The motion opposed the building of the desalination plant at Port Bonython "in light of scientific and engineering evidence and the general community".

WEDB chief executive officer Steven Arndt said BHP Billiton has undertaken ongoing extensive community consultation in Whyalla since the Olympic Dam Expansion (ODX) was first touted in 2004 and surrounding the release of their Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in May 2009.

"This included an open day at the Westlands Hotel on May 29 which provided every Whyalla resident with the opportunity to ask questions regarding any aspect of the project of the ODX consultants and project team," Mr Arndt said.

"The EIS allowed for 14 weeks of public consultation, during which time anyone could express their concerns in writing which then need to be responded to by BHP Billiton in their supplementary EIS."

Mr Arndt said for this city to be taking a position in regards to the desalination plant is premature, given that the supplementary EIS is yet to be released.

"As a city, we owe it to ourselves to await the release of this document prior to making any further comment on whether the desalination plant should go ahead or not," he said.

Chairman Paul Johnston said WEDB had worked tirelessly as an economic development board to attract new investors to this community for a long period of time.

"We now have opportunities in front of us that will deliver jobs and prosperity to this community, and it is time that we took some initiative and secured our own future," Mr Johnston said.

"This is a globally significant mining project and the EIS process and legislative controls in this day and age act to protect communities such as ours, we must put faith in this system."