Protest action grows as trees fall in park lands
Park lands protestors are at North Adelaide as the chainsaws begin felling six per cent of trees at the North Adelaide golf course.
About a dozen spectators gathered at Possum Park this morning with protest signs as trucks rolled through the War Memorial Drive entrance, peering over fences for glimpses of the first trees being removed for the North Adelaide golf course redevelopment.
Police and security have been patrolling the site, as protestors held signs and livestreamed the scene on social media as workers cut down trees.
As of Monday morning, those fighting the $45 million redevelopment plan to remove trees had gathered 35,357 signatures on a petition, with lobbyists claiming the park lands site is home to hundreds of animal and plant species.
The Adelaide Park Lands Association feared there would be tree losses of 77 river red gums, 68 SA blue gums, 103 sugar gums and more than 300 other tree species from the North Adelaide golf course site.
The government confirmed in December that 585 trees would be removed, but has not provided details on what tree species.
Unlike other developments that require planning approval to remove significant trees –trees with a trunk of two metres or more – the golf course upgrade was given the green light under legislation passed last year.
The North Adelaide Golf Course Act – introduced to fast-track the site upgrade in time for LIV Golf 2028 – granted planning and building consent to the project before the plans had been released, drawing criticism from the Liberals, the Greens and other park lands lobbyists.
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When asked what trees would be affected and what environmental impact work the government had completed on the development, a state government spokesperson said six per cent of trees on site would be impacted.
“Trees are an integral part of golf course design and the government has worked closely with specialist consultants to minimise impact on the natural environment,” the spokesman said.
“There are more than 9000 trees in total in this part of the Adelaide Park Lands. The state government stated last year the number of trees expected to be removed is 585, representing six per cent of the total number of trees on the site.
“This is significantly less than the more than 5000 trees predicted by the State Liberal Opposition.
“The government has committed that for every tree removed during this project, at least three new trees will be planted.”
It comes after around 300 protestors spent Mother’s Day with “Mother Nature” on Sunday afternoon, protesting at Montefiore Hill and wrapping yellow ribbon – to represent hope – around trees.
Adelaide City Councillor Keiran Snape – who ran for the seat of Adelaide in March’s election – plus fellow councillors Patrick Maher, Eleanor Freeman and Phil Martin were among those at the protest.
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Adelaide Park Lands Association President Mat Monti said momentum was growing in the campaign to stop tree loss.
“In the past few weeks, given the fences have gone up, the equipment is moved in, people are seeing the loss of their park lands right before their eyes,” Monti said.
“We’ve seen a lot more people coming out to protest. We’re getting calls from supporters asking what they can do.
“It’s really heartening for us, but also obviously really distressing to know that we’re looking down the barrel of a massive loss.”
Premier Peter Malinauskas said in a press conference at Edinburgh today that the fencing was standard for construction sites and not about keeping out prying eyes.
“We’ve been very honest and transparent about our plans for this golf course; we think it’s a big opportunity for the state,” Malinauskas said.
The golf course upgrade forges ahead with news that the men’s and women’s Australian Open golf tournaments will be held at the site from 2028.
When asked if his message to protestors was to accept the development, Malinauskas said: “no, not at all”.
“What they do is up to them; if they want to exercise their democratic right to protest, they’re welcome to, that’s perfectly reasonable, and I respect it.
“I like when people are engaged in the democratic process in any form. I think that’s a healthy thing. It shouldn’t be frowned upon or diminished, just as long as people are complying with the law and protesting peacefully.”
The Adelaide Park Lands Association will take their protest to the steps of Parliament House on Wednesday.
Next week in the upper house, Greens leader Robert Simms also will see his bill to scrap the golf course redevelopment and instead use taxpayer funds for free public transport put to a vote.
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