Nearly 400 trees will be removed in Adelaide’s eastern parklands to make way for a new MotoGP street circuit costing $96 million, the South Australian government has revealed.
Premier Peter Malinauskas has unveiled the design for a 4.13 kilometre-long circuit that is set to host MotoGP from November 2027.
The Tour Down Under would also race on the track from January 2028, the government announced.
The circuit redesign would see 42 significant trees felled, along with a further 335 of what the government has categorised as “regulated, unregulated, invasive, dead or poor health” trees.
A further 88 trees would be relocated while another 22 were “under investigation”, the premier said.
Premier Peter Malinauskas has unveiled the design for the circuit set to host MotoGP. (Carl Saville: ABC News)
Of the 22 trees under investigation, the premier said 15 were significant trees.
Mr Malinauskas said trees would be replaced on a 10 to 1 basis, meaning 3,770 trees would be planted.
The government would also procure a new temporary pit building, rather than a permanent building.
The premier said there had been some “conjecture” about a permanent building but admitted the government “did look at the options”.
Prior to the release of the plans, there had been protests about tree loss, with more than 43,000 people signing a petition calling for a halt to works.
The proposed Adelaide Circuit Redevelopment design. (Supplied)
“I don’t think this will stop the protests, I mean, people are entitled to protest against it regardless,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“But what it does do is makes it very clear that this government is committed to investing in our parklands.”
The bulk of the trees would be removed between Wakefield and Bartels Road.
Public consultation on the track will start on Monday and run until September 20.
A map showing the planned circuit. (Supplied: SA Government)
Mr Malinauskas said the government was “genuinely interested in the feedback it will receive”.
The new track would have 15 turns — up from 14 currently — and a 900-metre long straight along Dequetteville Terrace.
Top speeds for the MotoGP would be 343km/h while the Supercars would reach up to 265km/h, the government said.
It was also forecasting a $200 million a year economic benefit.