by Shane Sody

The State Government says it's "consulting" about where to build new police barracks. But it's not consulting you. It's consulting only the Police Commissioner.

Do you want a massive police compound taking away an area of your Park Lands bigger than Adelaide Oval? That is a question that the State Government refuses to ask you.

You can make your answer known by “providing cover” on Sunday 4 June. (There’s more that you can do as well - see below.)

*Read about this event at* ***this link.***

The Government has examined at least 14 sites for possible construction of new police barracks. But it won't say where those other sites are. The only hint you’ve been given is that not ALL of the examined sites are on your Open Green Public Park Lands.

Since October 2022, former Senator Rex Patrick has been using Freedom of Information laws to try to get the list of potential sites. But the State Government has refused to release the list.

*Photos: Tony Lewis/InDaily and Brett Hartwig/InDaily*

https://indaily.com.au/news/2023/05/23/no-access-police-wont-hand-over-barracks-relocation-documents/

On Sunday 21 May 2023, the Adelaide Park Lands Association joined with the Liberal State Opposition leader David Speirs in demanding that the State Government consult the community, not just the Police. See TV News coverage below, from Channels 9, 7 and the ABC.

Television news coverage on Sunday 21 May (by ABC-TV, Channel 9 and Channel 7)

It’s not just the Liberal Party involved. A proposed Parliamentary Inquiry into State Government (mis)management of your Park Lands also has backing of the Greens. MLC Robert Simms told us:

“The Greens …welcome this opportunity to shine a spotlight on the management of our Park Lands. We will continue to advocate for State and World Heritage listing and other protections for our iconic green space.”

The State Government runs a website “YourSay” described as“Where you can influence government decisions”.

However with a decision looming about what would be the biggest-ever attack on your Open Green Public Park Lands, your feedback is not invited. Your opinions are not being taken into account on the ”YourSay” website or elsewhere.

We know, from the Premier’s own words, that he has been talking to the Police Commissioner about sites other than Golden Wattle Park / Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West). But so far, he has not been willing to bring YOU into the conversation.

The only “consultation” that’s occurring is behind closed doors, involving only politicians, the Police Commissioner, and hand-picked senior public servants.

Federal Minister will belatedly step in

*Federal Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek*

On 5 April, the Adelaide Park Lands Association joined with Trees for Life, Conservation SA, the Nature Conservation Society and the Butterfly Conservation Society with a joint letter to Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, who has the power to veto anything that threatens a National Heritage place.

Your Adelaide Park Lands are listed as National Heritage, so Minister Plibersek has a role.

In reply, Minister Pilbersek’s office has advised that IF the State Government goes ahead with any site on your Park Lands, it would trigger a period of federal public consultation, but only for ten days.

Read the letter to Minister Plibersek of 5 April and her office’s reply of 18 May 2023.

What Can You Do?

“Provide cover” for Mirnu Wirra with your umbrella on Sunday 4 June. https://www.adelaide-parklands.asn.au/blog/2023/5/15/provide-cover-for-mirnu-wirra
Write directly to the Premier. Here is a draft of a suggested email.
Write to the two members of SA Best in the Legislative Council (Connie Bonaros and Frank Pangallo). These two hold the balance of power and can determine whether the Liberals and the Greens can force a Parliamentary Committee into the Government’s multiple Park Lands attacks. Here is a draft of a suggested email to them.
Write your own letter to the Federal Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek. Here’s her email address and a suggested email.
Write to the National Park City Foundation in London. When the Foundation named Adelaide a National Park City in 2021, they said that the status would create “higher expectations” for Park Lands protection. Clearly those expectations have been dashed, so Adelaide’s status should be at least reviewed, if not revoked. Here’s a suggested email to the National Park City Foundation.