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INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Whyalla is the largest of three industrial cities in the Upper Spencer Gulf region of South Australia. The other two are Port Augusta and Port Pirie.
Although geographically quite close, the three cities have developed around quite different industries and grown independently.
RESOURCE PROCESSING
Extensive research into mineral exploration and processing in northern South Australia has highlighted the City as having substantial potential as a mining services province.
Appropriate infrastructure, services and suppliers already exist to support resource processors.
International mining and resource processing companies can draw on the intellectual, economic and social capital already available in the City.
An opportunity currently exists for a titanium dioxide or other processing plant in Whyalla following an environmental impact statement which confirmed the suitability of the selcted site for resource processing activity.
2008 will see the opening of the Ausmelt Zinc Processing Facility in Whyalla, utilising the site which previously hosted the SASE pig-iron demonstration project. Ausmelt have undertaken significant modifications to the plant, much of which is to meet environmental requirements.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Environmentally focused projects are an important feature of research and development programs and industrial projects in the Upper Spencer Gulf.
Opportunities exist for companies to further develop these projects and to use the significant intellectual capacity and research facilities in the City to diversify the existing industrial base.
Projects include solar energy and other renewable energy technology, water resource management such as reuse and desalination, conservation, rehabilitation of land and marine biology, environmental protection and arid zone and marine plant physiology research.
Wizard Power have announced their intent to establish a Solar Thermal Concentrator demonstration plant consisting of 6 parabolic dishes, utlising the Australian National University's technology, in the City. It is expected that this project will begin construction in mid 2008.
In a recent development, the University of South Australia has announced that it will be establishing a Regional Sustainability Centre on its Whyalla Campus, a project strongly supported by WEDB and the Whyalla City Council.
FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE
Whyalla boasts a significant aquaculture industry, with two operators farming yellowtail kingfish for domestic and international markets. This industry provides significant diversification to Whyalla's economic base and is expected to grow rapidly into the future.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Whyalla maintains an excellent education and training sector and opportunities exist to further build on these assets.
Whyalla has the only regional University campus in the State (University of South Australia) and maintains a major TAFE SA presence.
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