Port Augusta City Council

There is no doubt that in recent years that Port Augusta has experienced considerable growth and change.  Developments in both Port Augusta and the region would make Port Augusta and its service region the envy of any in Australia.  City management and development facilitators have aired their confidence in Port Augusta for some time, which has also filtered throughout the business community.

Ideally located for access by sea, rail, road and air transportation Port Augusta has been the major service centre for Northern South Australia since the 1850's.

Port Augusta still maintains a strong connection with major industries such as rail and power generation, which have historically played a vital role underpinning its economy.

Following the downsizing of major industry in the late 80's and 90's Port Augusta has undergone a major economic resurgence in recent years and is now leading the way with a proactive approach to economic development. The city has diversified to become far less reliant on its traditional industries working towards strengthening its position as the major service centre for Northern South Australia.

Investment and growth in Port Augusta has seen a number of major developments either completed or under construction. Some of the more visible developments include the recent completion of Majestic Apartments and ongoing foreshore developments offering a new visitor experience. The construction of Big W will have a considerable impact on Port Augusta's retail appeal for both local and visiting shoppers reducing retail leakage to other major centres.

Other less visible activities have included the PowerStation refurbishment by NRG Flinders, construction of locomotives for the Adelaide to Darwin rail link and ongoing maintenance contracts for rolling stock at EDI Rail.

Port Augusta's location at the crossroads of Australia makes it a natural regional service centre. This has been further highlighted with the completion of the Adelaide to Darwin rail link strengthening Port Augusta's position as a road and rail transport hub.

Three potential sites have now been identified for the establishment of an intermodal facility at Port Augusta. This facility will provide a major boost to transport and logistic activities already well established in Port Augusta. The South Australian Government has pledged its support to this project to the value of $25,000.

The recent completion of the Adelaide to Darwin rail link has also seen an increase in the defence force activity at the Cultana training ground south-west of Port Augusta. There is potential for defence involvement in both the establishment of an intermodal facility as well as a more permanent defence facility at Cultana placing further demands.

Over the last thirty years there has been a progressive downsizing of communities in the Flinders Ranges and Outback. This had lead to the withdrawal of services.

Whilst there has been considerable activity in Port Augusta, Northern SA also has a number of expanding industries having a major economic impact on the region in particular mining and tourism. The resources sector across Northern SA is an expanding billion-dollar industry, the proposed Olympic Dam expansion alone will be a $4 billion investment and Port Augusta is ideally located to service this industry.

It is imperative that within northern South Australia there exist the necessary array of  services to support these developments and that where such services are not available actions are put in place to secure them in a timely fashion. Port Augusta, at the cross roads of the nation's east west and north south land based transport networks plays this role. It is the natural hub (being most conveniently located for access) for people in the Flinders Ranges and Outback SA to come to for the provision of all the necessary services ranging from shopping, health care, community development, education and so forth. Accordingly, the overwhelming majority of government and community services to support the region have either their regional headquarters in Port Augusta or the majority of their service providers.