Annual Report 08/09 - City of Whyalla - SA.Gov.au

Our year in reviewEconomic prosperity“Our vision is of a vibrant, growing city with a sound and sustainableeconomic base, and an equitable, prosperous and wealthy community.”Aged servicesTo provide a broader range ofservices for aged residents, Councilhas assisted with the securing of anew nursing home development tobe located close to the recreationcentre. A development applicationhas been submitted and Council isnegotiating to provide a suitable formof tenure for the project proponents.AirportCouncil investigated suitable optionsfor the ongoing management ofthe Whyalla Airport so that it mightreduce its risks and promote greatereconomic development opportunitiesgiven the encouraging long-termoutlook for the region.As a result, Council entered into aMemorandum of Understandingwith Adelaide Airport Limited toenable that company to undertakeinvestigations and prepare a proposalfor Council. This process has been intrain for a significant part of the yearand has extended into 2009/2010during which time Council hopes toresolve the matter.If the airport is leased to a thirdparty Council will avoid significantexpenditure related to the airportterminal building and runwayupgrade.There are seen to be somedevelopment opportunities on nonoperationalairport land.Council was able to sell twoallotments which were part of aprevious subdivision after resolvingissues related to separation distancesfrom airport installations.It has examined the viability ofdividing the one remaining allotmentfrom this division and adding a smallportion of land to make servicing thisallotment more viable. It has alsoexamined options for commercialdevelopment and is currentlypreparing a Development PlanAmendment due to be completed in2009/2010.AquacultureCouncil was approached to providefurther assistance to the aquacultureindustry by allowing the use ofthe Whyalla Marina for periodicoperations. Subsequent permissionwas given to Clean Seas Tuna tooperate in a limited way out of themarina with a licence agreement stillbeing prepared as at June 30.Funding to enable the constructionof a purpose built boat harbour wasin jeopardy due to long delays inresolving design and sitting issues.However, these were resolved duringthe year and Commonwealth fundingagreements modified to adopt a newtimetable for delivery of the project.It is hoped that the harbour can becompleted in the 2009/2010 year.CoastalWhyalla Council participated in theEyre Peninsula Coastal DevelopmentStrategy with other EP coastalcouncils. Amendments to Council’sDevelopment Plan were undertaken,along with a major revision toconvert the plan to a new format.Development assessmentActivity, while less than theprevious year’s record, continued toperform at a strong level with 750development applications approvedwith a total value of $47.3million.This was more than twice the medianvalue of $18.3million from 2001overall.Some of the more significantcommercial proposals grantedconsent included a bulky goodsoutlet, industrial showrooms andwarehousing.Residential development remained ata high level with 182 new dwellingsapproved, compared with the medianfigure of 51 for the 2001 to 2009period.DevelopmentAssessment PanelCouncil supports a DevelopmentAssessment Panel which has been setup in compliance with amendmentsto the Development Act. It comprisestwo elected Council members andthree community members.Panel members undertook training inPort Augusta and meet periodicallyto consider major developmentapplications and those which receivecomments through the notificationprocess.28