We’ve made a submission on the Adelaide Circuit Redevelopment Project.

Our vision is to make a world-class walkable South Australia.

Our submission seeks to highlight the Adelaide Park Lands as a series of active and walkable places, and to ensure equitable outcomes.

Therefore our focus is on protecting and improving the Adelaide Park Lands as an everyday network for walking, wheeling, cycling, recreation and access to the city.

On this basis, Walking SA does not support the redevelopment in its current form.

Why? The proposal involves substantial permanent change to the Park Lands as well as recurring disruption associated with construction, event setup, motorsport events and dismantling. We believe further work is needed to minimise environmental impacts, protect public access and demonstrate enduring community benefits.

At the same time, we recognise that the current design includes worthwhile active-transport and recreation initiatives. DIT proposes new running loops, improved east–west shared paths, pedestrian and cyclist refuges on Wakefield and Bartels roads, an upgraded bus stop and a new shared-use connection from Fullarton Road into the Park Lands.

Walking SA wants these improvements to form part of a connected, permanent and accessible walking network, rather than being considered simply as incidental benefits of the circuit.

Our recommendations are as follows:

1.  Keep people connected through the eastern Park Lands

The eastern Park Lands are not only a venue for closed off events. They form part of the everyday movement network between the city, Kent Town, Dulwich and surrounding neighbourhoods, as well as recreation and sporting users every day.

During construction and event operations, people should continue to have practical east–west and north–south walking and wheeling connections wherever this can safely be achieved.

Walking SA asks DIT to publish a stage-by-stage pedestrian and cycling access planshowing:

• which paths remain open;
• the exact dates and duration of closures;
• accessible alternative routes;
• additional walking distances created by diversions;
• connections to public transport and surrounding streets; and
• expected reopening

Areas should be closed only for as long as required for the works or event operations taking place, with completed sections reopened promptly.

Temporary access arrangements should work for people using wheelchairs, mobility scooters and prams, and for people with low vision. Detours should be assessed for gradients, crossfalls, surfaces, clear width, kerb transitions, lighting and safe road crossings.

2.  Create a permanent Fullarton Road crossing at Albert Street

Walking SA sees an important opportunity for the project to leave a permanent community benefit beyond the circuit itself.

We ask DIT, working with the City of Adelaide and City of Burnside, to investigate and deliver a signalised pedestrian and cyclist crossing of Fullarton Road at or near Albert Street, Dulwich, subject to detailed traffic and safety assessment.

The crossing would connect southern Dulwich directly with the Victoria Park/Pakapakanthi wetlands, the Park Lands trail network and destinations beyond.

This proposal complements, rather than duplicates, DIT’s proposed new east–west shared-use path from the existing Fullarton Road crossing into the Park Lands.

Together, these connections could significantly improve neighbourhood access to Victoria Park.

The assessment should consider:

• coordination with the nearby Greenhill Road traffic signals;
• pedestrian-actuated signal operation;
• traffic queues and the potential for vehicles to block the crossing;
• turning movements;
• sight distance;
• pedestrian crossing times;
• cyclist movements;
• accessible kerb ramps and waiting areas; and
• safe connections into paths on both sides of Fullarton

We do not assume that the Albert Street location is automatically feasible. However, there is a clear access need at this location. If detailed assessment determines that the crossing cannot safely be provided at Albert Street, DIT should identify the nearest practical alternative that provides substantially the same connection.

This should be investigated as part of the redevelopment rather than being deferred as an unrelated future project.

3.  Protect the Kent Town–Rundle Park connection

Walking SA also asks that access from Kent Town into Rundle Park/Kadlitpina be maintained at Rundle Road and Dequetteville Terrace.

Where temporary barriers interfere with existing kerb ramps or accessible paths, an accessible temporary connection should be installed before the existing route becomes unavailable.

This becomes particularly important when road closures alter the normal movement pattern through the area.

4.  Make detours understandable before people reach them

A technically available detour is not enough if people cannot find or use it. Walking SA asks for:

• advance warning of upcoming path closures;
• clear signs before walkers enter a route that later becomes blocked;
• signs at every decision point;
• pedestrian-facing information at major approaches such as Grant Avenue and Flinders Street;
• accessible online maps showing current routes;
• realistic additional walking distances; and
• printed information for people who do not use

Schools, hospitals, walking groups, residents and nearby businesses should receive advance information where their normal access is affected.

5.  Reduce the period in which the Park Lands are occupied

The community impact of an event is not limited to race days. It includes construction, setup, temporary infrastructure, road and path closures, event operations and dismantling.

Walking SA asks that the duration and footprint of each of these phases be publicly identified.

Infrastructure that is no longer needed after an event should be removed promptly. In particular, advertising attached to event barriers should not remain in the Park Lands between motorsport events.

A funded reinstatement program should cover damaged paths, turf, soil and vegetation and include clear completion dates.

6.  Ensure the proposed community improvements are genuinely available to the community

Walking SA acknowledges the proposed 2 km and 5 km running loops, shared-use paths, road-crossing improvements and public transport accessibility works.

These could deliver worthwhile everyday benefits.

For each improvement, the final project should identify:
who will deliver it, when it will be completed, who will maintain it and how much of the year it will actually be freely available to the public.

Paths should connect logically with the wider network and incorporate shade, seating, drinking water and accessible connections where appropriate.

The ability to walk or cycle on parts of the circuit outside events should not be treated as a substitute for maintaining the through-connections people require when other sections of the Park Lands are occupied.

7.  Retain mature trees and habitat wherever possible

DIT currently states that the project would remove 377 trees, including 42 significant trees, transplant another 88 and undertake further investigation of 22 trees. DIT also states that some existing native grassland in Victoria Park/Pakapakanthi will be affected and replaced, with the biodiversity area proposed to increase by 180 square metres.

Walking SA recognises the changes already made to the design to retain significant trees, including the realignment that DIT says protects the avenue of significant gums along Wakefield Road.

Nevertheless, retaining an established tree is fundamentally different from planting a replacement tree.

Walking SA therefore asks for continued independent arboricultural and ecological scrutiny of opportunities to avoid further removals.

Replacement planting should be measured not only by the number of trees planted but through longer-term outcomes such as: tree survival, canopy establishment, shade along walking routes, habitat quality and ecological connectivity.

Priority should also be given to protecting the Victoria Park wetlands, native grasslands and Chequered Copper butterfly habitat during construction.

8.  Assess the project against the value of the Park Lands every day of the year

Major events can bring visitors and activity to Adelaide. The same land, however, provides everyday recreation, walking access, nature, shade and open space throughout the year.

The assessment of the redevelopment should therefore consider the total period of public occupation and disruption, rather than event days alone.

Walking SA also asks that the Government publish sufficient information about public expenditure, ongoing maintenance, environmental outcomes and the assessment of alternative designs and locations to allow the community to understand the basis for the project.

Our preference remains that major motorsport activities should use a suitable purpose-built facility where that can avoid substantial impacts on the Adelaide Park Lands. We therefore ask that the assessment of alternative locations, including Tailem Bend, and alternative circuit designs be made publicly available. That assessment should consider circuit requirements, transport, necessary infrastructure, costs, community impacts and environmental impacts rather than assuming that any alternative location is automatically suitable.

9.  Leave the eastern Park Lands better connected

Regardless of the final decision on the redevelopment, there is an opportunity to improve walking connections through and around the eastern Park Lands.

Walking SA particularly seeks:

1. a permanent pedestrian and cyclist crossing of Fullarton Road at or near Albert Street;
2. reliable east–west and north–south walking routes through the Park Lands;
3. accessible access between Kent Town and Rundle Park;
4. permanent, connected active-transport improvements rather than isolated paths; and
5. measurable protection and restoration of trees, shade and

Walking SA support positive initiatives that genuinely seek community inputs, as well as recognising events in the Park Lands are guests, and there must be overall ‘public benefit, public good’ outcomes.