What they want to destroy
by Shane Sody
One of the State Government’s relentless attacks on your Open Green Public Park Lands (six attacks in a year!) looks set to destroy priceless stands of wildflowers and native grasses.
The most biodiverse part of your Adelaide Park Lands has been nominated by the Police Commissioner as the site for an industrial-scale SA Police compound that would include a new set of barracks buildings, stables for 40 horses, garages, sheds, and accommodation for 30 Police officers.
Looking south, across Golden Wattle Park / Mirnu Wirra (Park 21W) with Whitmore Square and South Terrace in the foreground and Greenhill Road and the Wayville Showgrounds in the background. This is an artist’s impression of how the proposed SA Police compound would dominate what is now the most biodiverse part of your Open Green Public Adelaide Park Lands.
The proposed eight-hectare compound would be larger than the existing Thebarton police barracks and larger even than the Adelaide Oval stadium; equivalent to about 200 suburban house blocks.
An artist’s impression of the proposed eight-hectare security-fenced police compound on Golden Wattle Park / Mirnu Wirra (Park 21W)
Wildflowers such as those pictured below are likely to burst into flower in your southern Park Lands this spring. But for many of them, this year might be their last. Any wildflowers or native grasses located in Park 21W would not survive an onslaught from the proposed massive new Police workplace.
Golden Wattle Park / Mirnu Wirra (Park 21W) is one of only three locations in your Park Lands where the rare chequered copper butterfly has been sighted. The first sighting in this Park was only a few months ago, October 2022.
Now, recent images from this Park show the tiny caterpillar of this butterfly being nurtured by ants, who take the caterpillar underground to protect it from predators.
Images by Greg Coote
Read about the life cycle of the chequered copper butterfly.
What can you do?
Many conservation, nature and heritage groups have come together, each of them pleading with the State Government to save your Golden Wattle Park / Mirnu Wirra (Park 21W).
You can join the chorus of support for your Park Lands. See our suggestions for action here: https://www.adelaide-parklands.asn.au/blog/2023/4/5/premier-needs-more-encouragement/#what-can-you-do
If you want to be involved in “direct action” to protect Golden Wattle Park / Mirnu Wirra (Park 21W) from the proposed Police Barracks and Stables, then contact Charlotte Nitschke at Conservation SA: charlotte.nitschke@conservationsa.org.au