Regional Plan – Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUSTRALIA Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula August 2012 Cover photography courtesy of John White from Port Lincoln and Robert Woodland from Whyalla. Disclaimer: Neither RDA Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula or any of its staff will have any liability in any way arising from information or advice that is contained in this document. This document is intended as a guide only. This document is the intellectual property and copyright 2012 of the RDA Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula Inc. No part of this document may be modified, or material used without seeking permission from the RDA Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula Inc. 2 Regional Plan – Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula CONTENTS PREFACE ................................................................................................................................ 9 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... 10 1. Introduction: Overview of the Region ............................................................................. 13 1.1 Location and Environment ................................................................................................................... 13 Natural Resources Management ................................................................................................. 15 1.2 Cultural Heritage .................................................................................................................................. 15 Indigenous Heritage .................................................................................................................... 15 Non-Indigenous Heritage ............................................................................................................. 18 1.3 Local Government, Townships and Population .................................................................................... 19 Town Centres .............................................................................................................................. 21 Population Growth ....................................................................................................................... 22 Population Characteristics ........................................................................................................... 24 1.4 Industries and Services Overview ........................................................................................................ 27 PART ONE: ECONOMIC PROFILE AND ISSUES..................................................... 29 2. Manufacturing and Mining ............................................................................................... 30 2.1 Whyalla Industrial Development .......................................................................................................... 30 Overview of Whyalla and the Surrounding Region ...................................................................... 30 Economic Development ............................................................................................................... 31 Competitive Advantages .............................................................................................................. 32 Key Challenges ........................................................................................................................... 32 2.2 Current and Future Economic Issues ................................................................................................... 33 Local Impact of Carbon Tax Legislation ...................................................................................... 33 Perceptions of Whyalla ................................................................................................................ 34 Greening Whyalla ........................................................................................................................ 35 Housing Development Opportunities ........................................................................................... 36 2.3 Commercial Investment – Project in Progress ..................................................................................... 36 OneSteel – Arrium Limited .......................................................................................................... 36 Arafura Resources Limited – Whyalla Rare Earths Complex ...................................................... 37 ElectraNet Pty Ltd – Substation Replacement and Augmentation ............................................... 38 Whyalla Hospital Refurbishment.................................................................................................. 38 Whyalla Industrial Estate ............................................................................................................. 38 Martin Woods Developments - Whyalla Ocean Eyre Estate ........................................................ 39 2.4 Projects in Planning and Approval Phase ............................................................................................ 39 BHP Billiton – Olympic Dam Expansion ...................................................................................... 39 BHP Billiton – Desalination Plant ................................................................................................. 40 Port Bonython Fuels – Fuel Terminal .......................................................................................... 40 Whyalla Bulk Commodities Export Facility................................................................................... 41 Upper Spencer Gulf Regional Synergies Project ........................................................................ 42 Whyalla Solar Oasis .................................................................................................................... 42 Archean – Urea Manufacturing Plant ........................................................................................... 43 Deepak – Ammonium Nitrate Manufacturing Plant ...................................................................... 43 2.5 Mining Resources and Development ................................................................................................... 45 2.6 Major Mining Projects .......................................................................................................................... 45 Minotaur Exploration Limited - Poochera ..................................................................................... 45 Centrex Metals Limited – Southern Eyre Peninsula .................................................................... 46 IronClad – Wilcherry Hill .............................................................................................................. 47 Iron Road - Warramboo ............................................................................................................... 48 Lincoln Minerals – Gum Flat ........................................................................................................ 48 Lincoln Minerals - Koppio ............................................................................................................ 48 Strategic Energy Resources and MEGA Graphite - Uley ............................................................ 49 Uranium SA – Samphire Uranium Project ................................................................................... 49 2.7 Summary – Manufacturing and Mining Projects .................................................................................. 50 3 Regional Plan – Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula 3. Agriculture. ....................................................................................................................... 52 3.1 Overview .............................................................................................................................................. 52 3.2 Agriculture Target Team ...................................................................................................................... 52 3.3 Transport, Storage and Handling Infrastructure ................................................................................... 53 Supply Chain Costs ..................................................................................................................... 53 Port Lincoln and the Port of Thevenard ....................................................................................... 55 Port Spencer – Sheep Hill ........................................................................................................... 57 Lucky Bay Common User Export Facility ................................................................................... 58 Road Network .............................................................................................................................. 58 Rail Network ................................................................................................................................ 58 3.4 Sustainable Agribusiness Initiatives ..................................................................................................... 58 Vehicle Registrations ................................................................................................................... 58 Chemical and Fertiliser Costs ...................................................................................................... 58 Mice Baiting ................................................................................................................................