COURTS PRECINCT

Ms BETTISON (Ramsay) (14:49): My question is to the Minister for Housing and Urban Development. Will the minister update the house on the development of a new court precinct in Adelaide's CBD?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Oh, another take, splendid!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:50): Thank you very much, sir; plenty to go around. Today the Premier announced the commencement of the expressions of interest process for the proposed courts precinct on Victoria Square. Expressions of interest are now being sought from private sector developers in helping to transform the Supreme Court precinct in Victoria Square into a vibrant legal and commercial precinct.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: That is very unfair of you. Developers will need to demonstrate the financial, design, construction and operating capacity and capability to successfully deliver the courts precinct urban renewal project. It will be an interactive and collaborative delivery process, which signals the next phase of the state's Big Build, and builds on a massive investment in the CBD, which includes:

the redevelopment of the Adelaide Oval;

the new Royal Adelaide Hospital;

the SAHMRI;

the Convention Centre; and, of course,

the Riverbank footbridge.

These are key infrastructure projects that some in this house have called a false economy. On this side of the house we believe in the role that major infrastructure projects play in economic stimulus now and into the future. The beginning of this EOI process will see a raft of consultants—including architects, planners, engineers and accountants—working within tendering consortia to help develop proposals. Preliminary investigations indicate that a privately financed project of this scale has the potential to deliver significant economic benefits and up to 1,500 construction jobs.

With the Adelaide Magistrate's Court on the opposite corner of Victoria Square, I am confident that we can create one of the best court precincts of its kind in the country. The vision for the project is that it will offer architecture and landscaped architecture that:

meets recognised standards of design excellence;

respects and celebrates the existing architecture of the site;

embodies the values and uniqueness of Adelaide, reflecting its cultural diversity; and

celebrates the physical environment, both natural and built.

This would be a fully integrated precinct that would continue to leverage further private investment into the area. The call for expressions of interest—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: That's not very nice.

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Transport is warned for the first time.

An honourable member: The second time.

The SPEAKER: The second time, I'm sorry. So the bases are loaded for you, minister.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, sir. The call for expressions of interest will be an opportunity for the private sector to demonstrate what they can bring to the process of transforming this important part of the city. For the information of the house, expressions of interest will close in November 2013, with a request for proposals planned for later this year. Expressions of interest are being called through the SA Tenders and Contracts website at www.tenders.sa.gov.au.

The SPEAKER: I thank the tell-tale tits on the government side who reminded me that it was the Minister for Transport's second warning.