Royal Adelaide Hospital

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:04): My question is to the Minister for Climate Change. Will the minister tell the house about the recent announcement that the Royal Adelaide Hospital will become a negative carbon emissions precinct and showcase for renewable energy initiatives?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (15:05): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. Last Tuesday the Premier announced that the proposed $1 billion old Royal Adelaide Hospital site will become a net negative carbon emissions precinct and a showcase for renewable initiatives. This is a fantastic opportunity for this site on the East End of North Terrace, and a fantastic opportunity for our state. This will enshrine Adelaide as a global leader in sustainable urban development.

The redevelopment will be the first in South Australia to be C40 climate positive, an international recognition of the project's net carbon negative status, and the precinct will bring together South Australian businesses to demonstrate energy, wastewater treatment, solar power systems and other clean technology. We expect to see significant global interest in one of the world's first large-scale zero carbon central energy plants located in the heart of the project.

On-site generation, with rooftop and building integrated PV systems and advanced battery storage into the development, will provide sustainable power to the precinct. Hot, chilled and recycled water will also be generated on site. Solar thermal energy will be used to preheat water supplies, and the plant will be connected directly into our statewide energy network, drawing power from solar farms built by local innovators.

Not only will the site be carbon neutral, it will also be exporting excess power to Adelaide University and beyond. This is a great initiative, and will continue to enhance Adelaide's status as one of the world's most vibrant cities. Hassell, the internationally renowned architectural firm and founding member of the Green Building Council of Australia, is responsible for the overall architectural vision of the project, I am advised. We are excited to be working with Hassell, who are responsible for SA Water House, Australia's first six-star, green rated commercial development, and the Bowden Urban Village master plan, South Australia's second six-star, green rated community. Landscape architects, Oxigen, another successful South Australian company, will also be heavily involved in the project, I am advised, and this builds on their work on the six-star, green rated Tonsley precinct.

The old Royal Adelaide (or the ORAH) project embodies so much of what makes South Australia one of the world's most liveable cities. We are bringing more people into our CBD, creating more opportunities for local businesses, we are generating jobs that help us transition into a low carbon future, and we are leading the world in action to address climate change.

This proposal promises to turn the precinct into a world-leading, carbon neutral, publicly accessible space. The project is especially beneficial for students based in and around the ORAH. They will be able to see firsthand the newest advances in clean technology and collaborate with professionals already working in this sector.

In conjunction with the launch of the Carbon Neutral Adelaide action plan and Adelaide University's commitment to carbon neutrality, this has been a great week for all South Australians, and I urge the house to look at the plans and see the high-level degree of effort that has been put into carbon neutrality and emissions reductions in this fantastic development for the East End of the city.