City Update 19 July 2024
National Tree Day is next weekend!
The Whyalla community has an opportunity to green-up our city as part of National Tree Day. And to make it even better, Whyalla City Council is once again giving away FREE plants to help everyone get involved!
Council is offering one native shrub for each person who comes down to the rear gate of the Ada Ryan Gardens - Nursery Compound between 9am and 12pm on Saturday, July 27.
All plants have been sourced from the Arid Lands Botanic Gardens in Port Augusta, with hundreds of plants earmarked to give away to community members.
See you there!
This week marked the grand opening of the Whyalla Migrant Resource Centre!
Located at the Alex Ramsay Community Hub, this new centre specialises in humanitarian and migrant settlement services. It offers support across various areas, including settlement, education, sports and recreation, housing, art and culture, disability services, aged care, training, employment initiatives, and much more.
Mayor Phill Stone had the honour of delivering the welcome message, stating, "This centre will provide an invaluable service to the Whyalla community. Whyalla was built on migration and migration will continue to play a significant role in the next stage of our city's renewed growth and development".
For more information, please contact Joy at 0409 241 378 or via email at whyalla@amrc.org.au
NAIDOC Week Celebrations
NAIDOC Week is held across Australia from July 7 -14 in celebration and recognition of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Whyalla NAIDOC Committee created a calendar of events to celebrate and recognise NAIDOC Week, including a flag raising and community event, free movies, art expo, Elders Luncheon and much more.
Thank you to all who got involved in this important event!
Cuttlefest so far
We are over halfway through Cuttlefest 2024, and already so many events and activities have happened around our city, including:
- A cartooning workshop, where kids were taught how to draw the famous giant cuttlefish and other marine life in different cartooning styles,
- Art workshops by Wildcard Sue were participants got to try some innovative techniques developed by Sue and learnt more about some quirky marine animals, study them and began to draw natural forms
- The Cuttle hustle at the Whyalla Visitor Centre, it is a fun fact-finding journey - find as many cuttlefish as you can and learn about the unique and amazing Giant Australian Cuttlefish!
- VR Marine Themese: Cuttlefish Sessions! This unique event leverages cutting-edge virtual reality technology to bring you face-to-face with one of the ocean's most fascinating creatures—the cuttlefish. Brought to us by Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries and funded by Inspiring South Australia.
Head to whyalla.com for more information and how to celebrate Cuttlefest.
My Local Services
Recently, the outdoor crew has been busy throughout the city, handling a variety of tasks including replacing and planting new trees, installing a new BBQ at Wilson Park, and taking care of weeding and mowing!
If you have any issues you'd like to report, download the My Local Services (MLS) app! The app serves as an easy tool for issue reporting. Whether it’s a fallen tree or a cracked footpath, residents can easily report these matters through the app. Click here to find out more and download the app: https://bit.ly/42zLW4x.
Citizen of the Year 2025 Nominations are now open!
The search for Whyalla’s most dedicated and deserving community members has begun, with nominations now open for the 2025 Citizen of the Year Awards.
This week we sat down with the 2024 Community Service Award winner, Teresa Coles, to talk about the importance of these awards in our community. The annual awards celebrate the city’s many generous residents and achievers, who give up their time to give back to the community.
If you know someone who makes Whyalla a better place, click the link to read the criteria and nominate them for an award: https://bit.ly/4czTPff
Whyalla Men's Shed donation
Following council staff wearing green recently to raise awareness for Men's Mental Health Week, a donation was made to the Whyalla Men's Shed.
The Whyalla Men's Shed is a great organisation where men can come together to share their experiences, offer support, and engage with one another. If you'd like to read more about the Australian Men's Shed Association, click the link: https://bit.ly/45Y7Pgk
Dogs and Cats Registration is now due!
Have you updated your dog and cat registration details on dogs and cats online (DACO)?
- Have you moved house?
- Has your phone number changed?
- Has your pet been rehomed or passed away?
- Have you had your dog or cat microchipped or desexed?
Dog and cat registration renewal notices have been sent out, if you haven't received your notice yet, please contact us on (08) 8640 3444. The last thing we want to do is issue expiations!
Visit the DACO website to update your information: https://bit.ly/4fbdhAO
Saltmarsh Trails
The new self-guided and interactive saltmarsh trails at Eight Mile and Murrippi beaches are now open! The trails are marked with QR codes, leading you to a video that will guide you through the trail. This project was a collaborative effort between Whyalla City Council and Landscape SA Eyre Peninsula’s Whyalla office, working with local Barngarla artists to bring it to life. Thanks also to the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board and National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia for their support of the project.
You can find more information about the trails at https://whyalla.com/cfsaltmarshtrails or call council on 8640 3444. The videos featured on the trails were co-produced by Missing Link Media - Mark Thomas.
Draft Event Strategy
Have your say now on Whyalla City Council’s Draft Event Strategy and help shape the future of events in our city!
The strategy aims to enable the delivery of events that help Whyalla become a more vibrant, culturally engaged community, where creativity supports wellbeing, education, and economic sustainability. It also outlines what types of events council offers and the role it plays in supporting a wide range of community events (more than just those organised by council).
Submissions close at 5pm on Monday 12 August - click the link to have your say and read the full update: https://bit.ly/3XYKb1j
Foreshore Toilet Renewal
The renewal of the Foreshore toilets has commenced!
Starting with the demolition of the old toilets, the demolished materials will be recycled into a crushed concrete product for use in other Council projects. A new base has now been installed, with the footings and underfloor electrical and plumbing set to be dug in and installed soon.
The new concrete base is expected to be poured within the next couple of weeks. After pouring, the new slab will cure for a week before the erection of the new toilet building.
Website Accessibility
The accessibility tool on Whyalla City Council’s website is helping more people make better use of all the site has to offer.
Council added the tool late last year during its broader website refresh as part of its focus on improving accessibility to its services.
Since being introduced, the tool has been opened more than 6,500 times, with the most popular functions including: Highlight links (making it easier to find clickable areas of the site), bigger text, contrast plus (creates distinct contrast between page elements) and a screen reader
Discover more functions this tool provides on our website here: https://bit.ly/45VpEfM