Protesters find home for banned park lands billboard
Park lands protesters are unveiling a new billboard at a prominent site as city residents launch court action over MotoGP plans.
A prominent Stop the Chop billboard planned for the Adelaide Airport in July ahead of the Australian Labor Party National Conference has found a spot on Britannia Roundabout.
The sign at one of the state’s busiest intersections is targeting the state government’s plans to remove almost 400 trees to build a new $96 million MotoGP street circuit.
It would take in sections of the eastern park lands and has triggered intense opposition from the Adelaide Park Lands Association, hot on the heels of protest action over the $45 million redevelopment of North Adelaide Golf Course.
“Every motorist passing this billboard should ask themselves whether a few days of motorcycle racing are worth the permanent loss of mature trees and precious public green space,” Adelaide Park Lands Association President Mat Monti said.
Adelaide Airport had rejected the billboard saying it was based on its policy around political advertising.
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The news comes as South East City Residents Association (SECRA) launch a legal bid to halt redevelopment works on the MotoGP city street circuit.
In a letter posted to social media, it was revealed lawyer Brian Hayes would act pro bono for the residents, and called on members to contribute funds that would go toward legal costs should the legal bid fail.
“We have received legal advice that there are actions under the Motor Sport Act 1984 (SA) and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (Cth) with a reasonable prospect of success,” the letter said.
SECRA chair David Klingberg told InDaily that 99 per cent of the group were “dead against” the MotoGP redevelopment.
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“We’ve had people putting in up to $10,000 per individual. It’s extraordinary, really, the money keeps coming in.”
It follows the state government seeking $150,000 in costs from public servant Edwin Kemp Attrill and Kaurna woman Janette Milera after a failed bid to halt the North Adelaide Golf Course redevelopment.
Klingberg said the group had taken note of the failed legal bid, telling InDaily “our action won’t be like that” and will “be more discrete”.
Premier Peter Malinauskas acknowledged the ongoing protests and the legal bid on Monday morning.
“A handful of residents in the south east corner of the CBD don’t get to dictate to all of the people of South Australia what happens in the park lands,” Malinauskas said.
“We’ve sat down with the Conservation Council and actually made sure the project is nature positive… It’s actually going to be a better outcome for the park lands, no different to the North Adelaide Golf Course.”
Monti said protests over the MotoGP plans would continue as once “the chainsaws start, there is no turning back”.
“Britannia Roundabout is a gateway to the very park lands now under threat,” Monti said.
“We are not opposed to motorsport. We are opposed to the needless destruction of public land when a world-class racing circuit already exists at The Bend.”
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