Whyalla expands $3.14m splash plaza design as site clearing begins

Whyalla City Council has expanded the design of its $3.14 million Splash Play Plaza on the town’s foreshore, InDaily reported on 30 October 2026, with contractor Outside Ideas due to start site clearing, demolition and construction this week. For builders and trades on the Eyre Peninsula, it is a live, federally funded public works job in a town working through the loss of its blast furnace.

Why it matters

Council general manager city growth Jodie Perone said residents reviewing the plans felt the final water play elements were “a little underwhelming”, which prompted a rethink. Council then worked with design and construction firm Outside Ideas on an updated concept. It adds a larger double splash bucket, a spray tunnel, a spray cannon and a water spray frog, with more interactive water play for younger children. Perone said the aim was to make the area more exciting and let more children use it at once.

The design already drew on the town’s industrial identity, with elements that replicate parts of the Whyalla Steelworks, according to InDaily.

The numbers

The plaza carries a $3.14 million budget funded by the Federal Government. Site fencing, site offices and early surveying works began in September, ahead of the clearing and demolition stage now starting.

Separately, InDaily reported on 19 October that more than 500 jobs are expected to be lost at the steelworks after its blast furnace was permanently switched off, and about 250 workers reportedly took redundancies and left the plant on 16 October. The furnace had been offline since April. About 600 job opportunities are being offered across more than 20 companies, including BHP and Nyrstar. InDaily also reported that a $2.4 billion government support package has kept the site running since it entered administration in 2025, with $10.2 million set aside to help affected workers.

What’s next

Outside Ideas moves from site preparation into clearing, demolition and construction on the foreshore. Mayor Phill Stone has said the project will bring the foreshore to life and help attract new families and visitors to the city. Council has not published a completion date for the plaza.

Sources: InDaily, 30 October 2026, InDaily, 19 October 2026