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Adelaide Park Lands Association

Navigation
Unique
What We Do
* Explore
> Explore - Guided Walks
> Explore - Trail Guides
* Inspire
> Inspire - Park Poetry
* Protect
* Restore
Features of Your Park Lands
Join Us
Contact
Open Green Public
Newsletters
Current Issues
Myth busters
Shop
Volunteer
Blog
Search 🔎︎
Donate
Take Action
16 September 2026
Thilina Gunasekara
MYTH BUSTER: Olives are a declared pest, so why ...

Wild olives can be environmental weeds. But that doesn’t make Adelaide’s historic, managed olive groves disposable. 

The 1872 grove in King Rodney Park / Ityamai-itpina (Park 15) is threatened by the proposed MotoGP circuit. 

But, we can control invasive olives and protect our living heritage. 

MYTH BUSTER: Olives are a declared pest, so why preserve the Park Lands olive groves?
13 September 2026
Thilina Gunasekara
Dorothy Dunne: Nearly 80 and Still Fighting for ...

Meet Dorothy Dunne — APA’s Membership Officer, lifelong nature lover and passionate Park Lands advocate. 

From growing up beside Crown land to guerrilla planting, Trees for Life and years of activism, Dorothy has never been afraid to speak her mind. Now approaching 80, she remains as passionate as ever about protecting the Park Lands as free, peaceful public spaces for everyone. 

Meet one of our essential Park Lands warriors. 

Dorothy Dunne: Nearly 80 and Still Fighting for your Park Lands
2 September 2026
Thilina Gunasekara
​​​Have your say on the proposed MotoGP circuit

The State Government is consulting on its proposed MotoGP circuit in Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi — including permanent construction and the removal of more than 400 trees.

Submissions close 11.59 pm, Sunday 20 September.

We’ve put together a simple guide on how to make a submission, what you might raise, and a template to help you get started.

Find out how to have your say.

​​​Have your say on the proposed MotoGP circuit
27 August 2026
Thilina Gunasekara
Adelaide's Park Lands Keep the City Moving

The Adelaide Park Lands aren’t just green space – they’re a vital part of how students, workers and recreational cyclists get around our city. 

Kadaltilla / Adelaide Park Lands Authority says the Park Lands provide around 59 kilometres of continuous walking and cycling paths, connecting major precincts through routes including the Adelaide Park Lands Trail and River Torrens Linear Park. 

And there’s an economic benefit too. Walking and cycling in the Park Lands generates an estimated $196 million in annual economic value, through direct health, transport and environmental benefits. 

As Bike Adelaide Chair David Elliott writes, safe, connected Park Lands paths are critical to cycling in Adelaide – and to keeping our city moving. 

Adelaide's Park Lands Keep the City Moving
25 August 2026
Thilina Gunasekara
Secret State: It Took a Court Case to Reveal ...

It took a Federal Court case to find out what the State Government is actually planning for John E. Brown Park. 

A two-storey driving range, 108 car parks, up to 400 metres of netting, an 18-hole mini-golf course, retail facilities, new roads, water tanks and other infrastructure — all on public Park Lands. 

These are significant changes, yet despite repeated questions, the community has had no meaningful opportunity to see or comment on the plans. 

Why did it take a court case for South Australians to find out what is being proposed for their Park Lands? 

Secret State: It Took a Court Case to Reveal Plans for John E. Brown Park
Shane Sody
20 December 2025

Park Poetry: Venus on North Terrace

Shane Sody
20 December 2025
Park Poetry: Venus on North Terrace

The latest in our ‘Park Poetry’ series is a lyrical reimagining of Adelaide’s first public statue, Venus of Canova, as she arrived on North Terrace in 1892, outside the gates of Government House.

Comment
Shane Sody
19 December 2025

Call me by my name

Shane Sody
19 December 2025
Call me by my name

Dear Premier, why won’t you call me by my name? If you are going to chop down my trees, why won’t you look me in the forest and tell me straight? Yours sincerely, Pirltawardli ….

1 Comment
Shane Sody
15 December 2025

Town Clerk's Walk?

Shane Sody
15 December 2025
Town Clerk's Walk?

The City of Adelaide is upgrading the surfaces of a pedestrian pathway, and a road within Red Gum Park /Karrawirra (Park 12). But where is “Town Clerk’s Walk”?

Comment
Shane Sody
15 December 2025

Xmas - New Year in your Park Lands

Shane Sody
15 December 2025
Xmas - New Year in your Park Lands

It’s holiday time - so time to explore your Park Lands, especially the remarkable urban forest on Adelaide’s doorstep - before it’s drastically cut back. “It’s Not Just a Golf Course” is the event title. Explore it with us, on one of a dozen dates over the next few weeks.

Comment
Shane Sody
15 December 2025

More than twice the size

Shane Sody
15 December 2025
More than twice the size

A concept design for a new sports building in Park 27B of your Adelaide Park Lands would be twice as large as the building it’s intended to replace.

Comment
Shane Sody
15 December 2025

"Regenerate" again in 2026

Shane Sody
15 December 2025
"Regenerate" again in 2026

“Trees for Life” is hoping to renew its popular “Regenerate” program of bushcare in your Adelaide Park Lands in the New Year.

Comment
Shane Sody
14 December 2025

What bird is that? Eurasian Coot

Shane Sody
14 December 2025
What bird is that?  Eurasian Coot

Have you heard someone described as “a silly old coot”?

The tag might be unfair to any older person, but also unfair to these common water birds, even though their strange feet can make them look ridiculous on land.

1 Comment
Shane Sody
14 December 2025

304 down, and counting

Shane Sody
14 December 2025
304 down, and counting

More than 300 trees have been felled, so far, to make room for a three billion dollar hospital on your Park Lands, but much more tree destruction is on the way.

5 Comments
Shane Sody
12 December 2025

Lease renewal for Blackfriars

Shane Sody
12 December 2025
Lease renewal for Blackfriars

A Prospect private school has received a green light to renew its lease and licences over part of your northern Park Lands, after a decision not to invite anyone else to lodge Expressions of Interest.

1 Comment
Shane Sody
30 November 2025

Questions without answers

Shane Sody
30 November 2025
Questions without answers

Over the past 15, months, a determined community activist has delivered a stream of questions to Premier, Peter Malinauskas, and the Member for Adelaide, Lucy Hood, in an effort to understand why his Government is targeting your Park Lands for commercial developments.

1 Comment
Shane Sody
30 November 2025

Transform two precincts

Shane Sody
30 November 2025
Transform two precincts

The “Save Festival Plaza Alliance” is urging Premier Malinauskas “to transform two city precincts in one inspired move that could truly invigorate Adelaide.”

Comment
Shane Sody
29 November 2025

Do not come to this workshop

Shane Sody
29 November 2025
Do not come to this workshop

Please do NOT come to our planned volunteer action workshop on 9 December, unless you are ready and willing to work!

1 Comment
Shane Sody
29 November 2025

See it before it disappears

Shane Sody
29 November 2025
See it before it disappears

You’re invited! Please come to inspect, first-hand, the remarkable urban forest on Adelaide’s doorstep - before it’s drastically cut back. “It’s Not Just a Golf Course” is the event title. Explore it with us, on one of 15 dates over the next few weeks.

3 Comments
Shane Sody
26 November 2025

Closed, black, private

Shane Sody
26 November 2025
Closed, black, private

What’s the opposite of “Open, Green, Public”? This week, it’s Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16 of your Adelaide Park Lands.

3 Comments
Shane Sody
25 November 2025

Park Poetry: "Glover Playgrounds"

Shane Sody
25 November 2025
Park Poetry: "Glover Playgrounds"

There are ten children’s playgrounds within your Adelaide Park Lands.

Three of them, each named after the early 20th century Lord Mayor, Charles Glover, have inspired this contribution from poet, Alex Robertson. It’s an ode to the playgrounds of your Adelaide Park Lands.

Comment
Shane Sody
24 November 2025

Know your Park Lands plants: Silky Oak

Shane Sody
24 November 2025
Know your Park Lands plants: Silky Oak

In recent weeks, your eyes might have been drawn to these distinctive yellow blossoms high in the canopy in one or more parts of your Adelaide Park Lands.

If so, you’ve noticed the largest tree in the Grevillea family: the Silky Oak.

Comment
Shane Sody
17 November 2025

Briefly, in other news

Shane Sody
17 November 2025
Briefly, in other news

Briefly, in other news from your Adelaide Park Lands…. Beach volleyball, Tree Climb, Hutt Road works, Aquatic Centre

Comment
Shane Sody
17 November 2025

Your Parks, their secrets

Shane Sody
17 November 2025
Your Parks, their secrets

Neither the State Government nor the City Council are prepared to let you know how they deal, in secret, with your Adelaide Park Lands.

A Freedom of Information request about the proposed golf course “re-development” in your Park Lands has produced hundreds of blacked-out pages.

2 Comments
Shane Sody
15 November 2025

Politically unsustainable?

Shane Sody
15 November 2025
Politically unsustainable?

The campaign to Save Festival Plaza remains very much alive. Momentum is building to prompt a Government re-think, even if only for the adverse economic impact of current plans to build over an Adelaide heritage icon.

Comment
Shane Sody
15 November 2025

What bird is that? Masked Lapwing

Shane Sody
15 November 2025
What bird is that? Masked Lapwing

Meet a bird with a notorious reputation: the assertive, sometimes aggressive, and certainly ever-vigilant Masked Lapwing.

Comment
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Adelaide Park Lands Association, c/o Affinity Business Advisers, Level 1, 458 Morphett Street,, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australiasecretary@adelaide-parklands.asn.au

OUR ARCHIVES: Old newsletters, submissions, news releases etc dating back to 2001