Port Augusta Mayor, Linley Shine and Whyalla City Mayor, Phill Stone have been appointed to the Spencer Gulf Cities board.
The new board members join Port Pirie Regional Council Mayor, Leon Stephens to comprise the full Board of Spencer Gulf Cities (SGC).
The new SGC board recently met and reappointed Mayor Stephens as Chair and appointed Mayor Shine as Deputy Chair.
Spencer Gulf Cities’ key role is advocacy with the aim of increasing the region’s capacity to support forecast economic growth. The Board is focused on delivering its ‘Regional Partnership Priorities’: Economic Development, Housing, Workforce, Education & Skills, Infrastructure, Image & Liveability and Environment.
“The partnership between the cities of Port Pirie, Port Augusta and Whyalla moving forward, is going to be crucial to increasing our regional economic, social and environmental capacity to support forecast growth,” said Mayor Stephens.
“The Premier of South Australia, the Hon. Peter Malinauskas MP, at the Country Cabinet Community Forum in September, spoke passionately about the exciting economic opportunities for our region, particularly around hydrogen and renewable energy and increasing our regional manufacturing capability.
“Spencer Gulf Cities looks forward to working with the South Australian Government over the next four years to strengthen the region’s capacity to support forecast growth and maximise the benefits for our regional communities.”
Mayor Shine said Spencer Gulf Cities provided a valuable opportunity to work collegiately and collaboratively with neighbouring cities to ensure communities and existing businesses benefit and thrive from forecast economic growth.
“We recognise that growth needs to be sustainable, to protect, conserve and value our significant environmental and cultural assets and to support the health and wellbeing of our communities,” she said.
Mayor Stone said the regional priorities identified by Spencer Gulf cities, particularly increasing regional capacity in terms of housing, workforce, education and skills, would prove critical for delivery of planned major projects for the region.
“The Spencer Gulf Cities Board is looking forward to working together for the benefit of the region over the next four years – these are exciting times for our region,” he said.
