Council bid to dump fossil fuel sponsor from major event
An Adelaide Hills council wants to remove the state’s largest oil and gas company as sponsor for the annual Tour Down Under.
The Adelaide Hills Council is urging the state government to ditch fossil fuel company sponsorships for the annual Tour Down Under event for an alternative that does “not promote the burning of coal, oil or gas”.
At last Tuesday’s Adelaide Hills Council meeting, councillors voted in favour of writing to Premier Peter Malinauskas and Climate, Environment and Water Minister Emily Bourke to pull Santos sponsorship from the major sporting event.
The council said it would continue to support the Tour Down Under, which generated $62.5 million into the state economy in 2025 and featured more than 800,000 fans, but would not support fossil fuel advertisements.
This year’s Tour Down Under featured two stages in the Adelaide Hills Council district area, spanning more than 300 km through towns including Lobethal, Norton Summit, Carey Gully and Stirling.
Adelaide Hills Council mayor Nathan Daniell said the council had “declared a climate emergency” and that it “feels an obligation to express its concerns” around fossil fuel promotion.
“We commend the State Government for the way the Tour Down Under brings the international spotlight to regional South Australia, contributing to tourism and local economies,” Daniell said.
“We support the event. We’re just encouraging the State Government to seek alternative or additional sponsors that do not promote the burning of coal, oil or gas.”
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Conservation Council SA nature campaigner Darcey McNamara welcomed the council’s move, saying she was “concerned” about climate issues.
In January, the Willunga Hill climb was removed from the Tour Down Under stage due to extreme weather, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius and bushfire warnings.
“There has been a low progression across institutions and government regarding fossil fuel promotion and advertising,” McNamara said.
“One in five South Australians now live in a council with fossil fuel sponsorship banned.
“This letter would be a great nudge for state government to move in the right direction and follow suit with the ACT.”
McNamara urged Hills councillors to implement a total ban of fossil fuel sponsorship across council properties in the future.
But a state government spokesperson said Santos’ support was “vital” to the success of the Tour Down Under.
“Santos has been the naming rights sponsor of the Santos Tour Down Under since 2010,” the spokesperson said.
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“Support from Santos over the past 16 years has been essential in growing Australia’s greatest cycling race, offering equal prize money for men and women, and ensuring South Australia continues to deliver a world-class event.
“South Australia’s global leadership in decarbonisation is widely recognised – around 75 per cent of our electricity is now generated through renewables and we are on track to meet our revised target of 100 per cent net renewable generation by 2027.
“This achievement has only been possible because of the capacity of gas to firm the grid.”
It is the latest bid to have fossil fuel sponsors removed from major events and properties, with climate protestors disrupting the Norwood leg of the Tour Down Under in January.
Other councils have also opted to reject fossil fuel advertisements with Onkaparinga Council – the state’s largest council by population – voting in favour of banning new fossil fuel advertisements on council property in March.
Onkaparinga also hosts multiple stages of Tour Down Under, with cyclists racing through McLaren Vale, Willunga, Aldinga Beach and Flagstaff Hill.
The City of Mitcham also voted in favour of banning fossil fuel advertisements in September 2023, while the City of Charles Sturt does not support fossil fuel advertising in line with its “climate emergency declaration”.
In April, Adelaide University announced it would consider renaming its Santos Petroleum Engineering building following mounting pressure from climate protestors.
A petition urging Adelaide University’s Vice Chancellor to remove Santos from campus facilities has since exceeded 500 signatures.
The 2027 Santos Tour Down is scheduled to take place from January 16 to 24.
Santos was contacted for comment.
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