News
20/03/2012: Tonsley Park: Growing a new manufacturing future
Tonsley Park will be transformed into a centre for high-value and innovative manufacturing companies, under a master plan released in March by the State Government.
Premier Jay Weatherill says the State Government is investing in Tonsley Park to grow an advanced manufacturing hub in Adelaide's south.
"We know from Professor Goran Roos' work that manufacturing won't survive unless we become more innovative and focus on designing and engineering high-value products," Mr Weatherill said.
"Tonsley Park will bring together our bright young tertiary students with enterprising businesses who are eager to make new products that people want to buy.
"Tonsley Park will be retained as a pillar of the State's manufacturing industry - more than half a century since Chrysler Australia opened there in 1956."
The Master Plan for Tonsley Park sets out:
- The creation of 6300 jobs over 20 years through $1 billion in private investment, which has been independently assessed.
- Bringing together industry and education, including TAFE SA's Sustainable Industries Education Centre
- A localised green electricity network - known as a Smart Grid
- Refurbished main assembly plant to create a new town centre with specialty retail outlets
- 1500 new residents accommodated at Tonsley Park by 2031 within a lively, safe community linked to the Tonsley rail line
- Urban wetlands and rain gardens which capture water for re-use
- Green open spaces, cycling and walking paths
Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade Minister Tom Koustantonis said South Australia has a strong foundation on which to build at Tonsley Park, providing confidence we can generate 6300 jobs within 20 years.
"This precinct will bring together high-value industry, education and the research sector to create a new manufacturing cluster where innovation is encouraged," Mr Koutsantonis said.
"By attracting high-value manufacturing and services, our State will be in a better position to respond to the needs of our minerals and energy sector while rising to the challenge of a high exchange rate.
"Our State already leads the nation in renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, geothermal and wave power.
"South Australia boasts internationally recognised expertise in water security and waste management, and leading-edge sustainable urban design capabilities.
"We also have an emerging medical and assistive devices sector in South Australia and internationally renowned capabilities in services to the minerals and energy sector.
"There is such enormous opportunity to locally anchor more jobs for South Australians, by building expertise in these sectors."
Community feedback had played an important part in shaping the plans for Tonsley Park. Mr Koutsantonis said the State Government is investing $253 million during the 20-year life of the project, with a substantial amount of this investment off-set by land sales and rental income.
"This means the net cost to State Government during the life of this project is forecast to be about $77 million," Mr Koutsantonis said.
"We already have local, national and international companies interested in the concept and securing that investment is now a key focus for the Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy."
Work on the main assembly plant has already begun in preparation for construction of the Sustainable Industries Education Centre. Additional work is expected to begin in coming months.
20/03/2012: Setting directions for manufacturing
Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade Tom Koutsantonis today issued a discussion paper aimed at ensuring not only the survival but the expansion of South Australian manufacturing.
"Manufacturing faces its greatest test since the tariff barriers were pulled down in the 1970s," Mr Koutsantonis says.
"The discussion paper I have released today for six-weeks of consultation seeks to answer the fundamental question facing the sector: what will it take for manufacturing to survive and succeed in a high wage, high exchange rate South Australian economy?
"With manufacturing exposed to unprecedented levels of international competition, the paper accepts there is a key role for Government in ensuring this sector is able to transform and develop.
"To survive in an increasingly competitive world, South Australia needs to think smarter but also make more of its strengths such as a smaller economy that can focus on its comparative advantages.
"The discussion paper prepared by the Department of Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy highlights four key areas where South Australia needs to achieve a successful transition."
- Smart Decisions: providing industry and government with the information required to support local manufacturers to make productive investment decisions and take advantage of emerging opportunities
- Smart Opportunities: promoting collaboration between local firms by establishing several industry clusters beginning with mining, automotive and food & beverage
- Smart Firms: helping manufacturing firms to adopt innovation strategies to improve both their competitiveness and their productivity
- Smart People: harnessing our strategic management skills among our local manufacturers in a way that enhances the competitiveness of our home grown firms
- Mr Koutsantonis says South Australia needs to seize this moment in its history.
"Manufacturing has been central to our State's economy since the 1940s as both a generator of jobs and skills training and a creator of wealth through exports and research and development," he says.
"If that legacy is to continue through to the 2040s, then South Australia needs a long-term strategy to guide manufacturers through today's turbulent times and set themselves up for a future beyond the mining boom."
24/01/2012: Planning update and works on SIEC to begin
During the second half of 2011, the State Government took into consideration your feedback from Community Open Days, our project website and stakeholder engagement.
Community input so far has provided valuable information about aspirations for the site.
In preparation for development work to begin on the Sustainable Industries Education Centre, enabling works will commence on site from 24 January 2012.
These works will prepare part of the existing main assembly plant building for adaptation and re-use as part of the $125 million education centre.
The centre will provide skills and training for “green” building and construction-related careers, with TAFE SA preparing about 8,000 students a year for in-demand jobs in South Australia.
The State Government has awarded the building contract for the Sustainable Industries Education Centre to Baulderstone Pty Ltd.
The enabling works involve removing existing cladding and roofing from the main assembly plant, in readiness to house the new education centre.
The existing structure contains a stable form of asbestos. Removal of this material will be managed by contractors licensed by Safework SA in accordance with current legislation.
Further information about asbestos removal processes can be found in the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and Safework SA fact sheets.
By starting this preparation work now, the new state-of-the-art education centre – Tonsley Park’s anchor tenant – will be on target to open in 2014.
As work commences, it is likely there will be minimal increase in traffic on roads surrounding the site.
All heavy vehicles, including trucks and semitrailers are required to enter and leave the site from the South Road entrance.
Appropriate noise controls will also be enforced in accordance with EPA Noise Policy and Separation Distance guidelines.
It is not anticipated that works on site will cause disruption to surrounding residents or business operators.
The State Government will continue to keep you informed about future plans for the site and how the redevelopment will broaden the economic base of southern Adelaide and the State, while creating an innovative hub for workers, students and residents.
If you have any queries, please contact: 1300 321 208.
18/10/2011: Thank you for your feedback
The Tonsley Park Open Day on Sunday, 10 July attracted about 700 people eager to see and provide feedback on how the State Government's plans for the former Mitsubishi site have progressed.
We appreciate the feedback provided during the Open Day, at a display at Castle Plaza on 28 July, and online. All comments and suggestions have been collated and provided to the project team preparing the Master Plan.
The Master Plan - showing the layout for the site - is due for release by the end of 2011. Comments received after its release will still be considered as we continue to shape the design of Tonsley Park, while having a clear plan for the various land uses.
In the meantime, we've summarised what the community told us is most important. The feedback will help to develop the site as a destination for the whole community to enjoy - while importantly also providing a hub for innovative companies in sustainable technologies, including cleantech and environmental industries.
Click here for a summary of the feedback.
20/07/2011: More people have their say at Castle Plaza
Phase two of community consultation for the redevelopment of Tonsley Park continued recently with a second opportunity for community members to speak face-to-face with people involved in the project.
The key concepts for the redevelopment of the site which were displayed at the 10 July Open Day, were again on show at Castle Plaza on Thursday, 28 July.
While information is now also publicly available online, the Castle Plaza display provided another opportunity to speak directly with people who could explain the redevelopment process and how community input will be used to shape the future of the site - set to become a centre for sustainable industry, education and the community.
The concepts have been developed following broad community and stakeholder consultation and set out where future industry may be located, where people may work, live, study, socialise and play, all while ensuring it is 'climate smart', particularly in relation to its infrastructure, energy, water and waste systems.
Visitors to Castle Plaza learned more about proposals for the refurbishment and re-use of the main assembly plant, and gained a better understanding of how the redevelopment of Tonlsey Park will contribute to boosting the State's economy.
To ensure Tonsley Park becomes an attractive destination, feedback is being sought on what would draw the community to the heart of this precinct, so please tell us what you think online by visiting the 'How to Have Your Say' page and filling in the feedback form.
Consultation will be open until Monday, 8 August 2011 and the final Master Plan is expected to be released before the end of 2011.
12/07/2011: More than 700 people attend July Open Day
More than 700 people, including ex-Mitsubishi workers and people living in the surrounding area, flocked to Tonsley Park on Sunday, 10 July 2011 to see how plans had progressed for the redevelopment of the site.
The 10 July Open Day marked the beginning of phase two of community consultation for the redevelopment of the 61-hectare precinct, equivalent in size to 72 soccer pitches.
Community feedback on key concepts, now also showcased online, will help to ensure the site attracts industry investment but also provides new facilities for the whole community to enjoy.
The key concepts have been developed following broad community and stakeholder consultation and set out where future industry may be located, where people may work, live, study, socialise and play, all while ensuring Tonsley Park is 'climate smart', particularly in relation to its infrastructure, energy, water and waste systems.
The main assembly plant, with a roof area covering 11-hectares, is an iconic feature of the site and is proposed to be refurbished and re-used as part of this redevelopment.
Tonsley Park's importance to the State was also highlighted over the weekend, with the Prime Minister's announcement about the proposed carbon pricing mechanism. As a sustainable technologies hub, the site will leverage opportunities to diversify cleantech and environmental industries.
Importantly however, Tonsley Park will not just be an industrial precinct. Consultation and engagement opportunities such as the weekend's Open Day will ensure it is redeveloped as a destination the whole community will value.
For those who missed the Open Day, there are still more opportunities to learn more about the project and have your say:
- View the information on this site and submit your feedback online.
- Visit the staffed display set-up in Castle Plaza Shopping Centre on Thursday, 28 July, 2011, between 3pm and 8pm.
- Download the feedback form here and send it to:
Tonsley Park Have Your Say,
Department of Trade and Economic Development,
GPO Box 1264,
Adelaide SA 5001
29/06/2011: Tonsley Park Open Day : 10 July 2011
Find out more about plans to redevelop the Tonsley Park site into an attractive, vibrant and integrated centre for industry, education and the community.
Please join us at our Open Day, where you may:
- Learn more about how community input so far has influenced how we are creating a distinctive and desirable hub of activity, with an industry focus on sustainable technologies, environmental industries and advanced manufacturing.
- Meet the project team, including the Woods Bagot-led design consortium and share your ideas about what would draw you to the heart of this site.
- Discover how you can continue to contribute your views throughout the planning process.
Date: Sunday, 10 July 2011.
Time: Drop in anytime between 11am and 3pm.
Venue: On the former Mitsubishi site, Tonsley Park. Enter off Alawoona Avenue, off Marion Road or via the Main entrance, off South Road (see the image below for more details).
A Shuttle bus will operate from Alawoona Avenue to Open Day Venue.
Plus, enjoy a free sausage sizzle and activities for the kids!
Access map
31/05/2011: Premier promotes Tonsley credentials interstate
The Premier's recent visit to Sydney and Melbourne has resulted in media coverage in the Sydney Morning Herald in late May, highlighting South Australia's economic propects, renewable energy credentials and how the future redevelopment of Tonsley Park will diversify the State's economic focus on clean technologies.
You can read the article here.
14/12/2010: Woods Bagot design consortium to deliver Master Plan
The redevelopment of Tonsley Park is a step closer to fruition with the appointment of the Woods Bagot design consortium to deliver the Master Plan.
Minister for Industry and Trade, Tom Koutsantonis, says Woods Bagot is one of the world’s leading architectural and urban design firms.
“The project’s progress has reached a significant milestone following the appointment of this firm and comes hot on the heels of TAFE SA’s announcement that it will build a $125 million Sustainable Industries Education Centre as a cornerstone of the development,” Minister Koutsantonis says.
11/12/2010: Open Day for Tonsley Park
Engagement with key stakeholders and the community is crucial to the successful planning and delivery of the Tonsley Park redevelopment and a consultation process has begun to seek feedback on the master planning process.
Tonsley Park Open Days will provide opportunities for the public to give feedback during the different stages of the master planning process. Information to be presented at the first Open Day (on 11 December 2010) is available online and we are seeking your feedback on the plans.
- The Big Picture
The South Australian Government’s vision for the site including the aims for the development. - Developing the Master Plan
Detail about the Master Planning process and the possible location of different land uses. - Making the site accessible
An overview of the Tonsley Park site access plan - Creating parks and a “town square”
An overview of open space and community facilities
Click here to read about the Darlington Transport study.
After you have look at the information from the Open Day, please fill in our feedback form as this will assist the design team in preparing the draft Master Plan.
