6000-job plan for former multi-function polis site at Gillman

DEVELOPMENT at the former multi-function polis site at Gillman could start as soon as next year after the State Government struck a deal.

DEVELOPMENT at the former multi-function polis site at Gillman could start as soon as next year after a deal was struck between the State Government and a consortium led by former Santos chairman Stephen Gerlach.

Adelaide Capital Partners intends to develop a 400ha industrial hub it has dubbed "Lipson Estate" to support the state's growing resources industry.

The company intends to buy the first 150ha of land in 2014-15, subject to finalising its business case.

Mr Gerlach said Lipson Estate would be a key part of realising South Australia's resources potential.

"Apart from meeting the more immediate-term needs of large-scale transport logistics and other local industrial warehousing operators, Lipson Estate is the ideal gateway for the world's major resource companies to establish and support the global-scale projects that will underpin the South Australian economy over coming decades," Mr Gerlach said.

"The Lipson Estate precinct has long been regarded as having state economic significance by successive governments. The capabilities and resources of ACP have solved the challenges of this site and can create the gateway.''

Housing and Urban Development Minister Tom Koutsantonis said once fully developed, the proposed precinct could support more than 6000 jobs.

"Our vision for the Gillman area is a large-scale employment precinct. ACP is keen to join us in turning this vision into a reality," Mr Koutsantonis said.

"By working with the private sector we hope to create a modern industrial precinct where businesses can flourish and create jobs across a diversity of industries.

"The site is the ideal location for businesses with unparalleled access to road, sea and rail networks and links to Port Adelaide, the broader metropolitan area, regional South Australia, interstate and overseas."

ACP chief executive Andrew Gerlach said the site would also serve the agriculture industry.

"We think it can drive the industrial part of the South Australian economy over 20 or 30 years; it's a critical piece of infrastructure that can be transformational for the state,'' he said.

Mr Gerlach said final development designs would be completed over the next 12 months and potential investors and tenants for the site would also be approached.

The failed MFP project was to be a joint venture between the Federal Government and Japanese investors, and would have included up to 100,000 residents and a hi-tech industrial hub.

In 1998, 11 years after it was first proposed, then state premier John Olsen announced that the MFP, which cost Australian taxpayers about $150 million, would not go ahead.

Adelaide Capital Partners is a joint venture between Gerlach Asset Development and ResourceCo.