Councillors voted against renewing the council's Regional Development Australia Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula membership. The yearly fee usually paid to the RDA group will be allocated to set up an economic development service to pursue direct business and investment opportunities for the city.
Council chief executive officer Chris Cowley said his organisation appreciated its working relationship with the group, but it was the right time to invest ratepayers' funds in "further exciting projects and opportunities that will directly benefit the city and residents". He said the council would use some of the saved money to "create extra job opportunities in Whyalla in the area of economic development".
The unanimous decision to withdraw from the group was made by councillors at the latest meeting. Along with Council, the South Australian and Federal Governments and local businesses, WEDB has developed a program to improve the employability and skills of local people.
Steven Arndt said the project will provide people with employment, following an intensive 20 week program and industry pledging jobs. Over the last 12 months, the unemployment rate in Whyalla has subsequently dropped from around 13 per cent to just 5 per cent.
Steven Arndt said a key challenge has been getting people out of old routines and changing the attitudes of those who have never worked or have been out of the workforce for a long period of time. Steven Arndt also confirmed that resource processing company Ausmelt has signed a memorandum of understanding with Zinifex to process zinc oxide in Whyalla within the next 12 months, transforming the existing plant from pig iron production.
Steven Arndt said growth in a number of industries will create jobs for the unemployed, with Whyalla employers finding it difficult to recruit locally or from other sources in Australia. Whyalla CEO, Phil Cameron, said that OneSteel has employed skilled migrants at the plant for many years, which has contributed to the diverse cultural community of Whyalla today.
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