Adelaide parklands: first 4 trees felled for $96m MotoGP track

Why it matters

Earlier this week we covered the olive grove relocation talks for the same project. The removals are the first on a 4.13-kilometre circuit planned for the 2027 event. In the ABC’s description, the track would be built in Victoria Park and run through parklands between Wakefield Road and Rundle Road.

A group of Australian celebrities, including Paul Kelly, Sia, Poh Ling Yeow, Peter Garrett and Magda Szubanski, called on the state government to halt tree removals. They signed an open letter to Premier Peter Malinauskas that had gathered more than 5,000 signatures, the ABC said. Poh Ling Yeow told a press conference that if the project goes ahead it would be “one of the greatest environmental tragedies the state has seen”.

The numbers

The ABC said the $96 million project would take out close to 400 trees, 42 of them significant. The government earlier promised replacements of mature stock at a ratio of ten to one.

Environment Minister Emily Bourke said about 377 trees were due to be removed and the government had pledged more than 3,000 new plantings in return. She said $15 million would go toward parklands tree planting, and that community consultation was finished.

What’s next

The SA government said construction is planned to start next month. Ms Bourke said the MotoGP would deliver a big economic boost through hotel rooms, restaurants and cafes, and accepted that everyone has a right to protest. After reports that workers were verbally abused, she called Friday’s protests relatively peaceful and urged people to protest respectfully.

The open letter calls on the Premier and his government to pledge long-term protection for the parklands.