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MotoGP is coming to Adelaide, with a $96 million parklands overhaul planned
🇦🇺 Australia /Environment & Climate

MotoGP is coming to Adelaide, with a $96 million parklands overhaul planned

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Explainer Named sources New plan
  • South Australia released plans for a $96 million Adelaide street circuit that could host MotoGP from 2027, requiring the removal of nearly 400 trees.
  • The government says it will plant at least 3,393 more trees than it removes and spend $15 million on habitat, biodiversity and parklands projects.
  • Environmental groups and wildlife advocates welcomed parts of the plan but warned that tree removal could threaten grey-headed flying fox habitat.

The future MotoGP circuit in Adelaide will cut down nearly 400 trees, but the South Australian government says the project will ultimately leave the parklands with thousands more.

nature-positive outcome

— South Australian governmentThe government’s description of the environmental result it expects from the parklands project.

The government released its long-awaited design on Sunday for a $96 million street circuit planned to host MotoGP from 2027. The proposal arrives during an environmental dispute over another redevelopment project in the Adelaide parklands, where protests and a federal court challenge are underway over plans for the North Adelaide Golf Course.

Officials say the MotoGP project will transform more than the track. The plan includes shared-use paths and a broad upgrade of the areas around Victoria Park in Adelaide’s eastern parklands. The government has described the environmental outcome as “nature-positive”, promising a net increase of at least 3,393 trees.

the next few years

— Peter MalinauskasThe South Australian premier’s estimate for when the environmental works would be completed.

It has also pledged $15 million for greening, rewilding and revitalisation projects. The work would aim to restore habitat, strengthen biodiversity, reduce pollution entering the River Torrens and support local wildlife, including butterfly populations. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said the projects would be delivered over the next few years, although some would face design and capacity constraints.

We're worried that there's the potential for starvation of the baby bats, because they won't have some of those trees to fly out to

— Judith BemmerBat Rescue SA’s warning about the possible effect of tree removal on flying foxes.

The plan includes improved cooling infrastructure and habitat regeneration for grey-headed flying foxes, which face summer heat stress. Judith Bemmer, fundraising coordinator at Bat Rescue SA, welcomed the commitment but warned that removing trees could leave baby bats without enough food. She said trees near the colony and the fig trees would remain, and expressed hope that replacement trees would eventually provide shelter and forage. The government also says environmental works will support platypus rewilding efforts in the Torrens.

We're very hopeful that in the future, as these other trees mature, it will provide both cover and forage for these bats

— Judith BemmerBemmer’s expectation that replacement trees will eventually benefit the bat colony.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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