Mansfield Park housing development to provide homes to priced-out renters

A $14 million affordable housing development has been unveiled at Mansfield Park, with developer Believe Housing announcing it has already attracted 700 enquiries and 250 tenant applications in the first week.

Believe Housing, part of Anglicare SA, said it had been “overwhelmed by demand” for its properties that were purpose-built for South Australians priced out of the rental market.

The 37 two- and three-bedroom rentals at Wilson Street are fully funded and managed by not-for-profit Believe Housing.

Young full-time workers, young working families, people aged 55 and over, and those living with a disability can apply for tenancy to the affordable rental homes.

The Mansfield Park development was supported by the state government’s Renewing Our Streets and Suburbs project which is overseen by the SA Housing Authority.

Believe Housing Australia general manager Stacey Northover said tenants applying for the Wilson Street rentals were “reporting extreme hardship in finding an affordable rental property across Adelaide as rents keep rising amid record low vacancy rates”.

“We know that the affordable housing shortage hurts those on low incomes most, however, what is most surprising is the growing number of full-time workers on moderate incomes who are now also struggling to afford a roof over their heads,” Northover said.

“The good news is that Community Housing Providers, like Believe Housing Australia, are working hard with federal, state and local governments to maximise the billion-dollar pipeline of affordable housing investment expected through the Housing Australia Future Fund.”

– David Simmons

Lithium miner in capital raise and acquires mining licence

Power Minerals has announced it will raise up to $1.025 million for exploration activities and working capital, alongside a purchase agreement for a mining licence at the Rincon Lithium Project.

The funds will be raised at a 23 per cent discount to Power Minerals’ 20 March share price, and will be “predominately used to advance exploration and development at Power’s core asset, the Salta Lithium Project”.

“Funds are also planned to be utilised to advance project access and exploration at the Musgrave Project as well as for working capital purposes,” Power Minerals said.

An Exploration and Purchase Option Agreement with a private Argentinian individual will also see Adelaide-based Power Minerals acquire the Mina Josem mining licence at the Rincon Lithium Project in the Salta province of Argentina.

The Mina Josem licence is 10km northwest of Power’s project area at the Rincon salar, and exhibits “significant potential as a source of fresh water, as well as the potential to host lithium brines”.

Power will pay the vendor US$500,000 in staged payments over 18 months.

“The option agreement for the strategic acquisition of the Mina Josem mining licence is an important addition to the Rincon salar, and Power’s development plans for this key salar,” Power Minerals managing director Mena Habib said.

“The license offers significant potential for freshwater, which is a critical input to any future direct lithium extraction operation at Rincon, and also has the potential to contribute additional JORC Mineral Resources at Rincon.”

– David Simmons

SA wine on show at swanky US event

American food and wine media, influencers, restaurateurs and chefs will enjoy South Australian wine at an exclusive event in Malibu, California hosted by Tourism Australia and the LA Times.

More than 300 guests will attend the ‘Great Australian Bite’ dinner on 10 April, which will be catered by Australian chefs Josh Niland and Jo Barrett and will feature an exclusively South Australian wine menu.

Wines from Deviation Road, Shaw & Smith, Grosset, Murdoch Hill, Yangarra, Yalumba, Hickinbotham, and Delinquente Wine Co will be available for attendees to sample at the event supported by the South Australian Department of Trade and Investment and sponsored by QANTAS.

South Australian Trade and Investment Minister Nick Champion said the event was “a fantastic opportunity to showcase South Australian wine to some of America’s leading industry professionals at an iconic Californian setting”.

“This event continues our state’s push to diversify our wine exports with America: an important trading partner for our wine industry,” Champion said.

“South Australia’s exports to the US grew by 21.6 per cent in value to over $1.84 billion for the year ending January 2024.”

– David Simmons

New space innovation fund is launched to drive industry growth

The state government has launched the SA Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund which will offer grants for the development of innovative space capability.

South Australian-based start-ups and small businesses with an emphasis on NewSpacetechnology can apply for grants of up to $100,000.

Backed by the South Australian Space Industry Centre in collaboration with the Defence Innovation Partnership, the first round offers two grants and supports projects focussed on proof-of-concept or delivery of space capability with a clear commercial pathway.

South Australian Minister for Defence and Space Industries Susan Close said international partnerships like this one “are a key driver of space technology development.”

“They also support growth in the sector by enabling our local technology increased access to national and international markets,” Close said.

“This fund supports technology development that will drive benefits across the broader economy and allied areas beyond the space sector.”

Applications open Monday 15 April 2024 and close Friday 17 May 2024.

– Jade Woollacott

Penfolds’ cellar door at the Barossa Valley. Photo: SATC.

Barossa Valley has Australia’s best wineries, says prestigious wine publication

Prestigious wine publication The Real Review has revealed its top wineries in Australia, with the Barossa Valley taking the lead.

Coming out on top this year was Yarra Valley’s Yarra Yering, making it the fourth consecutive win for a Victorian winery.

In 2024, South Australian wineries made up 38.1 per cent of the 394 top producers, with the region’s highest-ranking wineries being Henchke (no. 2), Penfolds (no. 4), Seppeltsfield (no. 6) and Hentely Farm (no. 9).

Described a “wine powerhouse”, the Barossa Valley provided 10 of the highest achieving producers to receive a Top Wineries Certificate with McLaren Vale achieving seven.

The Real Reviews principal wine writer and leading Australian wine critic Huon Hooke said that “[d]espite having fewer hectares of vines compared to some other regions, Barossa boasts the most wineries on the list, recognition and tourists.”

“Big reds are the order of the day in this region. In this year’s list, excitement comes not only from the established wineries such as Seppeltsfield, Rockford and Torbreck but also relative newcomers like Eisenstone, Hentley Farm and John Duval Wines,” he said.

– Xenia Hackett and Charlie Gilchrist

Lot Fourteen innovation hub. Photo: KWP

A collaboration of Lot Fourteen tenants

Lot Fourteen’s Ascent Pty Ltd has announced a strategic collaboration with HutSix to enhance the software development and digital efficiencies of AeroATLAS – its Military Off The Shelf (MOTS) Aircraft Weight & Balance (W&B) application.

MOTS is a term used to describe ready-made military solutions, as opposed to custom-made ones, while W&B refers to the two factors affecting aircraft performance – handling and safety.

Ascent aerospace engineer Gennaro DeMarco said that “[t]his collaborative effort has been a necessary step towards enabling digital transformation at a time where the continued tolerance of spreadsheets during operations should not be the desired outcome of any modern military.”

“Our approach in closing the gap between the developer and the end-user is fundamental to ensuring we equip our front-line operators with the right tools and support,” he said.

According to Ascent, it is “a wholly Australian, veteran-owned company that specialises in support to Defence and related industries with a specialisation in Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Engineering and Sustainment.”

– Charlie Gilchrist

SA’s first permanent spaceport nears completion

The office of Defence and Space Industries Minister Susan Close has announced South Australia’s first permanent spaceport, the Koonibba Test range, is nearing completion.

The announcement comes ahead of the sub-orbital test launch of German manufacturer HyImpulse’s SR75 rocket at the end of April or Early May, subject to final regulatory approval.

The rocket should reach an altitude of 50 kilometres before parachuting back to Earth, where it will be recovered for testing.

The range is a partnership between South Launch and the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Community and is located northwest of Ceduna.

Southern Launch CEO Lloyd Damp said that “[t]he permanent, world-class facilities at the Koonibba Test Range will put Australia on the map as a space-faring nation. We have a long list of global customers ready to use the range and we’re excited about the incredible opportunities this presents for Koonibba and South Australia.”

– Charlie Gilchrist