Australia loves sport. But should major sporting events come at the expense of our public green spaces? In Brisbane and Adelaide, communities are fighting to protect precious park lands from major developments. Different governments, different projects, but remarkably similar battles.
As the South Australian Government pushes ahead with plans to bring MotoGP to Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi, a leading birdwatcher says the State could be overlooking another growing tourism opportunity, one that depends on protecting our natural environment rather than building racetracks through it.
Premier Peter Malinauskas says the election settled whether his Government’s controversial Park Lands projects will proceed. Consultation can change the details, but not the decision. But what happens when some of the most contentious details were never put before voters?
The Premier claims the economic benefits of the MotoGP justify the destruction of the Eastern Park Lands. But international experience suggests World Heritage listing of the Park Lands will generate greater returns.
Senior Adelaide University academics say the SA Government used legislation to bypass normal planning assessment and public scrutiny of the North Adelaide golf course redevelopment.
Read what they found — and why the Adelaide Park Lands Association is calling for cast-iron protection against the future sale, privatisation or permanent alienation of our public Park Lands.
An Adelaide Park Lands zookeeper, who’s been raising funds for a Ukrainian animal shelter, has had some star power behind her cause.
Canadian actress Karin Konoval, who played ‘Maurice the Orangutan’ in the Planet of the Apes movies, has been regularly contributing to the fundraiser. As previously reported, Jodie Sheridan, the orangutan project lead at Adelaide Zoo in Park 11, has been campaigning on the sanctuary’s behalf after striking up an online friendship with its founder.
The State Government's threats to dozens of trees in your Adelaide Park Lands is making headlines around Australia.
A battle is brewing between the State Government, seeking to chop down trees for a new $82 million aquatic centre, and Park Lands lovers seeking a win-win, with a new centre on a nearby brownfields site.
Adelaide has been dubbed ‘the murder capital of Australia’, thanks to a few notorious crimes. So, it’s fitting that the city is home to several ‘dark history’ walks and ghost tours.
As winter sets in, we thought it a good time to check out one such tour – at the West Terrace Cemetery in GS Kingston Park / Wirrarninthi (Park 23).
The City Council is in the process of installing new shared-use cycling and pedestrian paths along the edge of South Terrace, in Carriageway Park / Tuthangga (Park 17) and in Peppermint Park / Wita Wirra (Park 18).
However not everyone believes this is an optimum solution for either cyclists or pedestrians. APA's Peter Lumb puts the case for better, separated bike lanes, including in these two locations.
The State Government is prepared to invest $80 million to build a new regional Aquatic Centre for Adelaide's central and inner-northern suburbs.
The Government is pretending to ask the community about locations for the new centre. However its sham "consultation" does not envisage any site other than on your Open Green Public Park Lands.
A city residents group is applying for funding to plant more trees in Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16) .
The plantings would provide much-needed shade around the Park's playing fields and beside the "green corridor" that connects Halifax Street in the city to Fullarton Road and Grant Avenue in Rose Park.
Adelaide Himeji Garden is one of the most photographed spots in Your Park Lands. In April, the traditional Japanese garden - in Peppermint Park / Wita Wirra (Park 18) - turned the big 4-0.
To celebrate, we chatted to Nicole Lionnet, APA’s Park Ambassador for Parks 18 and 19, about how best to capture the photogenic spot.
The start of winter has provided lovely weather for ducks in Adelaide. And the city’s parks haven’t missed out on a soaking.
Parts of the southern Park Lands were underwater on Monday after the CBD copped 43mm of rain – around 60 per cent of the average June rainfall. Elsewhere, the new $13 million, 3.2ha wetlands in Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16) were also put to the test.
The biennial Adelaide Park Lands Art Prize capitalises on this city's two world-renowned strengths: your unique Open Green Public Park Lands, and the vibrancy of Adelaide's arts.
You can help to make this iconic event a success, and raise the profile of your Adelaide Park Lands with a tax-deductible donation through the Australian Cultural Fund.
Our UnPaving Paradise re-greening benefit show is edging closer. The June 4 event will raise funds for part of a neglected bitumen expanse in your Park Lands.
In the lead-up, we chat to one of the show’s stars - Adelaide singer-songwriter Abbey Mae, who has 40,000 followers on TikTok, plus organiser Laurence Nobes.
The State Labor Government is being urged to consider a wide range of near-city sites for a new Aquatic Centre.
By thinking outside the box (i.e. outside your Park Lands) there's potential for a win-win with a new Aquatic Centre in the inner north, and full restoration of the current Park Lands site.
