Multimillion-dollar sports field boost for Whyalla amid steelworks uncertainty

The construction of a multimillion-dollar sports facility will begin in Whyalla within months as attention turns to keeping skilled workers in the town amid uncertainty over the steelworks' future.

The state government has pledged $6 million for the project, which will see the creation of a state-of-the-art soccer pitch, a football oval, and a clubhouse complete with a kitchen and change rooms.

"This is giving confidence to the community that we're backing them in," South Australian Sports Minister Emily Bourke said. 

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"Not only at an industrial level but at a sporting and community level."

The sports facility project forms part of Whyalla's ongoing revitalisation efforts after a tumultuous 12 months marked by the decline of the steelworks and unpaid contractors. 

The state government intervened less than two weeks ago by placing the steelworks into administration.

Administrators Korda Mentha are currently working to stabilise the business, a process expected to take approximately six weeks. 

"Yes, we have a timeline of how we want things to run, but the thing with administration is when you come in, you never know what you're going to find, and it's a lot worse than what we thought we'd find," administrator Sebastian Hams said.

With debts amounting to $1.3 billion, the immediate task lies in repairing and preparing the steelworks to attract potential buyers both domestically and internationally. 

"The state of maintenance in the plant is really challenging," Hams said. 

"It appears there hasn't been a lot of stay-in-business, capex or repairs and maintenance over the last five or six years."

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.