build state-of-the-art vessels and introduce innovative technologies allows us to meet our sustainability targets with a real and tangible focus on reducing fuel emissions now and into the future,” Kavina said.

– Elisabeth Marie

Electric vehicle sales have increased by 244 per cent in South Australia. Photo: Pexels.

Electric vehicles remain popular with South Australians

Electric vehicles (EVs) have continued growing in popularity in South Australia, with sales increasing 244 per cent in the first three quarters of 2023 according to new Motor Trade Association (MTA) statistics.

Tesla remains the most-sold EV on the SA market, but other manufacturers – such as BYD – are catching up by offering more affordable EV models.

MTA CEO Darrell Jacobs said despite growing sales, now is not the time for the South Australian government to follow other states and scrap its $3,000 EV subsidy.

“Sales are growing, but we should not be taking away incentives when the average price of an electric vehicle is still significantly in excess of a petrol or diesel equivalent,” Jacobs said.

“With the right incentives, we can help decarbonise the transport sector without forcing motorists to pay for something beyond their means.”

– Elisabeth Marie

Fleurieu Milk Company has reintroduced milk bottles and kegs. Photo: Alex Green.

Fleurieu Milk Company rolls out reusable kegs and bottles

Fleurieu Milk Company (FMC) is reducing plastic waste by offering reusable milk kegs and refillable milk glasses.

FMC General Manager Nick Hutchinson said the process eliminates single-use plastic, with each 18-litre keg replacing nine two-litre plastic milk bottles.

“With each keg having a 10-year lifespan, our customers will eliminate the need for 7,000 single-use plastic bottles over a keg’s lifespan,” Hutchinson said.

The company has put 288 kegs into circulation, equating to over two million plastic bottles saved over each keg’s lifespan, and invested $350,000 to upgrade factory equipment to clean and refill the kegs.

Customer bottles can be refilled at Willunga Farmers’ Market, Adelaide Showgrounds Farmers’ Market, Adelaide Central Market, Fleurieu Milk’s factory door and other selected stores across South Australia.

– William Barker

CHIA SA CEO Luke Westenberg (right) with Elija Bravington, Maud Giles and artist Lilli Giles. Photo: supplied.

CHIA SA recognises artists living in community and social housing

The Community Housing Industry Association of South Australia (CHIA SA) awarded 14 community and social housing tenants for their artistic abilities at the biennial Community Housing Art Awards South Australia (CHARTS). 

This year’s event attracted 130 entries across four categories: Framed/Hanging; 3D/Sculpture; Photography, Digital and Graphic; and Poetry and Literature.

CHIA CEO Luke Westenberg said CHARTS shines a light on talented tenants living in community and social housing. 

“We know art brings people together, and by displaying their artwork, we hope CHARTS inspires engagement and a feeling of belonging in the community among tenants,” Westenberg said. 

“We also know the importance of art in helping people deal with a wide range of mental ill-health conditions and psychological distress. We hope tenants who entered CHARTS felt the experience helped improve their own wellbeing through creativity.”

The 2023 prize money totalled $7500 and the winners list is on the CHARTS website.

– Elisabeth Marie