News

Diana Mislov was elected Mayor of the City of Port Lincoln in 2022.

A Port Lincoln local, Diana is also an accountant and business consultant and has served in voluntary roles on community, multicultural and other committees and boards for more than 30 years.

Diana was named the City of Port Lincoln’s Citizen of the Year in 2012 and the South Australian Regional Award Winner for Community Individual for Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula in 2014. 

Q: How is your community changing and what is driving the growth in the City of Port Lincoln?

A: Port Lincoln is experiencing changes driven by growth in key sectors such as aquaculture, tourism, and renewable energy. Our reputation as the “Seafood Capital of Australia” attracts investment and visitors, contributing to a thriving local economy and increasing population.  Additionally, the community is increasingly focused on sustainability, which is influencing our development initiatives and aligning with broader environmental goals.  Our tourism sector is boosted by seasonal cruise ship visitation, Port Lincoln being awarded for being the ‘most welcoming’ city, as well as our Visitor Information Centre receiving both state and national tourism awards. 

Q: What are the most significant infrastructure challenges facing Council over the next 5 years and how are you adapting to meet those challenges?

A: The City of Port Lincoln faces several significant infrastructure challenges, including:

• Renewal of the Marina Service Wharf: This state government responsibility requires renewal at a substantial cost and is essential for supporting the largest fishing fleet in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Improvement of Stormwater Management Systems: Enhancements are needed to reduce the prevalence of flooding that results in property damage, mitigate the impact on water quality in Proper and Boston Bays, and improve resilience to severe weather events.
• Renewal of Rail Infrastructure: Reinstatement of rail in the Eyre Peninsula is necessary due to the significant number of heavy vehicle freight movements through the centre of Port Lincoln, which impacts road conditions and poses safety risks for both vehicles and pedestrians.
• Water Security: Ensuring a reliable potable water source is critical. This will require the construction of a climate-independent water source, such as a desalination plant, in an appropriate location by the state government to meet future demand. Further development in the Eyre Peninsula is significantly hampered by the lack of a sustainable water source with current ground water sources likely to be restricted in the near future.

To meet these challenges, we are:

• Prioritising strategic planning,
• Seeking federal and state funding and advocating for a state government response, and
• Fostering partnerships with local stakeholders to implement effective and sustainable solutions.

Q: What are the main priorities for the City of Port Lincoln right now?

A: Our current priorities include:

• Strategic Plan Review 2025-2034: Ensuring our plans meet the needs of the community and support future growth.
• Housing Development: Addressing the local housing shortage by promoting diverse and affordable options.
• Infrastructure Improvements: Focusing on stormwater management, advocating for the renewal of the commercial wharf, enhancing rail infrastructure, and ensuring water security through the development of a desalination plant.
• Childcare and Aged Care Shortages: Tackling the shortages in these critical areas to support families and ensure our aging population has access to necessary services.
• Community Engagement: Actively involving residents in decision-making processes to promote transparency and collaboration.

Q: How do you see the role of regional capitals in the broader context of Australia’s growth?

A: Regional capitals are vital to Australia’s growth, serving as economic and cultural hubs that support surrounding communities.

Regional Capitals Australia plays an essential role in advocating for the interests of these regions at the federal level, emphasising the importance of strategic investment and infrastructure development.

By fostering collaboration, innovation, and resilience, regional capitals can drive sustainable development and enhance regional well-being, significantly contributing to Australia’s overall growth strategy.

The start of spring signalled an end to a busy period for the board and Regional Capitals Australia members.

In August, we had a successful delegation to meet Federal Government Ministers and Shadow Ministers in Canberra.

I had the opportunity to take our message to a wider audience at the National Convention Centre for the Regional Australia Institute’s National Summit. The Summit was a great opportunity to share our ideas with and hear from others who engaged deeply with regional Australia and the issues we face.

On the policy front, the RCA lodged its submission to the Federal Government’s Review of Regional Migration Settings. Our seven recommendations focussed on ways to secure our fair share of migration to regional areas to help our regional capital cities grow and thrive.

In September, the Federal Government released its Aviation White Paper. We were particularly pleased to see several of our recommendations reflected in the final policy document, however note that the Paper did not address key challenges like security arrangements which are burdensome for regional airports.  We also await the future of REX airlines as administrators work through the detail.

We are pleased to welcome Port Lincoln as the newest member of Regional Capitals Australia.  We’ll introduce you to Port Lincoln’s Mayor Diana Mislov and tell you a little about what makes Port Lincoln one of our great regional capitals later in the newsletter.

Registrations are now open for our Annual General Meeting in December. The link to book your place at the virtual AGM is near the end of the newsletter. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible for one last time in 2024.

For our New South Wales members, Council elections took up much of our focus in September and October. I want to send my congratulations to everyone who was re-elected. To those who won’t be returning to serve as Councillors or will no longer be their Council’s RCA representative, I want to thank you for all that you have done for Regional Capitals Australia. Your commitment and hard work is valued and together we have achieved much for our communities.

Also some news from me, this will be my last newsletter as RCA Chair.

As I reflect on my tenure I am proud to have represented RCA as a pre-eminent regional Federal advocacy organisation with a 13-year history of putting the needs of regional cities on the National policy and funding agenda.

In the halls of Federal Parliament, the term ‘regional capital’ has become synonymous with regional cities that are not only highly liveable and productive but are also experiencing a new wave of growth. 

I am proud that we have advocated for regional funding programs that have been a fit for our member cities like the newly established Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program, the re-establishment of the Regional Airports Program and the Housing Support Program.

We have been making the case for better consultation as the renewables boom rolls out and a better share of skills as the Government considers regional migration settings and for recognition that being a service hub means local government’s in regional capitals are delivering services and infrastructure that our metropolitan counterparts are not.

I have also welcomed Goulburn-Mulwaree Council, City of Palmerston, and City of Port Lincoln as new members. I look forward to seeing you all for my last time as RCA Chair at our AGM in December to thank you in person for your support and to celebrate what we’ve achieved so far for our cities.

Kind regards,

Cr Kylie King

Chair, Regional Capitals Australia