by Shane Sody
The SA Motor Sport Board is refusing to release details of complaints, to investigate any detrimental impacts on Adelaide, nor to contemplate any alternative locations for the controversial annual Adelaide 500 motor racing event.
We asked the Chair of the SA Motor Sport Board, Andrew Daniels, about the future of this event, and the Board’s reported hope for broadening its domination over your Park Lands in 2025 and beyond.
A response from the Board’s Executive Relations and Engagement Manager received on 11 February 2025 has sidestepped or refused to answer most of our questions.
Andrew Daniels
The response makes no effort to address the multiple issues that have dogged this all-powerful State Government agency, as it pursues an anachronistic addiction to climate-damaging carbon emissions and extensive annual fencing to prevent you entering hectares of your Open Green Public Adelaide Park Lands for many months each year.
Sidesteps and non-answers
SILENCE ON Contract extension
We asked whether negotiations were under way to extend the current 5-year hosting contract (expiring in 2026).
The non-answer: “It is contemplated the event will continue for the foreseeable future.”
NO CALCULATION OF Negative impacts?
We asked what economic modelling or calculations, if any, have been carried out on the negative effects of the Adelaide 500, such as time lost to traffic congestion, noise, health and environmental impacts, and the cost of damage to Adelaide's reputation as a "National Park City", and if no such impacts have been assessed, why not?
The non-answer: “the SAMSB commission[s] independent providers to determine the economic contribution of holding the event.”
NO ALTERNATIVE VENUES
We asked what alternative venues had been or would be considered for the event.
The response merely asserted, without any explanation, that: “there are no alternative locations suitable to hold the Adelaide 500 event.”
Pic: The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend. autoaction.com.au
NO LOG of complaints
We asked to see a (de-identified) log of complaints about the event.
This question was ignored.
New additional event?
We asked about published reports that the Motor Sport Board was “working to secure a round of the World Rally Cross Championship in Adelaide” to be held next November on a new course in your Park Lands.
The answer neither confirmed nor denied the reports. “There are no current formal agreements in place for Rally Cross for 2025.”
Permanent infrastructure?
We asked about the Motor Sport Board’s contemplation of possible permanent motor sport buildings and infrastructure within Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16). We asked whether the Motor Sport Board had sought or would seek approval from the City Council.
The question was not answered, nor did it rule out making such a bid. “We are not aware of any approvals for new permanent infrastructure.”
Sprint cars back again?
We asked whether the 2024 innovation of adding separate “sprint car” racing, the subject of many late-night noise complaints from residents, would prompt a rethink in 2025.
The answer was not encouraging about the prospect of this event being held anywhere other than your Park Lands: “Future plans will be communicated to stakeholders as soon as practicable. Should the Speedway component continue, it will be in the declared area.”
Read the full correspondence: (PDF, 4 pages, 2.3 Mb)
How can this happen in your Park Lands?
A forty-year-old law to promote motor sport is the culprit.
The South Australian Motor Sport Act 1984 was brought into operation to permit Formula One motor racing to be held in your Park Lands the following year, 1985. However, that same law is now used to legally authorise fencing off, restricting access, and dumping motor racing detritus into large swathes of your eastern Park Lands for an ever-increasing period each year.
The South Australian Motor Sport Act 1984 does not limit how much of your Park Lands can be claimed for motor sport. Nor does it place any limits on the length of time they can be fenced off to prevent your access.
The Act gives absolute power to the relevant Minister (currently the Premier, Peter Malinauskas) to declare a “specified area” and specified “prescribed works periods” during which the Motor Sport Board effectively takes over, and “the rights or interests of any other person in or in relation to the land are suspended for the declared period.”
What’s more, there is no limit in the Act on how many such events may be held, or how often they can be held.
The City Council is unable to make long-term re-vegetation plans for Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16) until this law is amended or repealed.
We remain hopeful that the State Government will eventually decide to “read the room” and start valuing the world-unique resource of your Open, Green, Public Adelaide Park Lands.
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The author of this article, Shane Sody, is the President of the Adelaide Park Lands Association and the editor of the semi-monthly newsletter, "Open Green Public".
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https://adelaideparklands.m-pages.com/YWRrGW/adelaide-park-lands-assn-mailing
