Welcoming Whyalla

By Business SA, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive, Martin Haese

Published in The Advertiser SA Business Journal on Tuesday 10 August 2021.

From the moment I stepped off the 35-minute flight to Whyalla just over a week ago, there were warm welcomes all around.

Business SA is highly committed to the regions, and Whyalla is a valuable contributor to the future of South Australia. It is the third largest city in the state, and is abuzz with businesses big and small, covering all industries.

The development of a new tri-partnership between Whyalla City Council, Whyalla Business and Tourism and Business SA, brought myself and a couple of members of my team to the red city earlier this month to spend time on the ground with local businesses, discussing challenges and opportunities for the region.

I have to say, this must have been one of the most insightful experiences I have had during my two years as CEO of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, spearheading an exciting new chapter for Business SA’s relationship with regional South Australia.

The warm and personable nature of Whyalla’s community was self-evident from every one of the many businesses we met with during a busy 24 hours on the ground. We met with senior representatives of GFG Alliance, discussed the opportunity for a major Hotel development that’s currently in the pipeline, explored the exciting evolution of a new restaurant forged from a concept food truck, considered digital retail opportunities with a local florist, met with sizeable steel fabrication businesses and unpacked the nation-wide challenge of skilled labour shortages.

The aim of the new partnership, brought to fruition and funded by Whyalla City Council is to galvanise the strength of all businesses in the region.

By providing business owners with a toolbox of products and services, Business SA with support from Whyalla Business and Tourism will help sustain and grow 150 enterprises over the next 12 months and well into the future.

Our goal for the business community in Whyalla, is to not only help businesses remain viable, but to help them expand and generate additional income, because when a business achieves sustainable growth, they are able to employ more people, helping the local economy thrive. Particularly important for a city which has experienced occasional trials, such as Whyalla has.

I thank Mayor Clare McLaughlin, Justin Commons, CEO of Whyalla City Council and Malcolm McLeod, Chair of Whyalla Business and Tourism for the opportunities presented by this new partnership, for their warm hospitality and their dedication to their local business community.

A strong Whyalla contributes to a strong South Australia. The regions across our state are fundamental to the prosperity of the entire business community, and Business SA sincerely looks forward to contributing to the prosperous future of Whyalla.