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There's two big projects happening in Whyalla involving our airport and a new jetty.
There is an information session being held for a proposed upgrade of the airport while the jetty construction site has been declared.
Read both stories below.
Airport plan information session
As part of its public consultation process, the City of Whyalla is holding an information session on the proposed airport project.
The meeting will be held at the Whyalla Public Library on Monday, September 9, 2019, starting at 6pm.
The airport project has been made necessary, in part, to meet the Australian Government measures to further strengthen Australia’s domestic and international aviation security with advanced screening technology.
Documentation for the proposed Whyalla Airport project is in the public consultation section of the Council website http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/publicconsultation with hard copies available from the front counter of Council’s offices on Darling Terrace. Feedback is invited until noon on Monday, September 16, 2019 and can be sent via email to council@whyalla.sa.gov.au or by mail to: PO Box 126, Whyalla SA 5600
It is proposed that Council will operate the airport as a standalone operation that meets costs through a competitive RPT charge that will provide enough revenue to run the airport.
Council CEO Chris Cowley said the mandatory security upgrade from the Federal Government was an ideal opportunity to expand the airport even further and create a facility likely to attract even more people to Whyalla. He said it would make flying in and out of the city safer and more enjoyable for locals, visitors and the increasing number of business people and FIFO workers using the facility.
This modelling on the proposed upgrade is expected to have a positive net impact on Council’s financial performance with key financial targets that will deliver a return to ratepayers on the capital investment outlay.
“An upgrade is necessary to meet the necessary Federal airport standards but with this plan it will be achieved with a positive outcome for Whyalla,” Mr Cowley said.
“Not only would we have an upgraded airport building and runway, it would be a safer and more comfortable facility for all local and visitor passengers.
“With more and more business and tourism opportunities springing up in our city and around the region, this proposal allows for significant growth in traffic for our airport which will further improve the bottom line for this facility and the city.”
Mr Cowley said the Whyalla airport was already on the way up with a 4% increase (to 77,622) in passengers using the airport in the last financial year. The modelling for the proposed airport upgrade is based on a modest 1% increase in passengers.
“Our predictions are that this upgrade will actually been a win for ratepayers with a return on the capital investment,” Mr Cowley said.
“Input from residents is valuable in the assessment of this proposed project for the elected members to ultimately decide how we go forward at the airport.”
The final decision will be made on the proposed investment after the consultation feedback is assessed along with the required prudential report.
Enquiries can be made to Robyn Dunstall on 8640 3444.
Jetty construction site declared
The City of Whyalla advises residents and visitors that the Whyalla jetty carpark and southern marina breakwater will be closed to the public from Monday, August 12 2019 for the duration of the new jetty construction.
Fences will be erected to establish the on-land construction site for the new jetty (see map).
Full access will remain to the boat ramp and its adjacent carpark.
There will be no access to the southern carpark of the marina and the southern breakwater. Contractors will be using the carpark for machinery storage and construction.
CONSTRUCTION SITE: The carpark and breakwater areas that will be closed to the public during construction of the new jetty.
Full access will remain to the boat ramp and its adjacent carpark. Boaties, are however, asked to keep a safe distance from the breakwater and the jetty area at all times. There will be buoys put in place at sea to cordon off the construction area of the new jetty.
Boaties and pedestrians are asked to abide by all signage and directions from contractors for the safety of everyone concerned.
Council thanks the public in advance for their patience and understanding as this once-in-a-generation project gets underway. Residents and visitors will be kept informed on the construction process and estimated completion time as the project progresses.
Any enquiries on this project, or others, can be made by calling Council on 8640 3444 during office hours, by submitting a customer enquiry on our website http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx or via the free My Local Services app which can be downloaded at https://www.lga.sa.gov.au/mylocalservices
INNOVATIVE DESIGN: An artist's impression of the new Whyalla jetty.