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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-06-20 Daily Xml
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Tonsley Park Redevelopment

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (14:42): My question is to the Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation. Can the minister update the chamber on high-tech companies moving to Tonsley?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:42): I thank the honourable member for her question. This government is committed to creating conditions that help us to transform our economy, and we have had a very long-term commitment to Tonsley as a vitally important part of this in South Australia. We have embarked on turning the old Mitsubishi manufacturing site at Tonsley into Australia's premier innovation and advanced manufacturing district, which is helping to create the necessary environment for a vibrant, diverse and internationally competitive economy, not just for southern Adelaide, but for our state.

The success of this redevelopment under this precinct has been widely recognised through a number of prestigious awards. Earlier this year, Tonsley was recognised at the Urban Development Institute of Australia National Awards as the national urban renewal project of the year. More recently, at the 2017 Good Design Awards in Sydney, the precinct was awarded the national architecture design award and the national sustainability award. This is fantastic third-party endorsement for the work that is happening in Tonsley.

Tonsley's industry attraction efforts continue to progress well, with a focus on high-value manufacturing businesses across four key sectors: mining and energy services; clean technologies, including sustainable building products and services and renewable energy; health and medical technologies and assistive devices; and software and simulation.

I am advised that the precinct is now home to over 110 businesses, with 26 in conventional accommodation, 44 occupants of the CO-HAB co-working space and 42 companies within the eNVIsion area of Flinders University, and that around 1,000 workers are now employed at Tonsley every day of the working week. The range of businesses is diverse and includes such companies and world-class institutions as Flinders University, Siemens (the German innovation and advanced manufacturing company), Signostics, Micro-X, the state drill core library and TAFE SA at Tonsley.

Last month, I had the distinct pleasure of welcoming Zeiss as the latest company to commit to joining these world-class businesses at Tonsley under the main assembly building. The Zeiss group was established in Germany over 170 years ago and is a leading developer, producer and distributor of measuring technology, microscopes, medical eyeglass lenses, camera and cinelenses and binoculars, to name a few.

I am confident that the benefit we will get from companies like Zeiss will provide significant opportunities for not just Tonsley but also the South Australian economy. Many people in this chamber probably benefit from a company like Zeiss, which makes eyeglass lenses and other products that go into things like mobile phones. Zeiss is a company that I understand is represented in over 40 countries. It has more than 50 sales and service locations, upwards of 30 manufacturing sites and about 25 research and development sites around the globe.

Zeiss will consolidate its presence in South Australia, moving into a new $6 million premises to be constructed under the main assembly building at Tonsley. This high-tech international company will bring 120 permanent staff to Tonsley when it relocates from its current locations around Adelaide, with the opportunity and intention for further job creation as the company grows. Zeiss will occupy a purpose-built facility under the main assembly building, which is being constructed by a local developer, MAB Tonsley Holdings, on an almost 3,000 square metre tenancy. The developer is investing $6 million in the building, which is expected to be completed by early 2018.

I want to congratulate Miss Hilke Fitzsimons, Zeiss managing director, and her team for making the decision to locate at Tonsley. I am sure the precinct will enable them to leverage opportunities that can be found in no other precinct in Australia. I understand that a number of other companies have expressed strong interest in setting up in the district and are in negotiations with Tonsley management.

Recently, we have seen the completion of tenancies for companies like Micro-X, HEGS Australia, Catalyst Cloud Solutions and Phoenix Contact. Further to this, tenancies for SAGE Automation, AZZO and a CO-HAB expansion are now under construction and are due to be completed shortly. There is also the construction of a tenancy for Somark Innovations to commence shortly. It is exciting to welcome Zeiss to Tonsley. The company is a perfect fit for our state's innovation district and where this state generally is headed.

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