by Shane Sody
Last November, Park Lands supporters were outraged when the State Government ignored more than 8,000 petition signatories and cut down dozens of decades-old trees in Denise Norton Park / Pardipardinyilla (Park 2 of your Park Lands).
Destruction Day was evidence that an arrogant State Government was not prepared to listen to you, nor prepared to protect your Park Lands.
Breaking four of its own promises, ignoring clear community support for an alternative brownfield site, this destruction took place out of public sight, behind high fences; so no TV cameras could see it happening.
See the other three broken promises here: www.adelaide-parklands.asn.au/new-aquatic
Now, nine months later, the State Government has confessed that even more tree destruction is on the way.
The existing Aquatic Centre is due to be closed on Thursday 1 August; breaking a promise that the existing centre would remain open while the new one was being constructed.
Pic: Department for Infrastructure and Transport, 25 July 2024
The State Government has now admitted that immediately after the closure, its contractors will quickly move in, to cut down even more trees. Its most recent “construction update” issued on 25 July, advises that:
‘“Site establishment works around the existing Adelaide Aquatic Centre site will then be undertaken before demolition begins.
“Some tree removal will be required to establish the new aquatic centre. Most trees are non-native or trees that are in poor health.”
Which trees? And how many? They don’t say. But it’s likely that several more non-native Aleppo Pines, such as these, will be removed:
Two decades-old Aleppo pines in Denise Norton Park / Pardipardinyilla (Park 2). Despite the fact that they are non-native species, they provide habitat for native birds such as cockatoos and corellas.
It’s also likely that the row of South Australian blue gums (Eucalyptus leucoxylon) in the foreground of this photo will be removed.
The Blue gums in the foreground were the few survivors of the devastation in November 2023. Pic: Department for Infrastructure and Transport, 25 July 2024
The State Government’s construction update of 25 July 2024 claims that:
“A planting strategy has been developed in consultation with City of Adelaide that focuses on increasing the presence of native species, tree canopy, biodiversity, and improving amenity across Park 2.”
However, even the State Government’s own MPs believe that replacing old trees with new trees is not good enough:
Labor’s Jayne Stinson, on ABC-TV News. Ms Stinson said, to protect Adelaide's tree canopy: "It's really not sufficient for us to cut down one tree and say well you can just plant another."
The outcome for your Park Lands could have been so much better if the State Government had listened to the more than 8,000 petition signatories who wanted to save all of these trees, and urged Premier Peter Malinauskas to locate a new Aquatic Centre on one of many suggested brownfield sites.
LEFT: The Lord Mayor, on 27 July 2023, receiving what was, at that time, 5,100 signatures from APA President Shane Sody and Deputy President, Ben Ayris.
RIGHT: The Premier, on 26 September 2023, receiving what was, at that time, 7,500 signatures.
See the full story, including details of our almost two-year ultimately unsuccessful plan to protect this Park. www.adelaide-parklands.asn.au/new-aquatic
Help protect your Park Lands from future attacks like this. TAKE ACTION!
The author of this article, Shane Sody, is the President of the Adelaide Park Lands Association and the editor of the semi-monthly newsletter, "Open Green Public".
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