Adelaide City Council tees off on Premier Peter Malinauskas over new LIV Golf course plans

Premier Peter Malinauskas is being accused of leaving the Adelaide City Council “out in the cold” over a new LIV Golf course.

Premier Peter Malinauskas is being accused of leaving the Adelaide City Council “out in the cold” by introducing a new bill to sideline the local government over a new LIV Golf course while the Lord Mayor is overseas.

Deputy Lord Mayor Phillip Martin attacked the state government’s decision to suddenly introduce a new law giving it control over development on the North Adelaide Golf Course on the Adelaide Parklands saying it was “not OK”.

“They undertook to negotiate first with our ratepayers, with South Australians and they have come in with a sledgehammer,” he said.

The chipping green at the North Adelaide Golf Course. Picture: Ben Clark

Mr Martin said the government had been negotiating with Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith and the city council over the plans to overhaul the golf course by 2028 for the LIV Golf tournament.

But today the city council was not invited to a press conference where Mr Malinauskas announced without the city council’s knowledge that it would introduce a bill into state parliament to take control of the North Adelaide site.

He said Ms Lomax-Smith was in Bonn, Germany, lobbying to have the COP31 global climate change event held in Adelaide and had not been included in today’s announcement.

“The government has been negotiating with us and we understood we were moving forward together,” Mr Martin said.

“We have been left out in the cold, the government hasn’t told us a thing about what it’s doing, we have come down here (to Parliament House) as soon as we heard.”

Mr Malinauskas made the announcement shortly after Liberal Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia’s State Budget reply, announcing the new legislation would be introduced today to “progress a redevelopment” of the golf course.

It would ensure it had control over the course being built on an area including the current golf course and adjacent Park 27A.

South Australia's Premier Peter Malinauskas greets spectators after securing the LIV Golf tournament until 2031. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Mr Malinauskas said the bill already had support of upper house cross benchers Independent Sarah Game and SA Best’s Connie Bonaros.

But Greens MLC Rob Simms said after the announcement that he had not seen its content and the Opposition were being briefed on the day.

In a media release, the state government announced that the new law “facilitates ownership of the project site, planning consent and development approval”.

It also moves to ensure its future operations and maintenance “are not unduly restricted” – and recognises the “City of Adelaide’s role as custodian of much of the Adelaide Park Lands and commits a positive duty to consult with the council on the development”.

“In North Adelaide, we have a unique opportunity to deliver one of the world’s best public golf courses, with improved amenity and usability of our internationally renowned park lands,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“We are currently working with Greg Norman Golf Course Design and the Adelaide City Council to deliver a truly magnificent outcome.

“But to deliver it – we need to have certainty. That’s what this legislation provides for.”

Planning Minister Nick Champion said “the legislation is about unlocking the full potential of this unique site for all South Australians”.

The news was met with disappointment by Adelaide Park Lands Association spokesman Shane Sody, who said it would lead to large numbers of buildings and car parks on the Parklands.

“The premier has determined he’s not interested in protecting the Parklands. That’s very, very disappointing,” Mr Sody said.

“We are hoping that if enough people contact the premier and the crossbenchers in parliament that they’ll look at alternative venues for this event.

“LIV Golf is only three days. Damage to the park will be permanent.”

Originally published as Adelaide City Council tees off on Premier Peter Malinauskas over new LIV Golf course plans