Park lands protesters call for national probe over 585 trees being felled
A protest group lobbying against the felling of park lands trees for a golf course is taking its fight to the federal government, claiming the work breaches national protection laws.
Protestors lobbying against work starting on Monday to chop down 585 trees at the $45 million North Adelaide Golf Course redevelopment are taking their fight to the federal government.
Adelaide City councillors Keiran Snape and Patrick Maher will tonight call on the council to have the development scrutinised by the federal Climate Change and Environment Department claiming it breached national environment protection laws.
“Even though the land is no longer in council control, it’s our responsibility to lift every rock we can to protect our park lands,” Snape said.
Park lands supporters were expected to fill the Adelaide Town Hall gallery tonight to watch the debate as Snape and Maher’s motion is brought to a vote.
It calls on Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith to write to Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt and for the council CEO to write to Watt’s Department to request the golf course development be investigated against the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Snape was among those protesting over tree felling at the War Memorial Drive entrance on Monday, and said one of the key concerns was wildlife, with one Rainbow Lorikeet being rescued by a volunteer.
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The latest move follows a petition opposing the tree felling amassing more than 35,000 signatures and comes almost a year after the state government enacted new legislation to wrestle the park lands area from council control so it could be upgraded in time for LIV Golf 2028.
Unlike other developments across the state that required planning approval to remove significant trees – trees with a trunk of two metres or more – the golf course upgrade has been exempt with tree felling given the green light under the North Adelaide Golf Course Act.
The act also 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.
Large trees were felled on Monday, as about a dozen protestors lined the fence and attempted to block trucks driving through the War Memorial Drive entrance and continued today.
SA Police have officers on site and confirmed that at about 2:50 pm on Monday afternoon, a 39-year-old woman from Croydon Park was arrested and charged with refusing to provide her name and address to police. She was released from custody after being issued with a caution.
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The government confirmed in December that 585 trees would be removed, which they say is the equivalent of six per cent of the trees on site, but has not provided details on what tree species.
But the Adelaide Park Lands Association said it was expected to include 77 river red gums, 68 SA blue gums, 103 sugar gums and more than 300 other tree species.
Protestors returned to the site this morning and say the War Memorial Drive entrance near Montefiore Road now has an additional gate for extra security for trucks passing through.
The councillors – who attended recent golf course protests – want to see environmental checks and balances applied to the site.
A state government spokesperson said the “utmost care” was being applied to tree removal, including specialist fauna handlers on site and possum boxes installed to support the local possum population.
“Trees are an integral part of golf course design across the world’s great golf destinations, and the government has worked closely with specialist environmental consultants, arborists, ecologists and course designers to minimise impacts on the natural environment wherever possible,” the spokesperson said.
“Fauna handlers, ecologists and arborists are coordinating all activities on site during tree removals to ensure wildlife is appropriately protected throughout the process.
“Every tree is inspected prior to any work being undertaken, and where fauna is identified, animals are safely relocated before works proceed.
“Specialist fauna handlers assess the most appropriate relocation pathway, whether that be local relocation within the Park Lands or transfer to a sanctuary or alternative habitat site where required.
“Comprehensive fauna population surveys have been undertaken across the project area, and environmental assessments have confirmed that no threatened species are expected to be impacted by the redevelopment.
“The possum population across the site has also been carefully mapped, with new possum boxes being installed throughout the area to support habitat continuity and wildlife outcomes.”
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