600 trees likely to go

by Shane Sody

State Government contractors are expected to chop down around 600 trees in your Possum Park / Pirltawardli (Park 1) to accomplish a LIV Golf “re-development”.

This estimate is one of the findings in an academic report, analysing the likely consequences of proposals to “redevelop” and commercialise this part of your Park Lands, to provide what Premier Peter Malinauskas has signalled would be a “return” on “tens of millions of dollars of investment”.

Some of the urban forest included within the North Adelaide golf courses in Possum Park / Pirltawardli (Park 1)

David Leong is a final year student completing a degree in Environmental Policy and Management at the University of Adelaide. He’s undertaken an internship with the Adelaide Park Lands Association, to produce this report:

Mr Leong’s report acknowledges that State Government plans for the re-development are still being prepared. His analysis therefore draws upon previously-released (2018) City Council plans for a similar proposed re-development. His report notes:

“Key environmental concerns focus on urban runoff, tree removal, and habitat destruction and fragmentation. These factors will contribute to the degradation of ecosystems and harm biodiversity, and reduce Park 1’s capacity for ecological services.”

He cites the Atlas of Living Australia’s records that this Park contains 130 different species. This compares with the 104 species recorded in Park 1, by citizen scientists on the iNaturalist database.

Some of the urban forest included within the North Adelaide golf courses in Possum Park / Pirltawardli (Park 1)

Mr Leong’s calculations of expected tree loss include:

  • 77 River Red Gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis)

  • 68 SA Blue Gums (Eucalyptus leucoxylon);

  • 103 Sugar gums (Eucalyptus cladocalyx); and

  • 345 trees of other species;

with a predicted likely loss of 604 trees, from the 9,000 trees in this Park.

These figures are likely to be conservative, because Mr Leong’s report did not consider what would certainly be an increased demand for new car parking facilities in a redeveloped-for-elite-golf Possum Park / Pirltawardli (Park 1).

Some of the urban forest included within the North Adelaide golf courses in Possum Park / Pirltawardli (Park 1)

Nor does Mr Leong’s report address the cultural significance of this area to the Kaurna people.

Nevertheless, his conclusion reinforces APA’s advocacy for Open, Green, Public spaces:

“While redevelopment may increase tourism and visibility on a global scene, it raises major concerns such as impact on biodiversity, exclusion, and reduction in open green space whilst replacing them for more commercial, inequitable urban landscape for elites, reinforcing Victorian beliefs of green space exclusivity and going against the cultural value of the Park Lands.”

Playing on one of the North Adelaide golf courses in Possum Park / Pirltawardli (Park 1)

The Premier’s plans for your Park 1 would affect not only hundreds of trees. Of equal concern is the likelihood of losing other significant areas of Open, Green, Public space in your Park 1, to accommodate new commercial facilities: e.g. restaurants, bars, storage of LIV Golf infrastructure, and especially car parking,

Although Government plans have yet to be released, the commercial focus of the coming development plans is no secret.

A media release from LIV Golf headquarters boasts that your Park 1 will host “improved facilities and greater amenities” including “new driving range and practice facilities, and space for temporary tournament infrastructure.”

On Wednesday 28 May 2025, we put these concerns directly to the Premier, during a meeting in his office in the State Administration Building in Victoria Square.

The Premier could not give any assurances about the size or scope of new buildings, but admitted there would be increased demand for on-site car parking at a re-developed golf course.

Mr Malinauskas did not respond favourably to our suggestions that the Government should look for alternative sites to build a new or re-developed golf course.

He told us that Park Lands supporters should be glad that the Government was preparing to make a major investment to attract more people into your Park Lands.

Donating Park Lands imagery - hopefully for display in the Premier’s office. From left: Lucy Hood, MP, APA President Sarah Russo, Premier Peter Malinauskus, and APA editor, Shane Sody.

The Premier told us that “the vast majority” of trees on the North Adelaide golf course would be retained during the re-development. This assurance is nevertheless consistent with Mr Leong’s assessment that a re-development would affect about 600 trees out of the 9,000 in the Park.

But won’t trees be replaced?

The notion that mature trees, chopped down for development, are replaceable with new plantings is a myth, or at least a very poor option.

What can you do?

Rally: Parliament House: 11am, Thursday 5 June

Sign the petition:

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The author of this article, Shane Sody, is the immediate Past President of the Adelaide Park Lands Association. He is also the editor of the semi-monthly newsletter, "Open Green Public".

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