The butterfly effect: Claims MotoGP circuit may clip wings of rare species
Conservationists claim the freshly announced motorcycle grand prix’s city circuit could impact one of Adelaide’s rarest butterfly species, and they must be involved in its planning.
Butterfly Conservation SA has raised concerns over the MotoGP circuit which could damage the environment and habitat of the rare Chequered Copper Butterfly species in Victoria Park.
The MotoGP is set to be held in November 2027 on a similar city street circuit that was once used for the Formula One Grand Prix from 1985 to 1995.
According to a map released by the state government last week, the circuit would be located right next to the colony on a new hairpin bend and close to where the grandstands would be built.
Butterfly Conservation SA chairman Bryan Haywood said the the group “had to be a part of the planning process”.
“We physically need someone on the ground to assist people putting out the fences or building the grandstands to be clear that the footprint won’t be impacting the grassland site,” Haywood said.
“We can’t have thousands of people traversing over the grassland either because that would be equally detrimental.”
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The Chequered Copper Butterfly was rediscovered in the Victoria Park grasslands in 2011, becoming the first sighting in the Adelaide Plains in more than 60 years.
Since then, Butterfly Conservation SA and the Adelaide City Council have partnered to protect the grassland habitat.
Haywood said the annual bp Adelaide Grand Final, which is held on a nearby circuit, had not disturbed the butterfly habitat.
“We’re certainly comfortable with where the existing track is now, it all seems to work fine and there’s no disturbance. But with this extension we’re right on the edge of what they’re proposing.”
The rare butterfly only exists in very small areas around Adelaide due to “fairly unique requirements”.
“The caterpillar has a relationship with ants, and there’s a larval host plant, and then there’s an ant colony that needs to exist at the same location for this species to be able to exist,” Haywood said.
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“For the species to hang on it is really up to us — the species needs to be acknowledged.
“I’m personally of the view that I think the two things can coexist, but we just need to get an adequate buffer around the site.”
Butterfly Conservation SA is preparing to send a letter to state parliament members this week.
Adelaide City Council has provided funding and assistance to protect the Victoria Park grasslands since the butterflies were rediscovered in 2011.
But CEO Michael Sedgman said on Tuesday the council was still waiting to hear about event planning, saying that there had been “no formal communication by state government to the council” about the MotoGP announcement.
“The council administration’s first knowledge of that announcement was via the media release,” Sedgman said.
“The administration is sometimes shocked but never surprised.”
A South Australian Motorsport Board spokesperson said “the exact circuit alignment” was yet to be finalised to ensure all safety requirements were being met.
“An Environmental Consultant will be engaged as part of the detailed design team,” the spokesperson said.
“Any potential impacts to biodiversity areas in Victoria Park will be identified and addressed through consultation with the City of Adelaide and relevant stakeholder groups.”
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