Renew Adelaide Scheme

The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland) (14:32): My question is to the Minister for Planning. Can the Minister for Planning inform the house about the expansion of the Renew Adelaide scheme?

The SPEAKER: Oh, a man who will pour oil on trouble waters, the Deputy Premier.

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (14:32): Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Yes, I will attempt to raise the tone a little. I thank the member for Newland for his very important question. As the member is aware, the government has invested a great deal of energy and resources in revitalising Adelaide's CBD.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: You chaps googling, you won't find it there.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Yes; I wanted to save Team Google too much effort before they wore out their fingers. One aspect that has breathed new life into our cultural and entrepreneurial sectors is the Renew Adelaide scheme, which matches new businesses into empty shops or buildings. On 25 September, I was very pleased to attend the Renew Adelaide Awards to celebrate the excellence and innovation of businesses that have taken part in the scheme.

The Renew Adelaide scheme started in 2012. Under the scheme, landlords of vacant shops and offices allow use by short-term tenants keen to start up a business. Renew Adelaide then helps negotiate low or no-rent leases for a period and helps aspiring owners also to navigate red tape to create innovative opportunities and networks that were previously non-existent. Renew Adelaide helps the government assist entrepreneurs to test their ideas on a commercial basis, identify and respond—

Mr Knoll interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is called to order.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: As I was saying, identify and respond to challenges regarding building compliance and commercial arrangements and bring our unique and underused buildings back to life, as well as activate small streets and laneways. The Renew Adelaide scheme is now poised to expand across Adelaide. Renew Adelaide released its annual report on 1 October. That report shows that, during the past 12 months, 30 disused properties have been overhauled in the city and Port Adelaide and 130 young entrepreneurs have been supported in launching start-up businesses. Those businesses were launched across the retail, arts and culture sectors. In 2013, 11 properties were overhauled; in the previous years, just three.

The scheme has the support of state and local government. For the 2013-14 financial year, the state government provided $300,000 in funding to Renew Adelaide. Additionally, the state government has just committed a further $800,000 in funding over the next four years.

The Renew Adelaide scheme is also supported by the property industry, including some of the biggest players in that space such as Peregrine Incorporation, the Cohen Group, the Angelopoulos family and the Precision Group. That industry's peak body—the Property Council—through its new state director, a Mr Gannon, with whom I believe some opposite are familiar, has also said, 'Renew Adelaide should be commended for its positive approach during challenging economic times.'

An honourable member: Excellent comments by him.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Comment Mr Gannon.

The Hon. J.J. Snelling: Well done.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Good on you, Mr Gannon; he is dead right. An economic impact study is still to be completed although, as I have said, Renew Adelaide has supported hundreds of entrepreneurs to get their ideas off the ground. Renew Adelaide is at the heart of the positive changes that have taken place in the city, and the scheme carries the attitudes necessary to continue to create a vibrant place to work, to live and to do business.