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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-09-09 Daily Xml
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Public Works Committee: Loxton Research Centre Redevelopment

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (11:34): I move:

That the 524th report of the committee, entitled Loxton Research Centre Redevelopment, be noted.

Primary Industries and Regions SA has been consulting with the local community, businesses and the commonwealth government regarding the redevelopment and expansion of the Loxton Research Centre and what is required for a state-of-the-art horticulture and dryland research facility.

The aim of the facility is to bring together industry knowledge, ideas and science to support, revitalise and grow the regional economy. The centre is to showcase and allow verification of new technology and establish a local analytical capability that encourages new industry players as well as facilitates export growth.

This project specifically considers the expansion of the centre, including the construction of a new building incorporating a conference centre and the expansion of the car park to accommodate coaches and buses. The cost of the expansion is $5.05 million and, in addition to this, the current facility is also being upgraded and redeveloped to offer state-of-the-art facilities. This is already underway.

The construction of the new building and car park project is due to commence in January 2016, with completion by December 2016 of the redevelopment and new facilities for the whole complex. Given this, 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.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (11:35): I too rise to speak about the 524th report of the Public Works Committee regarding the Loxton Research Centre redevelopment. I am obviously very proud of the centre's refurbishment and rebirth, as from its former glory days it has been, sadly, left in almost a state of disrepair. The money being put into this centre will potentially put it back onto the world map because, for many years, the research centre was a centre of excellence, particularly with irrigation efficiency and water monitoring. The research that came from that centre over many years has been exported to many countries and I think that, with Loxton's rebirth and refurbishment, this will once again be reborn.

It is a huge project for the Riverland and Mallee that will breathe some life back into the facility that, as I said, has essentially been left to deteriorate. I make continual stop-ins to have a look at how progress is going with the centre. I think, in particular, with the $265 million of commonwealth funding from the South Australian River Murray Sustainability Program, the research centre will get a critically overdue makeover and upgrade.

It is essentially a revitalisation of the research and development facility. There has been a lot of interest already in taking up tenancy in the centre. As I have said, I did lobby for some years to get the Almond Board of Australia's National Almond Centre of Excellence. We look at other national bodies that are going to come into this facility, and I think it is a great opportunity for South Australia to have a world-leading R&D centre up in the Riverland. We all must realise that R&D needs to be formed in its own environs where that R&D is going to be performed out in the field.

During the hearing, witnesses from the departments stated that the project represents one of our major opportunities to redevelop the facility. I notice that the state's economy is reliant on food and beverage and, in most cases, that is what this research centre will be able to underpin. Of the $7.5 million total cost of the project, $6.7 million of funding came from SARMS.

There is no direct state government money going into the development, but the state money being used will pick up some of the repairs on the existing facility. For example, there was work completed on underpinning where there was a lot of wall cracking and some erosion. There was some asbestos removal, and a lot of the air conditioning and wiring had to be replaced.

The works on the existing building are costing in the vicinity of $1.4 million to ensure that all the labs are upgraded to current standards, the whole exterior and gutters are replaced and painted, and there is recarpeting. The current facility will almost be the same quality as it was many years ago when it was opened by the late Ted Chapman. As I said, there was also replacement of air conditions that had failed.

It is great to hear that 96 to 97 per cent of the tradespeople are local. In terms of staff, eight will be government funded; four of them will be there continuously, but there are people moving in from Murray Bridge and Loxton and they will be travelling backwards and forwards. A request from the nursing organisation came in and they wanted to set up at the research centre, so there is interest from far and wide.

My wish is that the centre will be finished on time. The cooperation between commonwealth and state coffers will benefit the centre and the centre will benefit South Australia, so I commend the report to the house.

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (11:40): I thank the member for Chaffey for his contribution, and I know it is a very welcome spend in his area. The members of the Public Works Committee are all hopeful that this will give a boost in that particular area as well. I would also like to thank the Public Works Committee and those who prepared the report for us to consider, and I recommend the report to the house.

Motion carried.

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