Premier and Cabinet “Committed” to Whyalla
22 October 2024
Whyalla continues to be at the centre of the State’s attention, with Premier Peter Malinauskas holding his weekly Cabinet meeting in the city yesterday.
The visit enabled key community leaders, businesses and workers to meet directly with the Premier and his Cabinet to highlight current and future opportunities and challenges.
This will enable the State Government to consider how it can best support Whyalla to grow and develop alongside and in support of its Hydrogen Jobs Plan (HJP) project.
In a video message to the community, Premier Peter Malinauskas said it was “great to be in Whyalla” and meet with key groups across the community. This included discussions with GFG Alliance regarding the governments’ “concerns” in relation to its current situation, while emphasising that this did not deter the State Government from its focus on the “medium-to-long-term future of this city.”
“The State Government and the council are working closely together – they’re a valued ally and we appreciate their support – and that’s something we’ll maintain into the future,” Premier Malinauskas said.
“The Hydrogen Jobs Plan remains an absolute commitment of this government – we’ll see major construction of that happen next year…and we look forward to a genuinely prosperous future for Whyalla in the long-term.”
LEFT: Premier Peter Malinauskas, left, and Treasurer Stephen Mullighan during the meeting with Whyalla City Council.
RIGHT: Council presenting to the Premier and his Cabinet.
Minister for Energy and Mining Tom Koutsantonis, left, Deputy Premier Susan Close and Premier Peter Malinauskas during the Whyalla City Council presentation.
Mayor Phill Stone was thankful to the Premier and Cabinet for demonstrating the importance of Whyalla to the State Government by spending the entire day engaging with key community representatives.
“To have the entire State Cabinet here in our city listening in person to the opportunities and challenges of Whyalla and seeking to understand how council and the State Government can work together – essentially for the betterment of the entire state –was a highly productive day that will help shape the future of our city,” Mayor Stone said.
“Council had the opportunity to present to Cabinet and we highlighted our desire to collaborate and co-invest to make this city more exciting for existing residents and more enticing for potential newcomers.”
Some of the potential opportunities and challenges highlighted by council included:
- The development of the central precinct (focusing on the Middleback Theatre / Whyalla Secondary College / UniSA area)
- The potential of the foreshore
- The Kloeden Reserve residential developments
- Potential benefits from the HJP’s Yoorla Garngoo village
- Challenges presented by the airport
- The cuttlefish dive site
- The impact inadequate water pressure is having on potential developments
The Premier recorded a special video message to the Whyalla community.