• SA mining tech firm eyes new Tonsley hub
• Milestone for northern suburbs community development
• Nova Systems and Curtin University partner on new space technology
• SA charities win major grants at gala event
• Carbon capture site picked in SA wetlands
• New health service for workers’ wellbeing
• SA design tapped for prison contraband fight
• Healthcare training to break down barriers for the Deaf Community

SA mining tech firm eyes new Tonsley hub

Mining tech services company Chrysos Corporation has announced it will open a new global headquarters within the Tonsley Innovation District.

Recently listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), the Adelaide company will move into the district next year after outgrowing its current premises at the University of Adelaide Waite Campus in Urrbrae.

It will relocate to a custom-built 1160sqm head office and assembly facility constructed by Leyton Property in the north-west of Tonsley’s Main Assembly Building.

Chrysos Corporation combines science and software to create technology solutions for the global mining industry.

The company says its PhotonAssay X-ray technology provides clients with analysis of gold, silver, copper and other elements within as little as two minutes.

“Chrysos’ team of scientists, engineers and industry specialists, innovation, technical expertise and superior customer service to create cutting-edge assay technologies and services that deliver the crucial operational data customers need to achieve better business outcomes,” Chrysos Corporation managing director and CEO Dirk Treasure said.

“Similarly, moving to Tonsley will provide our own business with the right facilities and environment to develop operations in line with our global expansion plans.”

The new headquarters will include offices, research facilities, storage areas, a workshop to service PhotonAssay units, and space to accommodate future growth.

Chrysos Corporation made its debut on the South Australian Business Index this year, ranking at 53 in the state’s top 100 companies and winning the “Best New Entrant” award. 

– Katarina Bozic

Milestone for northern suburbs community development

Lightview Lake. Image: : Design Flow

Renewal SA’s Lightsview development was officially completed last week, delivering more than 350 homes as part of a government-private developer joint venture.

In 2006, Renewal SA and developer Peet Limited (then CIC Australia) partnered to create the master planned community in Adelaide’s inner-northern suburbs – developing 90 hectares of vacant land into a suburb that has exceeded the required 15 per cent affordable housing target set by the state government.

The housing development has delivered a six-star energy rating for all dwellings and planted more than 3600 trees and 61,000 plants and shrubs, according to a statement by the state government.

Planning Minister Nick Champion said Lightsview has reframed the way housing density is looked on in Australia.

“When Lightsview first began 16 years ago, townhouses and terraces weren’t the main housing product on the market – especially in suburbs,” he said.

“Now, others are looking to this development as a blueprint.”

– Alison Hall

Nova Systems and Curtin University partner on new space technology

New space domain awareness technology in SA’s Mid-North Photo: supplied

Nova Systems and the Curtin University node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) are prototyping a new facility for space domain awareness in South Australia’s Mid North.

The formal partnership will deliver a prototype passive array radar system capable of locating and tracking satellites and space junk orbiting Earth.

The prototype is located at Nova Systems’ South Australian Space Precinct and is based on the adaption of the Curtin University-led Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) – a low frequency radio telescope for astrophysics.

Nova Systems executive general manager mission solutions Andrew Mannix said the passive array radar prototype is a massive step in Australian innovation to collect data from space sensors.

“This technology allows us to see the sky horizon to horizon to detect objects and activities of interest,” he said.

“Space Domain Awareness is essentially tracking the thousands of objects in Earth’s orbit. It is integral to national interest and protects against threats in orbit.”

Using many individual antennas, the passive array radar system detects FM radio broadcasts from radio stations on Earth that are reflected off objects in space and monitors space weather.

An initial 512 antennas are being established at the Space Precinct and once the Space Domain Awareness facility is complete, more than 2400 antennas will be installed.

ICRAR deputy executive director Professor Steven Tingay said the key focus of this partnership is to solve Australia’s space challenges and understand how to manage what is going on above.

“This partnership will see the Curtin University node of ICRAR being our underlying deep understanding of astrophysics and engineering technology to the project,” he said.

Nova Systems and ICRAR will be performing Space Domain Awareness missions 24/7 as required by potential clients including the Australian Defence Force.

-Alison Hall

SA charities win major grants at gala event

South Australian charities Seeds of Affinity and Talk Out Loud have received a boost with grants of $100,000 each being awarded by Impact100 SA, the state’s largest volunteer-run giving circle.

At a gala event at the Arkaba Hotel on October 26, members of Impact100 SA voted for the two non-for-profit organisations to take home the grants.

Runners-up Holiday Explorers and Lolly Jar Circus split the remaining pooled funds raised in 2022, with $45,000 each.

All four charities presented projects to Impact100 SA members and supporters, responding to the themes “Helping young people succeed” and “Assisting all people to have the tools to be self-sufficient”.

Impact100 SA launched in 2014 with 100 members but has grown into a 290-member giving circle, granting almost $2 million to a broad range of charities.

“The goal of Impact100 SA is not only to grow philanthropy in South Australia, but to build capacity and awareness of small grassroots organisations that are making a real difference in our community,” chair of Impact100 SA, Kathryn House AM said.

SA-based firm Perks Accountants & Wealth Advisers mentored Seeds of Affinity while PWC worked with Talk Out Loud ahead of their respective grant pitches.

– Katarina Bozic

Carbon capture site picked in SA wetlands

An area of coastal wetlands north of Adelaide will be restored as part of a carbon capture and storage project to help mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The Nature Conservancy Australia has chosen a site near Webb Beach for the blue carbon project where work over the next year will restore natural tidal flows to the wetlands and expand saltmarsh growth.

Blue carbon is carbon captured and sequestered by coastal wetlands including mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrasses, which can then remain in the sediment for thousands of years, making it one of the longest-term natural solutions to climate change.

The project will result in other environmental benefits such as the protection of threatened species and the creation of roosting and feeding habitats for important migratory and resident shorebirds.

The Webb Beach site is near the northern boundary of the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary, a critically important habitat for many Australian and migratory birds.

Around 15,000 shorebirds gather in the area for up to six months each year before migrating to breeding grounds in China, Siberia and elsewhere in East Asia.

The Nature Conservancy said expanding the habitat available for these birds would also strengthen global conservation efforts along one of the world’s three great migratory bird flight paths.

The SA project has the support of Smartgroup, a provider of salary packaging and novated car leasing and the European philanthropic organisation COmON Foundation.

Funding has also been provided by the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

-AAP

New health service for workers’ wellbeing

The state government has launched a new service to assist South Australian businesses create a workplace that improves employees’ mental and physical wellbeing.

The “Healthy Workplaces Service” offers employers free information on how they can support their employees.

The evidence-based and prevention-focused service aims to cut down work-related injuries and illnesses by putting the needs of employees’ first.

“We’re giving businesses the tools they need to develop a culture of care within their ranks – which not only boosts their bottom line, it means less pressure on our health system,” Health Minister Chris Picton said.

Work-related injuries and illnesses are estimated to cost the South Australian economy $5 billion each year, significantly impacting workplace productivity and performance and putting added pressure on the healthcare system.

The service, which is part of a five-year Healthy Workplace Strategy, is a joint initiative of Wellbeing SA, the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science, ReturnToWork SA, SafeWork SA and the Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment.

Business SA is also involved in the project.

Businesses can sign up for the service at healthyworkplaces.sa.gov.au/service

– Katarina Bozic

SA design tapped for prison contraband fight 

The state government is trailing transparent, tamper-resistant electrical power outlets designed by Adelaide manufacturer Trader GSM to fight prison contraband.

The power points, which are now being used in a pilot program at Mobilong and Port Augusta prisons, were designed based on advice that standard household model caused issues for concern among prison staff and management.

Manufactured in a clear transparent polycarbonate material, the design choice allows officers to cast torchlights through the grid plate to determine if any contraband is hidden within.

Minister for Correctional Services Joe Szakacs said similar shuttered, tamper-resistant power points are now standard in all new prison builds.

“It’s great that this new South Australian design is set to be rolled out to other prisons across the State and across the country,” Szakacs said.

“They’re already installed at Fulham Correctional Centre in Sale, Victoria with more sites to come.

“Similar shuttered, tamper-resistant power points are now standard in all new prison builds in SA including the 270-bed accommodation unit due to come online in 2023.

“Across the state’s other prisons, standard power outlets are progressively upgraded to shuttered tamper-resistant outlets in high-risk areas as needed or when accommodation upgrades occur.”

Trader GSM managing director Simon Gerard said the new range of switches and power points also serve a purpose in public schools and housing trust facilities.

The installation of Trader GSM’s power points in Mobilong and Port Augusta prisons is part of a pilot to test suitability for future use in prisons around the state.

– Katarina Bozic

Healthcare training to break down barriers for the Deaf Community

National not-for-profit Deaf Connect has partnered with one of Adelaide’s key hospital networks, the Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN), to provide a training program to make health care accessible for Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities.

The training program addresses the barriers facing Deaf Australians throughout the healthcare system by utilising real-life scenarios.

Deaf Connect CEO Brett Casey said they are pleased to partner with CALHN to improve the healthcare experience for Deaf Australians.

“We know that the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community faces challenges when it comes to accessing health care globally,” he said.

“We also understand that medical teams are doing the best they can, in an often-high-pressure environment.”

Casey said the training focuses on improving communication because it’s critical to ascertain the best form of communication, based on a deaf individual’s preference.

“It may involve booking an Auslan interpreter, or using a mix of visual aids, lip reading, gesturing or written notes,” he said.

“Through this training, we hope to see hospital staff better equipped to ask questions such as communication preference and provide a consistent level of care to all Australians.”

– Alison Hall