Park Lands golf course re-development

1.Park Lands Golf course re-development

A law introduced and passed by State Parliament within eight days in June 2025 authorises a single Minister to take over a large swathe of the Adelaide Park Lands (approximately 86 hectares); to "re-develop" not only the North Adelaide Golf course on Possum Park / Pirltawardli (Park 1) but also the neighbouring John E. Brown Park (Park 27A). The area is outlined in yellow in this State Government diagram.
The "project area" for golf course re-development
The North Adelaide Public Golf Course Act 2025 authorises construction of "a new championship golf course" and any "other facilities as determined by the Minister" albeit no "accommodation" is to be included within "the project".

The Minister's wide-ranging powers under the Act allow "the project" to proceed in whatever way the Minister determines, with:
  • no “assessment, decision, consent, approval, authorisation, certificate, licence, permit or permission” required; and
  • no “consultation, inquiry, notification or other process or procedural step” required - SECTION 12.
The Premier, Peter Malinauskas, says the new law allows the State Government to provide "amenities" (such as a new "driving range" and other buildings) "to deliver economic, social, environmental and community benefits" and allow the redevelopment to "occur in time to host LIV Golf no later than 2028."

The new course would also host other top-level golf tournaments, requiring fencing to exclude the public from this part of the Park Lands, prior to and during these major events.

It is expected that the re-development would result in the loss of hundreds of mature trees; although the Act requires that "for every tree that is removed in the course of undertaking the project not less than 3 new trees (or seedlings for not less than 3 new trees)" must be planted "within the project site and support zones".

The area of the Adelaide Park Lands chosen for this development has been identified as home to more 100 species, and includes what the City Council has labelled one of the seven "Key Biodiversity Areas" within the Adelaide Park Lands.

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