SA government says prior parklands works set precedent for MotoGP circuit

The O-Bahn tunnel and new Women's and Children's Hospital have set precedents for major work in the Adelaide parklands, the state government has argued in a MotoGP circuit assessment.Mounting a case that the track design will not degrade the national heritage values of the parklands, the government said the area had a long history of accommodating infrastructure works and major events.It cited the tunnel, new hospital and south parklands stormwater project as examples of works assessed under federal conservation laws and determined not to be "controlled action".Under those laws, controlled actions are projects classed as having a significant impact on the environment or heritage of a place.Last week, a Federal Court judge ruled the government's North Adelaide Golf Course redevelopment, also on the parklands, did not meet that threshold.In a separate case lodged recently in the Federal Court, legal action is also brewing against the South Australian government's plans for the MotoGP circuit.Heritage, flying fox consideredWhile the MotoGP report acknowledged past projects cannot be used to assess the street circuit, it said they demonstrated that previous "substantial and permanent changes" to the parklands have been judged to have no significant impact on heritage values.An impression of the SA government's plans for Adelaide's eastern parklands. (Supplied: SA government)Unlike other parklands projects, it said, the MotoGP circuit mostly involves upgrades to existing infrastructure.The O-Bahn tunnel opened in 2017 and construction is underway on the Women's and Children's Hospital at the old Thebarton Barracks site.The arguments relating to the circuit were made in a submission to the federal government as part of a self-referral.The report also addressed impact on the grey-headed flying fox, a threatened species found in the project area.It acknowledged that the work would result in a temporary disturbance during construction and when the event is held, and a loss of potential foraging areas.The grey-headed flying fox at the Botanic Gardens in Adelaide. (Supplied: Brad Leue)But it said the impacts are localised and there would be no effect on roosting sites or critical habitat.Overall, the assessment concluded that the MotoGP circuit is unlikely to result in significant impact on the environment or heritage of the parklands.Public consultation on the submission closed on Friday, with the federal government's assessment now pending.The report examined the infrastructure, landscape and works associated with the proposed circuit, but it did not look at event operations including the race itself, concerts, spectator facilities and temporary structures.'Time problem' for governmentRevealing the proposed circuit design at the end of August, Premier Peter Malinauskas said the government had received expert advice that a referral to the Commonwealth was not required.But he said the project would be referred anyway, as a measure to prevent delays."We've got a time problem," Mr Malinauskas said."We've got to get all this done by November [2027], and so we are naturally concerned about what activist litigation might do if we follow the advice and stick with the self-assessment."SA Premier Peter Malinauskas made an announcement about Adelaide hosting the Australian MotoGP earlier this year. (ABC News)Parts of the North Adelaide Golf Course redevelopment were stalled during the Federal Court case, which also argued that the project should have been referred.Dismissing the case on Thursday, Justice Natalie Charlesworth said tree loss and construction on the northern parklands was unlikely to disturb the landscape in a significant way.