by Shane Sody
Pressure is mounting on the State Government, as awareness slowly grows about the unprecedented powers that the State Government has given itself to rip out an urban forest, and build over your Park Lands.
As we have reported elsewhere, the proposed re-development of the North Adelaide Golf Courses, within Possum Park / Pirltawardli (Park 1 of your Adelaide Park Lands) has raised concerns about the likely loss of many of the Park’s trees. One expert (and LIV Golf supporter) has estimated that 60% of the site’s trees (several thousand) would need to be axed to carry out the Government’s intention to create a “championship“ course.
Debate over these unprecedented legal powers has attracted national media attention, including ABC-TV’s “7.30” program, on 1 July 2025:
…and a recent report in The Australian newspaper.
The Australian - Saturday 26 July
Petition growing
Meantime, a petition, “Protect Possum Park, Pete” has been rapidly growing in strength since its launch last April.
Growth of the petition: “Protect Possum Park, Pete” since its launch in April 2025.
Significantly, 624 of the petition signatories (21%) have given a postcode location indicating that they are within the marginal State electorate of Adelaide.
Early survey results
Separately to the petition, a recently established survey with a single question about the controversial new North Adelaide Public Golf Course Act 2025 has found 92% of respondents so far either “disapprove” or “strongly disapprove” of the legislation.
The survey question is posed in neutral terms; and includes quotes from the Premier, Peter Malinauskus, in support of the initiative. Nevertheless, the response has been very clear.
What is your opinion of the North Adelaide Public Golf Course Act 2025? Results as at 30 July 2025. The survey is still open: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/68BB867
“Sacred site” for Kaurna
The State Government is also fielding criticism from some within the Kaurna community over what has been described as “tokenistic” consultation on what is regarded as a particularly sensitive location.
A possum sculpture, by Silvio Apponyi, near the site of “Pirltawardli” on the proposed golf course re-development.
