VALO Adelaide 500 Supercars V8 race faces parking woes over rare butterfly

This rare butterfly – which had not been seen in Adelaide for 60 years before 2011 – could cause a major rethink of Adelaide’s famous V8 race.

Protecting a colony of rare butterflies is at the centre of a City Council plan to reduce spectator parking at the VALO Adelaide 500 Supercars race.

The southern end of the Victoria Park race circuit – currently used for parking – includes a fenced-off area to safeguard the habitat of the chequered copper butterfly, also known as Lucia limbaria.

The butterflies had not been seen in Adelaide for 60 years prior to 2011, and have since been protected from human activity – including the V8 spectacular, which attracted almost 260,000 fans over four days last year.

It is a sensitive area because the butterflies are also dependent on a colony of ants that protect their caterpillars.

On Tuesday night the council will vote on making a formal request to Adelaide 500 organisers to limit the area of the race in Victoria Park.

The rare chequered copper butterfly. Picture: Greg Coote

“A reduction is sought on the requirement for carparking to minimise the use of open space incorporating the grassland mounded area and the adjoining wetlands and butterfly conservation area to minimise risk,” a council agenda states.

Butterfly Conservation SA chairman Gerry Butler said his group supported the reduction in the race circuit’s footprint.

But he also said monitoring since 2011 had shown the race had not impacted on the butterfly population.

“It is a well fenced-off area and, with the new wetlands, a very sensitive site where the chequered copper butterfly was discovered,’’ Mr Butler said.

“We would certainly support a smaller footprint for the race area.

“Anything done to improve biodiversity in the area and where the wetlands are is welcome, but we have not seen any impact on the site because the council has done some really good work on fencing and traffic control.”

Parking at last year’s VALO Adelaide 500 event. Picture: Adelaide 500

SA Motorsport Board chair Andrew Daniels said: “The VALO Adelaide 500 infrastructure is built taking into account the sensitivities imperative to protect the butterflies and grass species”.

“The relevant areas are fenced off as part of the circuit build, with access prohibited through out the build and the event periods.”

Mr Butler said both the ants and the butterflies would sense nearby human activities by vibration and changes in light.

Adelaide 500 joy-flight helicopters have landing pads not far from the protected area, causing turbulence and vibration.

“As soon as we cast a shadow over (the butterflies) they are off very quickly and sense a predator ... they are easily disturbed,” Mr Butler said.

The council reviews the impact of the Adelaide 500 event each year and asks for modifications before the next race, to be run from November 23-26 this year.

UniSA urban ecology expert Professor Chris Daniels said monitoring by butterfly experts had not shown any impact, but he deferred to Mr Butler’s expertise.

“A significant region has been roped off and both the supportive species of ants and the food plants seem to be doing well there,’’ Prof Daniels said.