The redevelopment of the former Adelaide Bus Station on Franklin Street has taken another major step forward with the start of a formal process that will guide delivery of Adelaide’s first carbon neutral precinct.
Renewal SA officially settled on the 6,850m2 site last month, and has immediately released a Request for Offer to the market for a sustainability consultant to lead the critical development of a green strategy for the project, which will act as a guide for the project’s master plan.
To be known as Tapangka – which means to go on a journey in Kaurna – the project will deliver approximately 392 apartments across two mixed-use towers with more than a third to be offered as affordable housing for rent and purchase.
Tapangka will also feature a 208-key hotel and significant commercial and retail spaces while a central signature building will be carbon neutral in operation and achieve a 6 Star Green Star certified rating.
Not only will it be Adelaide’s first carbon neutral precinct, but Tapangka will also lead the introduction of institutional build-to-rent apartments in the city’s CBD.
“This project represents an opportunity to make a generational impact on the lives of South Australians, both in terms of the housing outcomes it will deliver and as the city’s first carbon neutral precinct,” Renewal SA’s Executive Director for Residential Project Delivery and Assets Shane Wingard said.
“With more than 1,000 people expected to be living at Tapangka upon completion, it also makes an important contribution to the state’s commitment to open the door for more South Australians to find a home.”
The sustainability consultant will be expected to deliver a strategy that provides guidance around all relevant aspects including energy efficient building design, sustainable construction materials, renewable energy and water management, climate resilient streetscapes and open space, waste and recycling and incorporation of infrastructure for electric vehicles and low carbon transport.
The successful consultant will also be responsible for establishing metrics and measures to secure carbon neutral status along with the identifying and establishing a project sustainability working group made up of industry leaders and state and local government experts.
“We have been quite clear in going to market that we want to engage with consultants who can bring both national and international best practice to the project,” Mr Wingard said.
“We want to ensure that we are incorporating global thinking into a local setting that will set new standards for sustainability and will function as a catalyst for further development in the area.”
Renewal SA has committed to sharing the learnings from its journey to carbon neutrality with the broader development sector and community.
The sustainability strategy is envisioned to be completed by June 2024. It will be developed concurrently with the refinement of the project master plan ahead of community engagement occurring in the second half of 2024. Construction at Tapangka is anticipated to commence in early 2026.
Consultants are invited to tender through the SA Tenders and Contract website, reference number URA054677.
