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IMPORTANT DOCUMENT: Whyalla Mayor Clare McLaughlin, Port Augusta Mayor Brett Benbow and Port Pirie Mayor Leon Stephens at this week's launch of the Spencer Gulf Cities Federal Election Platform.
Upper Spencer Gulf mayors have revealed five priorities for the region following the launch of the Spencer Gulf Cities Federal Election Platform.
The mayors of Port Pirie (Leon Stephens), Whyalla (Clare McLaughlin) and Port Augusta (Brett Benbow) are pushing for a commitment from Grey electorate candidates to work with the region to develop a skilled migration and decentralisation program, tailored to meet the needs of the Upper Spencer Gulf.
The five priorities are:
1. A skilled migration and decentralisation programme tailored to meet the specific needs of the Upper Spencer Gulf.
2. Investment into strategic port, rail, air and road infrastructure to secure the long-term economic transition of the Upper Spencer Gulf
3. Additional Commonwealth supported university places and operational funding for the Upper Spencer Gulf Regional Study Hub to enable students to stay, study and work locally.
4. A strong, credible and evidence-based national energy policy to provide stability and certainty for investment in the Upper Spencer Gulf.
5. Coordinated and collaborative investment into civic initiatives in Port Augusta, Whyalla and Port Pirie to foster well-planned city growth and liveability.
Chair of Spencer Gulf Cities, Port Pirie Mayor Leon Stephens said the region is experiencing rapid growth in energy, mining and manufacturing and will require a substantial construction workforce in coming years.
“It’s a good problem to have, but the reality is we just don’t have enough people locally to fill those jobs,” Mayor Stephens said.
“The region already has existing shortages in a whole range of professions including medical, allied health, aged care, education, engineering and technical services. The looming construction boom is only going to add to these shortages and place more strain on existing services.
“We will have to rely on bringing new people and new services into the region - but we are really keen to minimise fly-in-fly-out workers. Ultimately, we want to encourage people to move here and make the Upper Spencer Gulf home.
“We want to work with the next Federal Government on a skilled migration and decentralisation policy that works specifically for the Upper Spencer Gulf and is tailored to meet our needs. This includes not only attracting skills for the private sector, but making public sector job opportunities more available locally as well.”
Whyalla Mayor Clare McLaughlin, who is the deputy chair of Spencer Gulf Cities, said the region needs to make the most of the ‘once in a generation’ economic transformation.
“It is a very exciting time for the Upper Spencer Gulf, but to make sure our communities come out of this transition stronger, more resilient and more economically diverse, we really need a strong partnership with Government to help us deliver on our priorities,” Mayor McLaughlin said.
“We will be relying heavily on whoever becomes our local representative in the next Parliament to help us champion these issues.”
Port Augusta Mayor Brett Benbow said migration is only part of the region’s long-term workforce solution, with the mayors also focussing on expanding higher education options.
“We absolutely must also grow our own local skills”, Mayor Benbow said.
“The levels of higher education in the Upper Spencer Gulf are pretty stark.
“The last census showed that only eight per cent of Upper Spencer Gulf residents hold bachelor level or higher degree qualifications, compared to the national average of 22 per cent.
“What’s even worse, is that only four per cent of Upper Spencer Gulf residents are currently undertaking university study, compared to the national average of 16 per cent.
“Something clearly needs to change.”