Council sets timeframe for EJEHS move

10 August 2023

Whyalla City Council’s relocation of its Civic Building operations to the former Edward John Eyre High School site (EJEHS) now has a timeframe, with the move aimed to be completed by early November this year.

Recent engineering inspections identified that the building – built in 1961 and occupied by Council (originally as the Whyalla Town Commission) for more than 60 years – has a very limited life, with water ingress over many years eroding concrete and reinforcing, meaning ‘band-aid’ fixes are no longer an option.

Mayor Phill Stone said ongoing reviews had found that simply to make the building safe in the long-term – without incorporating any additional features / functionality / accessibility – would require $4.5m, plus $1m per year for ongoing maintenance.

”Although there are no immediate safety concerns, money would need to be spent on the building by the end of this year to enable Council to remain there, but this is a cost that cannot be justified on a building at the end of its useful life,” he said.

“Planning for the move has taken longer than anticipated to ensure we explored every opportunity to minimise the relocation cost, and we’re now confident we’ve found the most cost-effective way to continue our operations safely.”

Mayor Stone said Council was also committed to dealing with the existing Civic Building in the near future, rather than allowing it to become derelict once it has been vacated, with demolition the likely outcome.

The long-term alternatives for Council’s Civic operations include:

• Demolishing / rebuilding in the current City Plaza location
• Relocating permanently to the EJEHS site
• Relocating to an alternate site

“Once we have more information on the financial and social implications of these options, we will engage extensively with the community – in particular those directly impacted, such as City Plaza businesses and ratepayers that regularly visit the Civic Building – as it’s important that residents are able to contribute to the final decision,” Mayor Stone said.

“We would prefer not to have to utilise funding for this temporary relocation, however staying in the current building is not an option regardless of which way we proceed, so it’s money that must be spent.

“This is about ensuring the long-term safety of our employees and the community, while finding the best long-term outcome for ratepayers and residents.”

Council will continue to keep the community updated on next steps, particularly in relation to the future of the current Civic Building and opportunities for engagement. For more background information on the situation, see the detailed report from page 4 onwards in the 29 May 2023 Council briefing.