A South Australian council taskforce will soon begin investigations into the potential social and community impacts of local mining projects.

Former Port Lincoln City Council chief executive officer Geoff Dodd has been appointed as coordinator and former premier Rob Kerin as the independent chairman of the Eyre Peninsula Mining Taskforce.

Authorities say work can now get underway to assess the risk of damage.

The Eyre Peninsula Local Government Association has created the taskforce to find the important but often under-realised negative effects that come along with big mining projects.

The taskforce is set to meet four to six times a year to look at mining infrastructure, the state of social services and the impact on the community.

At the moment, 15 of South Australia’s 33 developing minerals projects are locating on or close to Eyre Peninsula.

Councillors say the region needs a taskforce to look at what local council areas will need to do to prepare for that impact.

Dealing with the strain that the population increase will have on power and water resources will be a key point of focus too.

Funding for the taskforce has come from the Eyre Peninsula Local Government Association and the Local Government Association of South Australia.

Regional Development Australia says it has applied for more resources from the Regional Development Fund.

The association's executive officer Tony Irvine says the Eyre Peninsula Mining Taskforce will combine expertise in strategic planning experience and regional knowledge.

“Mr Dodd's role will be to ensure the smooth operation of the taskforce functions, as well as providing administrative support to the executive committee,” Mr Irvine told local media outlet the Port Lincoln Times.

“[Rob Kerin's] relationship with RDA (Regional Development Australia) and PIRSA (Primary Industries and Regions SA) and past political life makes him an ideal chair,” Irvine added.

“His long-term understanding of the region and relationships between agriculture and mining exploration and mining will be invaluable.”