Regional mayors want to open their arms to thousands of new migrants

Tens of thousands of new migrants would be welcomed into regional South Australia where communities are crying out for skilled residents, local leaders say, as the federal government reveals a new immigration plan.

• READ BELOW: What the mayors said

• Migrants will turn our brain drain around
• Population strategy will bring more migrants to SA
• Why the Feds wants more migrants in SA

Community leaders in regional towns across South Australia have opened their arms for thousands of new residents as a new survey shows the state could accommodate an additional 60,000 people.

The figures coincide with the approval of two new specific visas to boost population.

They are aimed at getting more skilled migrants living in both regional South Australia and Adelaide.

A Local Government Association SA survey shows that 33 of the state’s 68 councils had the capacity to immediately house an additional 60,000 people, especially young people and families.

When taking planned investments for local housing into account, the councils said they could accommodate even double that, about 122,000, over the next five years alongside a further investment in utilities and infrastructure.

LGA President Sam Telfer told The Advertiser regional towns and communities needed more skilled people and already had the housing and infrastructure to support growth.

“Councils have a role to play in driving sustainable population growth through improving liveability and supporting local economic development,” Mr Telfer said.

“We want to work as partners in government to make sure SA is able to attract and retain the people and skills it needs to thrive.”

His calls were supported by regional mayors with demand for growth in Whyalla, Copper Coast and Murray Bridge.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison officially released a comprehensive population strategy yesterday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman. Picture: AAP Image/Andrew Taylor

Today Immigration Minister David Coleman will announce two Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) with the State Government that will last for five years.

Covering 60 occupations, up to 300 people per year will be able to be sponsored through the Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement DAMA aimed at filling skills shortages in emerging industries, including cyber and space.

Under the Regional SA DAMA up to 750 people per year will be able to fill job shortages across 114 occupations.

Mr Coleman said the Federal Government’s first priority was to fill jobs with Australians, but the immigration system could play an important role in helping to address regional skills gaps.

Premier Steven Marshall said the new arrangements provided a springboard for businesses to access the skills they needed to minimise any critical shortages.

“Importantly, they give our growing regional industries support to attract skilled workers and boost the population of regional areas, creating more local jobs and a thriving economy,” Mr Marshall said.

Mr Marshall’s plan includes a push to grow the number of international students to SA.

StudyAdelaide chief executive Karyn Kent said international student enrolments in SA reached almost 38,000 in 2018.

Mentana Baragli, an Italian creative writing student from Flinders University was one of 700 students at a welcoming ceremony in Adelaide’s Town Hall.

The 23-year-old chose Adelaide ahead of Melbourne and Sydney. “It is not too big of a city but you still have everything,” she said, adding the new visas could have big impacts on the state. “They are really exciting opportunities,” she said.

WHAT THE MAYORS SAID

The steel city of Whyalla has the greatest immediate housing capacity and could support a population growth of 8000 people.

Whyalla Mayor Clare McLaughlin said skilled migrants from overseas, South Australia and the nation were all welcome.

The city had readily available, affordable housing, strong infrastructure including State Government investment, and a growing economy following the purchase of the steelworks from mining magnate Sanjeev Gupta.

“We’re getting a lot of investment inquiries in Whyalla in regards to housing,” Ms McLaughlin said.

“It’s part of our plan to make it more liveable.

“If we do have a fairly quick increase in population our city has been built to cater … for a much bigger population than we do have now.”

Murray Bridge mayor Brenton Lewis. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

While on the north of the Yorke Peninsula, Copper Coast Mayor Roslyn Talbot said they could easily welcome 5000 people, who would be living only 1.5 hours from the CBD.

Ms Talbot said the area, which included Kadina, Moonta and Wallaroo, had strong education, health and recreation precincts.

“There are good opportunities in the area around the trades — mechanics, electricians,” Ms Talbot said.

”We’ve got quite a bit of housing, we’ve got some development opportunities for housing, we do have a capacity to take in more people.”

Following the Thomas Foods fire in January 2018 which slashed local jobs, Murray Bridge Mayor Brenton Lewis said it could immediately take 2000, and had a plan to increase its population from 22,000 to 35,000 over the next two decades.

Mr Lewis said the city had a rich multicultural community, and had always been a migrant destination. He said the skills required for its major industry, food manufacturing, were more readily embraced by migrants. “They are hardworking people prepared to go to work and put in so they can raise their children and have a future in this beautiful country,” he said.

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