Arabic version: جنوب أستراليا تستشهد بسوابق في المتنزهات لمسار «موتو جي بي»

According to ABC News, the South Australian government has cited the O-Bahn tunnel, the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital and a south parklands stormwater project as precedents in its case for a proposed MotoGP circuit in Adelaide’s parklands.

In a self-referral submission to the federal government, the state argued that the parklands have a long history of accommodating infrastructure works and major events. It said the previous projects had been assessed under federal conservation laws and found not to be a “controlled action”, a classification for projects considered likely to significantly affect the environment or heritage of a place.

The submission acknowledged that past projects could not be used to assess the proposed street circuit itself. However, it said they showed that substantial and permanent changes to the parklands had previously been judged not to significantly affect heritage values. The government also argued that the circuit would mostly upgrade existing infrastructure.

The assessment considered potential effects on the grey-headed flying fox, a threatened species found in the project area. It said construction and the event would cause temporary disturbance and reduce potential foraging areas, but described the impacts as localised, with no effect expected on roosting sites or critical habitat. It concluded the circuit was unlikely to significantly affect the parklands’ environment or heritage.

Public consultation on the submission closed on Friday and a federal assessment is pending. The report did not examine event operations, including the race, concerts, spectator facilities or temporary structures. Premier Peter Malinauskas said when the design was revealed in late August that the referral was being made to reduce the risk of delays, with the project required to be completed by November 2027.