- Latest News
Council focuses to ‘Renew Whyalla’
Whyalla City Council is turning its focus to renewing the city’s existing retail precincts.
The council has connected with Renew Adelaide chief executive officer Tim Boundy, extending an invitation for him to visit Whyalla on Wednesday, May 10 to provide a presentation on the work Renew Adelaide has done, with the aim of identifying interest and suitability of operating a similar project in Whyalla.
The council is partnering with Advancing Whyalla and the City Plaza Business Association to bring Tim to Whyalla to present and connect with key locals who might benefit from participating in a Renew type project in Whyalla.
Whyalla mayor Lyn Breuer said the issue of chronic vacancies in the city’s commercial precincts was of concern to the council’s elected body and the business community.
“The council is seriously concerned about the growing number of vacancies throughout the city’s various commercial precincts, and is now looking for a solution to address this problem,” Ms Breuer said.
“In its search and discussions to identify possible solutions, the council became aware of the successful activities of Renew Adelaide and Renew Newcastle.
“We are keen to try new ideas that benefit our commercial precincts of Whyalla.”
Renew Adelaide Inc. is a not-for-profit organisation that has been developing creative enterprise in vacant space since 2010.
It is based on a highly successful project that came out of Newcastle, NSW, which involved 30-day, rent-free, rolling lease model that connected emerging creative and entrepreneur based initiatives with property owners to activate their buildings and provide them with the opportunity to trial their business concept whilst helping to revitalise commercial precincts both socially and economically.
Advancing Whyalla chairperson Keith Sichler said the group was excited by the opportunity the project presented for those that had an idea for establishing a retail business in the city.
“Depending on interest Advancing Whyalla sees a Renew type project as a program that we can help deliver in Whyalla,” Mr Sichler said.
“We will be connecting with our network to attract people to the presentation.”
City Plaza Business Association chairperson Colin Carter said the project presented an excellent opportunity for small business owners, or owners of properties in retail precincts to take advantage of new business ventures.
“Small businesses in commercial precincts are the backbone of our community; they create jobs, build and share wealth,” Mr Carter said.
“We are keen advocates for strong and vibrant commercial precincts and are looking forward to the presentation and finding out how we as an association can apply this unique project in Whyalla.”
Members of the public are invited to attend Tim’s presentation at the former Civic Library building, 3 Patterson Street at 5.15pm on Wednesday, May 10.
To find out more about Renew Adelaide and its unique work, visit www.renewadelaide.com.au