Save Burswood Park

30/10/2026

Great post by Lyn Connell we are sharing to this page.

Every time I see a WA Government MP supporting the 10 year River Protection strategy I will will be posting this comment on their post. It is hypocrisy to me promoting how wonderful, caring and genuine they are😡😡 while they have destroyed Burswood Park and will do the same to Matilda Bay.

What is different about the new plan Roger Cook and Matthew Swinbourn than what the Swan River Trust has been doing since 1989?

This is from the Western Australian Government website:-

The Swan River Trust was established in 1989 to protect and manage the Swan and Canning rivers. It operates under the Swan and Canning Rivers Management Act 2006 and provides strategic advice on the protection of this iconic river system. The Trust has been actively involved in the management and protection of the rivers for over three decades, focusing on ecological integrity and community well-being.
Western Australian Government +

There has been no transparency and accountability regarding the location of Burswood Park for motor sport and the location of Matilda Bay for the Ferry Terminal. The locations and projects were approved before any planning, assessments and consultations took place in fact there has been no Project Governance so why should we believe you about this 10 year plan.
If the WA Government is being genuine about preserving the Swan and Canning Rivers then stop the race track at Burswood Park which will be located too close to the residential area. Check with Newcastle Council to see what happened when they funded a race track for Supercars which resulted in millions of dollars of debt and damage to heritage residences which no one took any responsibility to repair, approve Keysbrook Motorplex instead also change the location of the Ferry Terminal to Jo Jo’s and then we may believe what WA Government Ministers are telling us.
I would like WA Government MPs to talk to residents in Hannah Beazley and John Carey’s electorates and ask them how Rita Saffioti, Hannah Beazley, John Carey and Daniel Pastorelli have treated them. I would also like them to speak to members of Friends of Matilda Bay and Sailability WA and ask them how Rita Saffioti has treated them. Those that decide to take an informed approach instead of believing what Minister Saffioti and those aligned with her are telling you will do the right thing and support the opposition to the locations of Burswood Park for motor sport and Matilda Bay for a Ferry Terminal and cross the party line.

19/10/2026

There’s been a lot of progress on the racetrack site over the past few weeks, here’s a video showing the extent of piling works that we are told have now been completed and the continual removal of trees, shrubs, and bushes from the land closer to the stadium, also removal of the lawns that were used for parking around the stadium. No works commenced on the acquired Crown land as yet but sure it will happen soon if they are to complete the project by early 2028!

18/10/2026

Members of the Save Burswood Park Alliance attended the fantastic rally held by the Friends of Matilda Bay today. The same issues that we encountered trying to stop the destruction of Burswood Park are all being experienced by the community trying to stop the destruction of Matilda Bay.
-Environmental destruction
-Government Ministers not listening
-Decisions made and contracts given before proper due process
-waved through by the EPA
-Lip service to community consultation
-wasteful spending.
This government has lost its way and as we continue to look at the complete destruction of Burswood Park for a racetrack no one other than big business asked for we remind this government that we will remember! Save Burswood Park Hannah Beazley MLA Roger Cook Daniel Pastorelli MLA

13/10/2026

We will remember! Save Burswood Park Hannah Beazley MLABurswood Park Roger Cook

11/10/2026

We are grateful for the support for our Burswood Park struggles that have always extended. Let's reciprocate with some enthusiastic SBA support.
Same river. Different locations. Unfortunately for all of us, many similar challenges and issues.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2481363015679187

14/09/2026

10/09/2026

08/09/2026

After listening to the intense pile driving that continues today we thought we would remind the community of what we lost and what we are getting. This was first posted in August 2025. WE WILL REMEMBER at the next election

05/09/2026

A week after Secret Harbour, do you believe that a one-off electoral safe seat slap is jarring enough to ensure that the current state government will sincerely realign its priorities with common sense community needs & expectations?
(so far, their announced plan is to doorknock their way into enlightenment)

05/08/2026

The SA Motorsport Board has confirmed both the V8 Grand Final and the MotoGP will use the soon to be extended and upgraded track in the Adelaide Park Lands. This means for three to four months every year, large sections of the park, not previously fenced off, will be fenced off, occupied and made unusable - not for one event, but two, held only weeks apart, with months of construction and deconstruction.

The new track alignment would shift the long line of constructors' compounds from the eastern side of the park to the western side, "threatening to wipe out most community sports access for 4–5 months."
"None of the groups who rely on this park have been offered alternative spaces. Not one!

Dr Doug McEvoy AM Warns of the Social and Environmental Cost of a MotoGP in the Adelaide Park Lands

On Saturday, 25 July, Dr Doug McEvoy AM addressed a rally of concerned community members at Victoria Park/Pakapakanthi on behalf of the ‘South East City Residents Association’ (SECRA). The rally was jointly organised by SECRA, the Adelaide Park Lands Association and Butterfly Conservation South Australia.

Dr McEvoy opened by expressing SECRA’s deep concern over the Malinauskas Government’s proposal to stage a MotoGP Grand Prix in the Adelaide Park Lands.

“We have joined the campaign to stop this race because it is the wrong project, in the wrong place, pushed through in the wrong way.”

Community Consultation:

Dr McEvoy said the proposal did not arise from community demand and was not shaped through meaningful public consultation.

“It was announced just before an election with little opportunity for public scrutiny. Yet the Premier now claims the election result was a mandate for the MotoGP. Let’s be honest, that’s political theatre, not public consent. There has been no transparency about the costs, no genuine public debate, and no respect for the people who use and cherish these parklands.”

The Social Impact:

Dr McEvoy described Victoria Park/Pakapakanthi as one of Adelaide’s busiest and most valued public open spaces, not vacant land waiting to be redeveloped.

“Every day, and especially on weekends, thousands of people rely on this park for their physical, mental and social wellbeing.”

He highlighted the many groups that regularly use the park, including:
• East Adelaide Football Club players.
• Pashtun Cricket Club, with 12 teams playing T20 cricket each weekend.
• Dog owners using one of Adelaide’s few large off-leash areas.
• Hundreds of Parkrun participants every Saturday morning.
• Walkers, joggers, families and community groups.
• Visitors seeking peace and quiet around the wetlands.

“These are not fringe activities. They are the lifeblood of a healthy community.”

Proposed Changes:

According to Dr McEvoy, the proposal includes constructing a new 12-metre-wide racetrack through the southern section of Victoria Park wetlands, extending towards South Terrace.

He said the circuit would cross playing fields, pass through the central gardens and require tree removals before linking with the existing Supercars pit lane and exiting via Wakefield Street.

Dr McEvoy also noted that the SA Motorsport Board had confirmed both the Supercars Grand Final and the MotoGP would use the new track.

“That means for three to four months each year, large areas of the park would be fenced off and unavailable not for one event, but two, held only weeks apart, with months of construction and dismantling.”

He added that relocating the constructors’ compounds could significantly reduce access to community sporting facilities for four to five months annually.

“None of the groups who rely on this park have been offered alternative spaces. Not one.”

Environmental and Ecological Concerns:

Dr McEvoy also raised concerns about the proposal’s environmental impacts, including tree removal and noise affecting wildlife.

“We still don’t know how many trees would be removed. Government figures have suggested 45, while the City of Adelaide has estimated around 200. Any loss of mature trees in Pakapakanthi/Victoria Park reduces habitat, increases urban heat and weakens the ecological value of the park.”

He also highlighted the potential effects of noise.

NB: According to Dr McEvoy, MotoGP motorcycles can produce noise levels of around 130 decibels significantly louder than Supercars and the massive noise would carry across to local nearby homes, surrounding neighbourhoods and the grasslands and wetlands.

He warned this could disturb wildlife by disrupting communication, foraging and breeding behaviour, potentially affecting birds and other species, including the nearby butterfly conservation area.

“This is not just a weekend of noise. It is a direct assault on biodiversity.”!!!!

A Call for an Alternative:

In closing, Dr McEvoy saidSECRA believes the impacts on recreation, biodiversity and public open space are immediate and significant.

“A MotoGP track does not belong in the Adelaide Park Lands.”

“A government cannot claim a mandate when it never asked the public the question.”

“Adelaide should not sacrifice one of its most loved public spaces for a race that could be held elsewhere.”

“An alternative site must be found.”