There are still a lot of tired looking shopfronts that are in a serious need of upgrading, and shops that have been empty for years with windows filled with dead flies and dust.

However, things are looking up for the plaza, with many new shops heading its way in the coming months - something that will be a huge boost for this end of town.

Growing up in Whyalla, my parents owned a shop in the City Plaza, and while its shopfront still looks neat and modern, it has not been upgraded for more than 10 years.

I remember my mum and dad working on the City Plaza committee, launching successful promotional projects, such as the Christmas Eve Party and Halloween night - both of which attracted huge numbers of people through the street.

While on some ocassions businesses may have not made huge amounts of money out of these events, it was a great promotional exercise to get people down there to see what was actually available to them.

Some of these are continued today, and some are not.

The committee also worked hard securing Harvey Norman at this end of town, which was a huge coup at the time, considering the trend was for new businesses to head to the west side of the city.

Hopefully, with reufurbishment and new businesses coming to the City Plaza, more businesses will be directed to do the same.

But will they?

I know how hard the traders have worked over the years, I have witnessed it first hand - but in years gone by this work has been eroded.

The traders are again pulling up their socks and working hard, but it shouldn’t be an uphill battle.

The community, council and other organisations need to get behind them as well.

We should all support the plaza, it is a part of Whyalla’s heritage.