Arabic version: المحكمة ترفض الطعن في إعادة تطوير ملعب غولف نورث أديلايد

According to ABC News, the Federal Court has ruled against two South Australians who sought to stop tree clearing connected to the redevelopment of the North Adelaide Golf Course.

Public servant Edwin Kemp Attrill and Kaurna Arabana woman Janette Milera brought the action against the South Australian government earlier this year. They argued that the redevelopment breached federal conservation laws. The court heard last month that 400 trees had been cut down, while the government had previously said 585 trees would ultimately be removed.

Justice Natalie Charlesworth said evidence presented during the trial showed that more than 70,000 trees would remain in the Adelaide Parklands. She said there remained a very large number of trees at the project site and across the parklands, and she was not satisfied that the depletion or proposed future depletion had, would have, or was likely to have a significant impact on species.

The judge also said the government had not diminished the importance of the parklands for the Kaurna people during the proceedings. She said the court’s findings should not be understood as reducing that significance, which was not disputed by the respondent.

Justice Charlesworth ordered that the injunction on work at the North Adelaide golf course be lifted immediately, despite a 28-day period in which Mr Kemp Attrill and Ms Milera can appeal. Government lawyers must tell the court by October 22 if they intend to seek a costs order against the pair.