LOCHIEL PARK

Ms PORTOLESI (Hartley) (14:38): Will the Premier update the house on the launch of the Lochiel Park Green Village and Sustainability Centre?

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:38): On 11 October I launched the Lochiel Park Green Village and Sustainability Centre with the Minister for Infrastructure, energy and other things, and it is an important milestone in the South Australian government's vision for environmental protection and sustainability. As many members of this house are aware, the government made an election commitment in 2002 to save Lochiel Park. While the opposition, then in government, planned to subdivide the area and sell it off—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Don't you remember the huge, Titanic battle over Lochiel Park? There were people out there; there were protests.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. M.D. RANN: No; what we did was envisage a different future, one which would not only achieve outstanding environmental credentials in its own right but also provide inspiration for further sustainable development and design in our state. We legislated to make Lochiel Park proclaimed parklands, thus ensuring that it would remain open space. We also earmarked a 4.25 hectare area that housed existing buildings as the site for a leading-edge, environmentally-sustainable residential development. Lochiel Park Green Village is one of the results of this vision. I remember my meeting with the minister for energy, transport and infrastructure. I wanted this to be the model green village for sustainability in the nation. The Lochiel Park Green Village is one of the results of that vision.

The village will ultimately house 106 dwellings, each fitted with solar photovoltaic cells and designed to achieve a 7.5 star energy efficiency rating. The homes will also be serviced by several different water sources, including a non-potable water system, which includes two on-site wetlands, pollutant traps and aquifer storage and recovery systems. The southern wetlands will provide stormwater recycling for the site's domestic grey water and garden use and will be operated by SA Water. The northern wetlands are essentially an external catchment system that incorporates a pollutant trap. They will provide filtered water into the Torrens and will also provide water for extensive revegetation. These wetlands will be owned and maintained by the City of Campbelltown. This is about stormwater recycling. In addition, rainwater will be used in hot-water systems, which will significantly reduce the demand for mains water.

Lochiel Park is an important model development for many reasons. It recognises that this state government is actively working with local government and the community to reduce South Australia's carbon footprint and water usage through ambitious sustainability targets. Now, you said you want facts: here are the facts. These targets, which were set against 2004 South Australian household averages, include: reducing mains water use by 78 per cent; cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 74 per cent; and lowering energy use by 66 per cent.

Lochiel Park will also house a new Sustainability Centre which will showcase the latest in sustainable housing ideas and innovations for architects, builders, developers, renovators, as well as home handymen and women. In addition to showcasing the very best and latest in sustainable building techniques and living practices, Lochiel Park also delivers on the government's commitment to retaining open space for community use and biodiversity preservation.

This is the bit which was just raised by the opposition. This is it: a standard residential subdivision would incorporate around 12.5 per cent of its total land for public open space—12.5 per cent. At Lochiel Park, more than 67 per cent has been set aside for that purpose. In fact, a substantial part of the full 15 hectare site has been set aside as an urban forest that links directly to the River Torrens Linear Park. More than 160,000 trees, shrubs and grasses have been planted in line with the government's commitment to plant three million trees across metropolitan Adelaide.

I am pleased to say that Lochiel Park has been nationally recognised through a number of awards, including the National Housing Industry Association's GreenSmart Award for Community Development and the Planning Institute of Australia's 2008 award for planning excellence in urban design. I congratulate the honourable member for Hartley and I congratulate the minister for his increasingly green vision.

The Hon. K.O. Foley: Hear, hear! A government of action.

The SPEAKER: Order!