Adelaide Venue Management

In reply to the Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (28 July 2021). (Estimates Committee A)

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier): I have been advised:

Assurance reviews are independent reviews undertaken on behalf of the SA Government and administered by Infrastructure SA. The assurance review report is delivered to Infrastructure SA by the review team and is prepared for the primary purpose of informing advice from Infrastructure SA to the SA cabinet on capital projects in accordance with the Infrastructure SA Act. The review report is therefore strictly confidential and classified as SENSITIVE: SA CABINET.

The purpose of the assurance review (for arena this was a Gate 2 Final Business Case Review) is to provide an independent peer review that assesses the development and delivery confidence of the project at a point in time in the project’s phase of development and delivery. The independent review team reviews key documents and meets with selected interviewees over two to three days and produces a report. The report includes commentary and recommendations intended to enhance the project team’s ability to confidently develop and deliver the project and realise the business objectives and benefits expected from the investment. The review requires the review team to address the following key focus areas; strategic fit, stakeholders, value for money and affordability, governance and risk management, infrastructure delivery.

The review team is selected for their skills and experience and independence to the project. The review team bring experience from a range of relevant projects including Fed Square, Sydney Showgrounds Redevelopment, Melbourne Recital Centre, Sydney International Convention Centre, Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, Hunter Sports and Entertainment Precinct and Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust. It is important to note the assurance review is an expert peer review, it is not an audit and nor do the review team provide any approval of the project. Reviewers are also required to execute a conflict of interest and confidentiality declaration prior to commencing a review.

Below is an overview of the review teams used for the Gate 2 Assurance Review of the Inner City Multipurpose Arena in February 2021:

1. Review Team Leader—This person is trained as an architect and has a broad range of skills and experience, gained over the last 25 years, working in senior levels within the public and private sectors. This includes a previous role as General Manager, Major Projects, in Victoria and extensive experience on high value, complex multi-stakeholder infrastructure development and delivery and hands-on business case development experience. The leader is an experienced gateway team leader across Australia on over 100 major high-value high-risk infrastructure reviews.

2. Review Team Member 1—This person is a civil engineer and project director with extensive experience in delivering complex infrastructure and sports projects. The member has provided services to various government and non-government organisations for the development of complex infrastructure projects. The member was a senior manager with a major development corporation for 18 years, responsible for a variety of commercial and industrial projects both in Australia and South-East Asia. Since 2016, the member has been an accredited reviewer on a number of complex development projects.

3. Review Team Member 2—This person provides strategy, property and infrastructure advisory services to the public and private sector. This includes facilitating complex interactions between government and industry and assisting clients to deliver major property and infrastructure projects. This person is a member of the expert panels for Infrastructure NSW and Projects Victoria, the Central Sydney Planning Committee, and is a member of the Advisory Council for School Infrastructure NSW. The member holds a double degree in Law and Civil Engineering (Hons 1), an MBA and is a graduate of the AICD and has also completed the Harvard Leadership Program for Senior Executives.

The individual review team members have requested that to maintain their independence and to continue to provide these services in South Australia and other jurisdictions that their names be kept private.’