Parliamentary Committees

Public Works Committee: Sir Samuel Way Building Facade Repairs

Mr BROWN (Florey) (11:02): I move:

That the 27^th report of the committee, entitled Sir Samuel Way Building Facade Repairs Project, be noted.

The Courts Administration Authority proposes to make repairs to the Sir Samuel Way Building, located at Victoria Square, Adelaide. Currently listed as a state heritage asset, it was originally constructed in the early 1900s as a department store. The building was sold to the SA Superannuation Fund Investment Trust in the 1980s, before being refurbished for court use and leased to the Department for Infrastructure and Transport. Ownership was transferred to the state in 2019.

The building now provides facilities for Supreme and District court criminal matters, as well as civil matters for the District Court and the Environment, Resource and Development court. It includes 21 courtrooms, 13 of which are criminal courtrooms with jury facilities and holding cells, in addition to 42 judicial chambers. In 2021, approximately 2,160 criminal matters and 1,650 civil matters were heard in the building.

Early in 2006, cracking was identified in the building's facade. Preliminary investigations identified delaminating of masonry and cracking to columns on all levels of the building. Several pieces of the facade had fallen onto the verandah, in addition to the adjacent roof of the City of Adelaide-owned Central Market Arcade. A structural assessment concluded that the facade had degraded due to corrosion of reinforcement within the concrete, moisture ingress and ground movement.

The objectives of these works are to address, where possible, the stabilisation of the facade to reduce risk to people and property and to implement a process to manage the condition of the facade in future years. The objectives will be delivered by completing four individual packages of works. First is baseline stabilisation, which will inspect, record and address items identified as urgent for a five to 10-year period of repair.

Secondly, there will be canopy modifications, which will review and upgrade the existing canopy to increase protection and reduce risk. Thirdly, the ground-level facade package will repair the facade at ground level on the eastern and southern sides of the building to enhance appearance and longevity. Lastly, there will be repairs to masonry facades on level 5 and above. In addition to these packages of work, a facade element handbook will be developed for contractors to use when undertaking future repairs.

The estimated cost, excluding GST, of these proposed works is approximately $6 million. There is no Consolidated Account impact as the Courts Administration Authority was allocated funds in the 2020-21 state budget for the purposes of completing these works, with funding allocated over three years. Construction is scheduled to commence in June 2023 and be completed in June 2025. The project team is currently in the early contractor involvement phase of the project, with all procurement occurring in accordance with the state government's construction policy.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) has played a key supporting role in establishing project initiation mechanisms, engaging with design consultants, liaising with various planning authorities, and drafting the tender call. DIT will manage the project in accordance with all state government guidelines. The project team will employ best practices and principles for project management, as advocated by government and construction industry authorities.

The State Heritage Register lists the Sir Samuel Way Building as a confirmed site. Based on the statement of cultural significance, the historical research and the inspection of the building, the existing fabric of the building has been attributed various levels of significance. The Department for Environment and Water, state heritage, has been consulted regarding the impact of this project. In addition, the development application has been referred and commented upon via the state heritage and state commission application panel processes.

Initial consultation has occurred with key stakeholders, both internal and external. The Courts Administration Authority and DIT assure the committee that they will continue to consult and work with stakeholders throughout the project to advise of key milestones, manage expectations and address any concerns.

The committee has examined written and oral evidence in relation to this project. Witnesses who appeared before the committee were Linda Abrams-South, Acting State Courts Administrator, Courts Administration Authority, and John Harrison, Director, Building Projects, Department for Infrastructure and Transport. I thank the witnesses for their time.

Based upon the evidence considered and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public works.

Motion carried.