The chair of the State Government Board dedicated to making Adelaide “greener” and “wilder” has urged community groups to be "shouting from the rooftops" about the Government's "ridiculous" plans to seize 70 hectares of river-front Adelaide Park Lands for development.

Professor Chris Daniels is the presiding member of the "Green Adelaide" board. He came under intense questioning after giving a presentation on Wednesday 6 October to the peak body for community residents groups - Community Alliance SA.

Professor Daniels told his audience of the importance of "re-wilding" rivers, "particularly the River Torrens" and that "old trees are incredibly important." His views seem to be in stark contrast to that of the Premier Steven Marshall and Planning Minister Vicki Chapman who are advocating the exact opposite along the River Torrens / Karrawirra Parri in the Adelaide Park Lands.

Mr Marshall is promoting a $660 million stadium on the river's edge in Helen Mayo Park (Park 27) that would destroy dozens of old trees.

Ms Chapman is spearheading a Government push to re-zone 70 hectares of "Riverbank" Park Lands to accommodate buildings of up to 20 storeys.

Professor Daniels admitted during his presentation that he had been having difficult conversations recently in Ms Chapman's ministerial offices.

Strangely, he said "I don’t think the re-zoning is real" but did not elaborate. His parting message to the community activists at the meeting was that people tend not to appreciate the natural environment until it is at risk of being lost, so "we need you shouting from the rooftops".

Environment Minister David Speirs was advertised as being a featured speaker at the Community Alliance meeting, but did not turn up.