Rabig Bulk Haulage, Zancott Recruitment, Mine Spec Industries and Stassi Engineering are just some of the local contractors benefiting from the Whyalla Airport Runway Upgrade Project. Representatives from each business are pictured at the project site with Fulton Hogan Project Manager Hayden Dutney, Whyalla City Council Project Manager Anthony Bray, the State Government’s Whyalla Regional Coordinator John Chapman and Mayor Phill Stone.
Whyalla Airport Runway Project continues to benefit local economy
08 May 2025
The local economy is reaping the benefits of the Whyalla Airport Runway Upgrade Project, with over $2 million already spent directly with local businesses.
Whyalla City Council and lead contractor Fulton Hogan are working together to ensure maximum benefits flow from the project into the community.
This has resulted in work for a range of businesses, including materials supply, equipment hire, meals, accommodation, earthworks, trucking, electrical, fencing, waste management and labour hire.
Mayor Phill Stone highlighted the importance of the upgrade, not just for the future of the airport, but the entire local economy.
“It’s fantastic to see such strong local contractor involvement in this project,” Mayor Stone said.
“As well as the usual construction and project contractors, it’s also significant for local hospitality due to the size of the crew and the length of the project.
“I’d like to commend Fulton Hogan for their focus on local talent, as well as keeping the crew in town throughout the project, resulting in ongoing spending on food, accommodation and more generally across the local economy during a six-month period.”
The State Government – which has contributed $13.8 million to the project – is also focused on benefits for the Whyalla economy. State Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said the Government had made it a priority to look local first and help the businesses, workers and suppliers in Whyalla.
“There’s a number of significant projects planned for the Upper Spencer Gulf and it’s important local businesses are given every opportunity to benefit from this work. A great example is the airport runway upgrade, so I commend Fulton Hogan and Whyalla City Council for their focus on using local content for this project,” Minister Mullighan said.
“We remain committed to ensuring the viability of the greater Whyalla region, including helping support the local economy to grow and thrive, as was evidenced through the establishment of the Whyalla Special Economic Zone; the steelworks support package; and the appointment of John Chapman as Whyalla Regional Coordinator. This week’s Meet the Buyer event will also give local workers an opportunity to hear about upcoming tender and work packages and learn about the supports available to help win those jobs.”
Fulton Hogan has also found additional ways to give back to the community, including running a competition with local prizes; working with local schools to arrange student site tours; and are currently looking to contribute to a community project.
Fulton Hogan Project Manager for the Whyalla Airport Runway Project, Hayden Dutney, said the team enjoyed giving back to the community that welcomed them during the works.
“We believe in creating, connecting, and caring for communities, so these are just some of the ways we can give back and show our appreciation to Whyalla,” Mr Dutney said.
This project is being made possible by $16.2 million in Federal Government funding and $13.8 million in State Government funding.
Council will continue to provide updates as the project progresses – be sure to keep an eye on our project page and the My Local Services app for complete coverage.
Airport Runway Upgrade Project
The latest video below shows the impressive of amount of work and logistics go into every night on site for the Fulton Hogan team.