Arabic version: قطع أولى الأشجار من أجل حلبة موتو جي بي في أديلايد
According to ABC News, dozens of protesters gathered in Adelaide’s parklands on Friday as the first trees slated for removal for a MotoGP circuit were felled. The South Australian government said four trees would be removed as part of preliminary water works.
ABC reporter Troy Sincock, reporting from the corner of East Terrace and Bartels Road, said protesters had gathered behind temporary fencing early in the morning. He reported hearing chainsaws in Rymill Park and seeing workers in high-vis clothing loading large tree boughs into a mulcher.
Police were present while protesters gathered. Sincock said two protesters were sitting in a tree and speaking with police. He later heard chainsaw and mulching activity on Rundle Road, while the protesters in the trees remained there. People were yelling “stop the chop”, he said, and passing cars sounded their horns in support.
The proposed 4.13-kilometre circuit for the 2027 event would be laid in Victoria Park and cut through parklands between Wakefield Road and Rundle Road. The $96 million project was set to remove nearly 400 trees, including 42 significant trees. The government had previously pledged to replace removed trees with mature stock on a 10-to-one basis, with construction planned to start next month.
