by Shane Sody
A diagram, released by Premier Peter Malinauskas, of his proposed motorcycle Grand Prix circuit in your eastern Park Lands has sparked concern about the extent of likely tree removal.
There are several corners of the proposed circuit where trees would have to be removed to reduce the risk to riders from their extreme speeds on many of the corners.
Left: the proposed motorcycle circuit (in black) compared to the 1990s Formula One circuit (red). Source: Reddit community.
Right: proposed “run-off” areas for motorbikes marked in yellow, that would have to be cleared. The red markers show sites where multiple trees would have to be removed.
The Premier has publicly admitted that “about 45” trees would be destroyed, and the century-old Glover East Playspace would need to be “moved” to make way for the motorcycle race track.
But an analysis of the diagrams above indicate that the Premier has under-stated the likely impact.
We’ve numbered locations 1 to 7 on the right-hand diagram above. The photos below indicate the trees that appear to be at risk at some (not all) of those sites. We cannot be certain this is entirely accurate because the Premier’s diagram falls far short of a detailed plan. But these photos were taken on 26 February 2026, at the areas identified in the right-hand diagram above.
The Adelaide Park Lands Association is not alone in calling out this bizarre new threatened attack on your Park Lands.
After the Premier’s announcement on 19 February, Councillor Patrick Maher was quick to ask pointed questions:
Neither Adelaide City Council nor the Government’s own Park Lands advisory body, Kadaltilla, were consulted before the Premier’s announcement. Before making his public announcement on 19 February, the Premier chose to consult only with motor racing figures:
Meanwhile, the Premier has refused to release the “hit list” of the 585 trees that he says he also wants to destroy on the urban forested golf course of Possum Park / Pirltawardli (Park 1 of your Adelaide Park Lands).
The author of this article, Shane Sody, was the President of the Adelaide Park Lands Association from 2107 to 2025 and remains the editor of the semi-monthly newsletter, "Open Green Public".
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