Published June 2023
The Opposition has joined concerned local residents and community groups in protesting against Peter Malinauskas’ latest attack on the Adelaide Park Lands – as Labor continues to make a mockery of its pre-election commitment to protect the iconic green space.
Hundreds descended on Park 21 West/Mirnu Wirra – SAPOL’s preferred location to relocate the soon to be demolished Thebarton Police Barracks – creating a human chain and holding umbrellas around the threatened area, demanding it be saved from the bulldozers.
Peter Malinauskas continues to fan community concerns over the future of the Park Lands by refusing to declare which other areas are potentially in the firing line to build the new, barbed wire police facility.
Shadow Assistant Minister for Environment and Heritage, Jack Batty, said it’s disappointing Peter Malinauskas continues to keep South Australians in the dark over the future of the precious Park Lands.
“The Adelaide Park Lands belong to all South Australians and is the city’s backyard – yet Peter Malinauskas is treating it like his personal land bank,” Mr Batty said.
“Before the election Peter Malinauskas promised to ‘protect Adelaide’s unique Park Lands’ but since then he’s done the exact opposite.
“We share community concerns over the potential destruction of Park 21 West as it is a hive of biodiversity, and we don’t want to see it bulldozed to make way for police infrastructure, high barbed wire fences and car park spaces.
“While we hope Peter Malinauskas walks away from Park 21 West, it’s also creating huge anxiety amongst locals that Labor is remaining tight lipped on which other parcels of Park Lands they have in their cross hairs.
“It’s also outrageous that Susan Close, as Environment Minister, has taken a hands-off approach to protecting Park Lands. When we ask Labor why, they say it’s because the Park Lands are the Development Minister Nick Champion’s responsibility.
“Labor doesn’t have a Minister prepared to protect the Park Lands, instead we’ve got a Park Lands Development Minister and that’s becoming clearer by the day.”
Member for Unley, David Pisoni, called on Peter Malinauskas to back away from any Park Lands site for government infrastructure.
“My local community loves the Park Lands and it’s an upsetting and anxious time for many because they have been shut out of this secret Labor process which goes against the basic principles of consulting with community on assets that belong to the people,” Mr Pisoni said.
“Peter Malinauskas needs to back off, guarantee the Park Lands won’t be touched, and look somewhere else for the police barracks – a place where there will be minimal environmental impact and our Park Lands aren’t locked away from the community behind barbed wire fences.
“Peter Malinauskas needs to start listening to the community and put the preservation of Adelaide’s Park Lands higher up on Labor’s priority list – after all he did promise during the election to protect our iconic green spaces.”
