by Shane Sody
Support is growing for a re-think of the State Government's controversial plans to destroy hundreds of trees in your Adelaide Park Lands to cater for an elite golfing festival which has lost its main backer.
By strange coincidence of timing, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund is reportedly set to dump its enormous financial backing of the controversial LIV Golf circuit.
In response, Premier Peter Malinauskas nevertheless has insisted that his planned destruction of 585 trees within the urban forested golf course Park, i.e. Possum Park /Pirltawardli (Park 1 of your Adelaide Park Lands) will still go ahead.
So, over recent days, contractors have been fencing the Park perimeter, in preparation for the proposed tree massacre; even though the Premier has refused to identify the trees at risk, nor when the felling would begin.
But the tide of public opinion seems to have turned against this questionable initiative and the planned destruction of biodiversity in your Open, Green, Public Adelaide Park Lands.
Two rallies
Last Sunday, a rally organised by the Kaurna Community focussed on the "spiritual, cultural and historical" significance of Pirltawardli.
Pic: Jordan Ellis / Save Our Trees
The following day, the Adelaide Park Lands Association held a "vigil" on Light's Vision / Montefiore Hill.
APA President Mat Monti told the crowd that, “with almost 600 mature trees marked for death it was overwhelmingly a sad day for Adelaide and South Australia.”
Unitarian Minister Rob McPherson added to the solemnity of the occasion by performing a memorial service for the loss of the trees.
The crowd was also full of defiance with people carrying toy chainsaws and placards and chanting "Stop the Chop."
Mat Monti assured the crowd that “it was not too late for these trees and that regardless the fight for Possum Park and all of Adelaide’s Park Lands would continue".
Petition
There's been a big boost in supporters for our petition; "Protect Possum Park, Pete" with the number of signatories more than doubling in little more than a week.
Whether you have signed or not, you can help by sharing this link: https://www.change.org/p/protect-possum-park-pete
Action in Parliament
Greens leader, Robert Simms intends to move a motion in the Legislative Council to halt the proposed “redevelopment” of the urban forested Golf Course Park.
The motion is expected to go to a vote between 18 and 21st May, most likely on the afternoon of Wednesday 20 May during “private members business.”
In the meantime, you can phone one or more of the Members of the Legislative Council, to urge them to support Mr Simms motion.
