Many voices raised in support
by Shane Sody
This site within your Open Green Public Adelaide Park Lands is getting more support than ever - from a wide range of community groups.
A groundswell of support to save Golden Wattle Park / Mirnu Wirra (Park 21W) from an unprecedented State Government attack is coming from each one of these groups.
Each one of these groups as well as hundreds of their supporters and other individuals have urged the State Government to change course.
See the “Media Alert” issued jointly by Conservation Council SA, Trees for Life, Adelaide Park Lands Association, Nature Conservation Society, and the Butterfly Conservation Society announcing a rally to “Save Mirnu Wirra” at 11.30am on Saturday 1 April.
Click here to find out why Trees for Life calls this Park a “Living Natural Treasure” (PDF 5 pages, 1.08 Mb)
Unanimous support for this “Living Natural Treasure” has also come from both the City of Adelaide, and the City of Unley:
In addition to the research already undertaken by Trees for Life, the Adelaide Park Lands Association has now engaged two student interns from Adelaide University, to conduct an up-to-date biodiversity report on the site.
Shainel Davies (left) and Otis Noble (right) are final year undergraduates studying Environmental Policy and Management.
“Complete disregard”
What might be regarded as the most significant support for your Park Lands has come from a Federal Government agency, the Australian Heritage Council, which advises the Federal Environment Minister, Tanya Pilbersek.
The Hon. Ted Baillieu AO, Chair, Australian Heritage Council
The Council’s Chair, former Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu has advised that “the South Australian Government has demonstrated what appears to be complete disregard for the National Heritage listing and obligations to protect the Park Lands and its values.”
Mr Baillieu’s letter was written on 27 February 2023, even before the announced attack on Golden Wattle Park / Mirnu Wirra (Park 21W). The letter was written in response to the State Government’s earlier attack, on your Park 27, to build a new Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
The proposed attack on Golden Wattle Park / Mirnu Wirra (Park 21W) presumably would only heighten the Australian Heritage Council’s concerns.
It remains to be seen whether the Federal Environment Minister might intervene to block any of the State Government’s current Park Lands attacks.
Authority ignored
The one group that has most responsibility for your Park Lands; i.e. Kadaltilla / Park Lands Authority has not even been asked for its opinion. Although the Authority is legally required to produce management plans for your Park Lands, and the State Government has formally endorsed those plans, it turns out that the State Government pays no heed to these Plans and repeatedly fails to consult with the Authority, before announcing its Park Lands attacks.
Background
Proposed police barracks to cover an area of eight hectares of restored native bush represents the largest single Park Lands threat since their creation in 1837.
If the State Government were to carry through with its threats to your Golden Wattle Park / Mirnu Wirra (Park 21W) then the fenced police compound on that Park would be larger than the police facilities at Thebarton, that house 250 staff.
Read our early stories here: