City Update - 19th October 2023

Catch the latest roundup of stories from around Council and Whyalla.

Civic Building Open Day

If you have any fond memories of our Civic Building on Darling Terrace - incorporating the former Cinema - then be sure to head to our Open Day from 10am-2pm this Sunday 22 October!

Take a walk down memory lane with photos from across the building's history, as well as guided tours available every half hour. You'll see the current facilities, as well as the original Council Chamber and what remains of the original cinema. We'll look forward to seeing you there.

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The Governor of South Australia visits Whyalla

Mayor Phill Stone and wife Bronwyn were honoured to host Governor of South Australia Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC and her husband Rod Bunten. They made a special stopover in Whyalla to discuss the city's future, including our latest 'What's the Future' workshop. Her Excellency has a keen interest in Whyalla and is supportive of the numerous developments on the horizon, looking forward to seeing how the city grows over the coming years.

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From the Mayor's Desk

Hear from Mayor Phill Stone following the latest Ordinary Council Meeting regarding several topics:

* The Recreation and Leisure Centre upgrades

* The 2023 Annual Report is in it's final stages

* The next steps for the WTF?! What's the future workshops coming next month

* The relocation of Council from the Civic Building to the EJEHS site and more!

For further information please visit and review the agenda and minutes from the October Ordinary Council Meeting available here: https://bit.ly/3rAsK9a

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Whyalla Leisure Centre

Work on the Whyalla Leisure Centre now has a timeframe, with Hydrilla expected to start work in January 2024. The appointment comes after lengthy delays due to higher-than-expected tender quotes, with these delays unfortunately pushing the timing out to summer.

There is no good time to close the pool area as it is utilised year-round, so we ask for the community's understanding during this period.

Many residents have called for an entirely new facility, however this is not feasible due to the $30-60m cost, so maintenance of the current facility must be prioritised.

Due to the increased costs, maintenance and upgrades will now need to be completed in stages, with the first stage seeing:

* The reopening of the spa

* Upgrades to the plant room (improving efficiency and water flow across all three pools)

* A new 'beach access' surface (non-slip but less abrasive than the current surface)

* Installation of new water feature toys (replacing existing mushrooms)

* General maintenance and repairs (retiling, regrouting etc)

Hear from Mayor Phill Stone about the project in the video below and read the full update here: https://bit.ly/474tva3

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Child Care expansion is underway

Our Child Care Centre expansion is underway, with local builder Steve White commencing on-site works, which the children were very excited to see! Given the scale of works, alternate access to the facility will be required throughout the project.

Anyone needing to access the centre will need to park in either of the Leisure Centre car parks and follow the paths to the rear of the centre.

Sections of the footpath around the centre that are publicly accessible will also be impacted, however alternate routes will continue to be available.

If you have any queries, please contact the centre on 8645 4030. We'll provide updates as the project progresses over the coming months.

You can read more about the project here: https://bit.ly/4818pdP

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Employment Opportunities

Council have a number of employment opportunities currently available including:
* Building and Maintenance Officer
* Library Officer
* Whyalla Steelworks Tour Guide/Driver
* Work Health Safety and Risk Advisor

If you think you are a potential candidate, read more about these individual jobs and apply at the link here: https://bit.ly/3EVJZ84
We look forward to hearing from you!

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SAMERC Event

SIMEC Mining and the South Australian Mines Emergency Response Competition (SAMERC) delivered a groundbreaking emergency rescue event in Whyalla with more than 5000 people enjoying the spectacle over two days.

Read our full release here: https://bit.ly/46uCj9f

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Open Spaces Team

Work has begun to get Bennett and Memorial Oval ready for the upcoming cricket season! Members of the Open Spaces team have been working with Green Options Landscape Management to ensure the pitches at both ovals are of a high standard. The team also visited The Ada Ryan Gardens, who gave the perimeter hedges a nice trim!

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Garage Sale Trail

We are bringing Australia's biggest festival of pre-loved stuff back to Whyalla this Spring. With over 10,000 garage sales and 3 million items going up for sale over two big weekends across the whole country, it's the perfect time to cash in on your clutter or pick up a bargain.

Registrations for this year's trail are OPEN at garagesaletrail.com.au/whyalla

Register your garage sale now and start decluttering your space!

Key Dates:

Trail Tutorial online workshops: 28-29 October

Garage sales - weekend 1: 11-12 November

Garage sales - weekend 2: 18- 19 November

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