Call for Whyalla to benefit from Federal funding
19 June 2023
City of Whyalla Mayor Phill Stone is calling for Premier Peter Malinauskas to ensure some of the Federal Government’s Social Housing Accelerator funding is invested in Whyalla, supporting critically important social housing developments.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the $2 billion program on the weekend, with funding to be distributed among the states and territories over the next fortnight.
With each state’s premiers and chief ministers determining how the funding will be spent, Mayor Stone said it was critical the Premier highlighted Whyalla as one of the focus areas.
“Whyalla is uniquely placed, as we have plenty of State-owned, suitably zoned and sited land in the middle of our city that is immediately ready for significant social and affordable housing development. Not only do we have the land, we also have huge demand,” Mayor Stone said.
”We are also on the verge of the most exciting period of development for the city since the birth of the steelworks, with significant public and private investment in hydrogen and renewable energy, defence, mining and greensteel, tourism and water infrastructure. These major projects are expected to create significant ongoing employment, training and skills opportunities, while attracting a broad range of support services to regional SA.
“While this future is fantastic for our city, Whyalla presently has no housing available. We are in desperate need of new and improved social housing, so investment in this area is vital to ensure ample housing stock for our entire community, as well as people moving to our city to work on infrastructure projects.
“This critical housing shortage will soon be exacerbated by the huge pipeline of projects requiring up to 10,000 construction workers to relocate to Whyalla over the next few years.”
Mr Albanese said the funding can go towards new builds or renovating and refurbishing existing but uninhabitable housing stock. The funding will have to be committed to projects within two years, helping address a shortage of social housing sooner rather than later.
Mayor Stone said Council had been advocating to all levels of government over recent years regarding the investment required in various infrastructure to equip Whyalla to deliver on – and benefit from – these once-in-a-generation opportunities.
“The City of Whyalla is ready, willing and able to work with the State and Federal Governments and the private sector to deliver both new and upgraded housing on the ground in regional SA,” he said.
“This will help facilitate the huge economic growth and wealth that the Spencer Gulf and Eyre Peninsula regions will deliver for our State and nation for decades to come.”