City Update - 29 April

Community Consultation

Community consultation is now open regarding Whyalla City Council’s draft budget for 2024/2025. You can read all the detail here: https://bit.ly/3WhM88e. Face-to-face consultation kicks off with a community information session next Tuesday from 6pm at the Civic Building on Grundel Street. There will be another session from 6pm on Tuesday 14 May. You can also provide a verbal submission at the 20 May council meeting; email council@whyalla.sa.gov.au; or complete a written submission on our website (https://bit.ly/3wbOSt4).

The budget focuses on maintaining and improving existing services and assets, while prioritising projects such as the foreshore water play and community plaza; Recreation Centre efficiency and operating cost improvements; and resolving legacy issues from ageing infrastructure. Council is proposing a rate increase equal to $2 per week for the average residential property (5%, predominantly covering CPI of 4.2%).

The actual change to individual properties’ rating level will differ due to the change to Capital Value – some will be less than 5% (including a decrease in some instances), while others will be greater than 5%. If you are interested in knowing your exact rate change prior to the issuing of rates in July, please attend one of our community information sessions, or contact council on 8640 3444 or council@whyalla.sa.gov.au. The change to Capital Value is a State Government legislated requirement that does not raise any additional rate revenue for council – you can find out more about the change here: https://bit.ly/4aSRBHu.

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Take the Pledge Champions

Our Take the Pledge campaign has been well received by the community, with several residents already being rewarded for their commitment. By signing up, participants agree to responsibly dispose of food waste and other organic material in the green bin; and recyclables in the yellow bin.

A recent random audit of participants' bins found several with perfectly sorted rubbish. As such, they are our first round Take the Pledge 'champions', each receiving a $25 Mitre 10 voucher and 30L Peats compost pack. Congratulations to our winners Bev, Mark and Alvin (pictured below).

If you haven't already, be sure to Take the Pledge to help reduce your impact on the environment, while also being in the running for more great prizes! Find all the detail here: https://bit.ly/3u8EukD

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Careers at Council

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StudyAdelaide comes to Whyalla

StudyAdelaide in collaboration with the Local Jobs Program, Regional Development Australia and Councils, hosted around 50 international students interested in living and working in regional South Australia. They visited the Upper Spencer Gulf and Whyalla to explore career prospects.

The tour included workplace visits and networking with employers like SA Health, Centacare, GFG, Skilled and Business Migration, Office of Hydrogen Power SA, Flinders and Upper North Local Health Network and SIMEC Mining.

This initiative aimed to connect employers facing skills shortages with international students and graduates studying fields such as Healthcare, Engineering, Project Management, IT, Environmental Management and Urban Planning.

Thank you to all involved!

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Express your interest for our Salty 'Sea'esta event today

Are you a food and beverage vendor, market stall holder or a family friendly performer/entertainer? Then we want to hear from you!

Planning has begun for this year’s Cuttlefest family friendly event – The Salty ‘Sea’esta to be held in Ada Ryan Gardens on Saturday 8 June 2024.

Council is now calling for expressions of interest from food and beverage vendors, market stall holders and family friendly entertainers (roving artists, live musicians, face painters, bubble and balloon artists anything to keep families engaged and entertained) to be a part of this fun family event.

Register your interest here: https://bit.ly/4dezvRo

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Cuttlefest Art Prize

The Cuttlefest Art Prize is now open to all residents of Whyalla! Closing on 24th May 2024.

The prizes are open to school groups and individuals to create a 2D or 3D cuttlefish or other local marine based artwork. These artworks to be displayed at the Middleback Arts Centre Foyer throughout June and July 2024.

Teresa Coles, Community Activation Arts & Cultural Facilitator said ‘’It’s just two months before the closing date! I am really excited for the creative minds of Whyalla to showcase their talents throughout June and July. With fantastic categories including environmental, first nations and Youth. The ever popular Peoples Choice voting will take place throughout June at the Middleback Arts Centre, with the Awards Night taking place in early July. The artwork will remain on display for the public to admire until the end of July, celebrating the talent within our community.’’

The Cuttlefest Art Prize offers an excellent platform to display your skills, engage with the community, or even win a prize! To view the art prize categories, eligibility and requirements please click the link: https://bit.ly/3VEpFBS

For further information please contact Community Activation Arts and Cultural Facilitator, Teresa Coles.

08 8644 3444 / 0439 903 463 / teresa.coles@whyalla.sa.gov.au

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Mitchell Quinn (McGee Street) Playground Upgrade

The Mitchell Quinn Playground at the McGee Street Park is about to receive an upgrade as part of Whyalla City Council’s current playground renewal program. While a number of aspects of the upgrade have already been planned / identified, council is keen for the community to assist in choosing the remaining key elements. Nearby residents have been consulted regarding their preferences, so we are now seeking feedback from the broader community.

This feedback will help inform council’s final decision, with updates provided to the community at the end of the consultation period. The survey closes at 5pm on Friday 3 May 2024.

Click the link to fill out the survey: https://bit.ly/3JqbCs8

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Celebrating 30 Years of Service

The staff and children at the Whyalla Child Care Centre celebrated a very special anniversary! Linda Burazer recently achieved 30 years of service at the Whyalla Child Care Centre.

Congratulations Linda!! Thank you for all that you do - and have done over the past 30 years!

Over these years you have nurtured, cared for and educated many, many children and for some this has included the second generations coming through.

You have (and continue to) mentor and support your colleagues and students and ensure that our service is meeting the needs of our families and the wider community.

We are very thankful for your dedication and passion for Early Childhood Education and are fortunate to have the knowledge and experience you bring to us all.

The children were asked about Linda and what she does and here were some of the answers given: Play airplanes, goes home, play, goes to childcare and works, looks after the babies, plays with her stuff, she helps us build a big race track, looks after the kids, she pushes us on the swing, helps us when we fall over, shows us how to put sunscreen on, she teaches us to draw a unicorn.

We are very lucky to have you as part of the Child Care team and we hope you enjoyed celebrating your incredible achievement!