by Jan Bowman

You may be aware of the State Government’s plans to redevelop the North Adelaide Golf Course into a professional-standard facility capable of hosting tournaments of the size and scope of LIV Golf.

However, fewer people appear to be aware of plans to convert part of nearby John E. Brown Park (Park 27A) into a commercial driving range.

This Park, bounded by the river to the south and rail lines to the north and east, includes walking and cycling paths to and from the city—among them the entry to the Linear Park trail—as well as the much-loved Bunyip Trail and the nationally unique Deceased Workers’ Memorial Forest.

State Government legislation (the North Adelaide Public Golf Course Act 2025) allowed the State Government to take over, on 27 April 2026, not just the golf courses in Possum Park / Pirltawardli (Park 1), but also the adjacent John E. Brown Park (Park 27A), to facilitate construction of a driving range.

*The extent of State Government takeover, 90 hectares, including not only Possum Park / Pirtlawardli (Park 1) but also the adjacent John E Brown Park (Park 27A) on the western side of the railway line.*

This means that Adelaide City Council no longer has a formal role regarding either Park.

John E. Brown Park (Park 27A) includes the Deceased Workers’ Memorial Forest, so the State Government’s takeover has prompted questions about what the development will mean for the Workers Memorial Forest, given its cultural and historical significance to South Australian workers.

There are also broader concerns about how the project may affect public use of the park.

We’ve previously highlighted the significance of the Workers Memorial Forest in John E. Brown Park. (Unions have called for word “Deceased” to be removed from the forest’s official name, so it can also honour those who have been injured or sickened in workplaces.)

The site has long been an important place of remembrance for South Australian workers and unions and is used annually for Workers’ Memorial Day commemorations.

This year’s commemoration was again held on Tuesday, 28 April 2026.

*Dale Beasley and SA Unions President Jennie-Marie Gorman leading commemorations at the Workers Memorial Forest in John E. Brown Park (Park 27A of your Adelaide Park Lands) on 28 April 2026. Pic:* ***@dalebease / Instagram***

Union representatives previously indicated they were working with Adelaide City Council to improve the forest.

“It’s really important for there to be a strong local touchstone like the forest and the Adelaide Park Lands, where workers can come together and hold those commemorations,” Secretary of SA Unions, Dale Beasley, said last year.

This year, Mr Beasley advised that there has been little progress on plans to improve the site, but indicated that the union movement is now recognised as a key stakeholder.

“The government has told us that the Workers Memorial Forest isn’t going to be impacted by the works with the golf course, but we will obviously be checking in regularly and monitoring it,” he said.

Nevertheless, questions remain about the future of the site. These include whether parking for driving range users will be provided within the Park Lands, where any such parking would be located, and how it would be accessed.

Questions have also been raised about access to walking and cycling paths. Walking SA has indicated in a recent post that project maps show which areas of Park 1 and Park 27A will have restricted access and which will remain open during redevelopment. According to Walking SA, areas shaded orange are expected to close from 27 April 2026, while pink shading (which includes the area of the Workers Memorial Forest) indicates future construction zones.

Walking and cycling paths, shown in blue, are expected to remain accessible to the public, including the Adelaide Park Lands Trail. Surrounding roads, shaded yellow, are identified as support zones to facilitate redevelopment activity as required.

However, this does not resolve questions about car parking within the Park Lands, and how any associated changes may impact the Workers Memorial Forest, as well as cyclists and pedestrians moving through the area.

In addition, it remains unclear which specific areas of John E. Brown Park and the surrounding Park Lands will be closed, and for how long, particularly given the need to move machinery in and out of the park.

Questions have been put to the responsible Minister and the Premier, and responses are awaited.

*A driving range fence; 21 metres high: Pic: OpenAI*

International golf course designer, Peter Dalkeith Scott has advised that any commercial driving range would need to be surrounded or enclosed by fenced or nets at least 21 metres (5-storeys) high.

Questions put to the Premier focus on several key areas: whether images or plans of the proposed driving range can be released; what disruptions are expected for people walking and cycling through the park, including access to the Linear Park trail in both the short and long term; and which specific areas of John E. Brown Park and surrounding Park Lands will be closed, and for how long.

Further questions relate to whether parking for driving range users will be provided within the Park Lands, where it would be located, and how it would be accessed, particularly via Port Road.

Clarification has also been sought on whether the Workers Memorial Forest will be impacted, noting its significance and its continued use for Workers’ Memorial Day commemorations.

Additional questions address how construction machinery and workers will access the site, and what impacts this may have on walking and cycling paths, especially at the Port Road end of the park.

Finally, the Premier has been asked whether the Government will provide more timely information to local residents and engage with key stakeholders.

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