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Whyalla Mayor Lyn Breuer has made a stand for Whyalla workers, industry and its economy as the City of Whyalla kicks back against a move to locate a proposed deep sea port at Cape Hardy.
Mayor Breuer appeared on Southern Cross News this week to reiterate Council's position on any action that excludes Whyalla in serious considerations for any new port on the Eyre Peninsula. She was responding to a motion without notice at a recent Eyre Peninsula Local Government Association (EPLGA) meeting that flagged support for the Cape Hardy site between Port Neill and Tumby Bay.
“This issue is too important for Whyalla to not kick back and state our case for this deep sea port,” Mayor Breuer said.
“Whyalla was considered in the ‘driver’s seat’ for a new deep sea port in Spencer Gulf to allow an increase in the exportation of iron ore, steel and other commodities.
“The previous State Government infrastructure plan identified Whyalla as the State’s leading port priority. It makes no difference that we now have a new State Government … logic says Whyalla is the best site for this port and we won’t stop in this fight to have it built here.
“We have the workforce here to build and maintain this port and we have the industry, here and nearby, that will gain the most benefit from this port being in Whyalla.
“If the current site here in Whyalla doesn’t fit all the requirements in regards to water depth, there are other alternatives that could be considered including an extended jetty structure.
“I will personally take this up with the Premier to make sure Whyalla’s workers, industry and our community is given a fair go in this process.”
At the March ordinary Council meeting, the elected members that were present voted unanimously to write to the EPLGA seeking reasons for its motion without notice and why due diligence wasn’t followed in its decision to back Cape Hardy as the port site.
Council has also written to South Australian Premier Steven Marshall to state Whyalla’s case for the new port.
“We will be seeking the support of Member for Giles Eddie Hughes and Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey in our bid to advance Whyalla as the site for the proposed deep sea port,” Mayor Breuer said.
“As a brown field site, Whyalla has multiple advantages including industrial grade infrastructure, abundant land and a resident workforce.
“An expanded third-party use port would unlock jobs throughout the region in addition to providing work during construction.
“We are the industrial powerhouse on the Eyre Peninsula and it just makes perfect sense to have the port built and run here.”