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A snapshot from the City of Whyalla ordinary meeting on Monday, January 22, 2018.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME: Mr G Ettridge presented questions to the council which were answered. Questions from Mr J. Scott were read out and answered.
SEA SQUADRON: Chief Executive Officer Chris Cowley announced that the Whyalla Sea Squadron had obtained outside grant funding for their project to rejuvenate the car parking area outside its headquarters at the marina. Mr Cowley remarked on what good news this was and council would be working with the Sea Squadron to complete this work.
MEMORIAL GARDEN: Mayor Lyn Breuer made comment on the memorial at the garden that had become faded with pictures almost unrecognisable. The Mayor said much work had been done in trying to re-source these pictures to renovate the memorial. She urged council to continue the work to restore this memorial to its original glory.
BENNETT OVAL MASTER PLAN: The master plan was presented to council to be ratified as the blueprint for any future sporting developments in the city. There was much discussion from councillors on the time this plan has been in progress and that circumstances in Whyalla had changed. Cr Jenny Barnes commented that it was not appropriate to adopt this plan due to potential future developments in the city. A motion to “let the matter lie on the table” in regards to the Bennett Oval Master Plan was carried.
WHYALLA DAIRY: Cr David Knox requested information on why the Whyalla Dairy had been demolished. CEO Mr Cowley replied that an investigation would be conducted on this matter.
TOURISM BROCHURES: Councillors endorsed the plan to distribute the Unearth Whyalla tourism brochures throughout the city to Whyalla businesses as well as the visitor centre. This is designed to engage Whyalla businesses in Whyalla’s tourism and to boost business trade. Cr Jenny Barnes spoke in support of this plan and it was carried.
MOUNT LAURA HOMESTEAD MUSEUM: Cr Tom Antonio enquired about the timeframe for works at the homestead after $80,000 was approved in the 2017-18 Capital budget. He asked that council meet with homestead management to prioritise these works. CEO Mr Cowley replied that meetings had been held with the committee tasked with the project and work is expected to be finished by June 30.
DISABILITY SPACE: A motion was carried that council approve the conversion of the female change rooms adjacent to the sports hall at the Whyalla Leisure Centre into a disability friendly program. The YMCA (which runs the leisure centre) will fund this conversion. This proposal was spoken about by several councillors in glowing terms.
AUSMELT PLANT: A motion was proposed by Cr David Knox that the Regional Development Australia Whyalla Eyre Peninsula (RDAWEP) be approached to investigate the possible re-use or sale of the mothballed Outotec Pty Ltd smelter and report back in three months. This was carried.
RDAWEP: A motion was proposed by Cr David Knox that enquiries be made to RADAWEP regarding monies transferred to that body on its establishment and money contributed each year by council. This was carried.
MOTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
PUBLIC CONSULTATION: Cr Tom Antonio proposed a motion that council write to Susan Close (the South Australian Minister for Education and Child Development and Minister for Higher Education and Skills) to get the full details on the process for the public consultation over the State Government’s proposed new school in Whyalla. This was carried.
This a brief summary of the business conducted at the meeting. The exact minutes of the meeting will be available in the near future on the council website.