Protesters rally against second Walker tower and LIV Golf parklands redevelopment
Protesters chanting “chainsaw Pete” have gathered at parliament in opposition to a series of developments they say will destroy the city’s character.
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Hundreds of protesters have gathered on the steps of state parliament to oppose construction of the city’s tallest building and redevelopment of the parklands for LIV Golf.
Supporters of “Save the Heart of Adelaide”, including a former premier, heritage architects and the city’s Deputy Lord Mayor, gathered to oppose both projects, stating a lack of adequate consultation.
Protesters chanted, “chainsaw Pete”, referring to Premier Peter Malinauskas, after the state government also proposed a new 18-hole Championship Course, driving range and clubhouse, which would affect Park 1 Possum Park and Park 27A John Brown Park.
The redevelopment would transform the parklands in preparation for LIV Golf in 2028 and requires authorisation under the Aboriginal Heritage Act to undertake ground-disturbing works
Among the rally speakers was former SA Labor Premier, Dr Lynn Arnold AO, who said Adelaide’s “unique character” would be damaged by the two projects, and questioned whether adequate public consultation was not sought by the state government.
“Building the proposed tower behind this beautiful parliament would be a blight, because firstly, it would swallow up public space, the Festival Plaza, a civic space and turn it over to office space,” he said.
“Open spaces and parklands should be for shared civic uses, not private.
“It is not good planning, it is not, I believe, above board planning behaviour, we’ve seen, without knowing it, the selling of air-rights above this space behind us (and) we’ve seen short-term notices about how much public consultation there can be.”
So far, 4,000 signatures have been gathered online to oppose the contentious 160m-tall tower at Festival Plaza, which received approval by the State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) last month.
The 38-storey tower by Walker Corporation, costing $600 million, will sit directly behind Parliament House, and will generate more than 1300 jobs during construction expected to be completed by 2027.
Protesters also opposed the seizure of sections of the North Adelaide Golf course, including the seizure of Possum Park and John Brown Park to be redeveloped for LIV Golf.
President of the Parklands Association (APA), Sarah Russo, said redeveloping the golf course for a “globetrotting party event” was “unbelievably short sighted”.
“We absolutely oppose the uprooting of hundreds of trees (and) foreign events that will not put roots down in Adelaide,” she said.
“LIV is not a partnership, LIV is a fling, (and) the odd fling can be well flung, but we should have no doubt that LIV will always be looking over our shoulders for a bigger, more attractive, more exciting city.
“When LIV finds that alternative, wooed by someone else, they’ll be gone as quick as you can say, ‘Melbourne Grand Prix’.”
Currently, the state government is seeking authorisation under the Aboriginal Heritage Act to undertake ground-disturbing works to redevelop the course.
Works such as large-scale excavation and construction of footings for buildings – potentially up to 5m deep – may be required.
The project risks damaging Aboriginal heritage and may require the excavation of ancestral remains, particularly along the banks of the River Torrens, known as Karrawirra Parri.
A government spokesperson said the state had “real momentum” and that the Walker tower project had undergone a “rigorous assessment” by SCAP before approval.
“The development (was) carefully considered against planning policies and community feedback,” they said.
“During the code amendment period there was a 6-week formal public consultation for Festival Plaza.”
They said the redevelopment of the North Adelaide golf course was a “unique opportunity” that could deliver “significant economic benefit” to SA.
“This redevelopment is about much more than LIV Golf,” they said.
“The redevelopment will enhance the trails and landscape amenities in this part of the Adelaide Park Lands, for non-golfers to be more active and socialise, and connecting spaces to improve and promote public access and movement in and out of the city through the Park Lands.
“The Planning Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 applies to the development, meaning a planning application will need to be made, consultation on designs will occur and building rules consent and final development approval will also be required.”
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Originally published as Protesters rally against second Walker tower and LIV Golf parklands redevelopment
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