Wildlife carers are concerned possums and birds will become casualties of the North Adelaide golf course redevelopment as more trees are cut down.
Possums were seen being removed from trees this morning, as workers continued work which will see almost 600 trees cut down as part of the $45 million revamp of the golf course.
Save Our Wildlife Foundation chairperson Marian MacLucas said “Possum Park”, which is located near the River Torrens, was “the most viable possum habitat in the Adelaide park lands”.
She told 891 ABC Adelaide possums were “very territorial” and displaced animals may not be able to move into the possum boxes which were being placed at the site.
“They will be pushed to the ground and then they are at risk of predation, because we’ve got foxes and cats all throughout the Adelaide park lands,” she said.
She said ringtail possums had “a very small territory where they live and forage”, while brushtail possums tended to forage slightly further afield but needed “a warm hollow”.
Wildlife carers are concerned about the welfare of possums being relocated as part of the North Adelaide golf course redevelopment. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
In a statement, a spokesperson for Minister for Climate, Environment and Water Emily Bourke said “every tree” was being inspected before any work began and that “specialist fauna handlers” were assessing “the most appropriate relocation pathway, whether that be local relocation within the park lands or transfer to a sanctuary or alternative habitat site where required”.
“The possum population across the site has also been carefully mapped, with new possum boxes being installed throughout the area to support habitat continuity and wildlife outcomes,” the spokesperson said.
Ms MacLucas said relocating an adult possum that had a joey could also lead to separation between the pair.
She said ringtail possums build dreys — big nests which they lived in family groups — which she expected would be lost as the mature trees, including those with hollows, were removed.
“Possum boxes don’t provide the same sort of thermal protection that a tree does,” she said.
“I’d like to think that this was all Hollywood and it was all going to [go] beautifully well, but there will be wildlife lost, there will be disease.”
Workers were seen removing possums from trees at the North Adelaide golf club site on Tuesday. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
The government said that 1,700 new trees would be planted to “ultimately deliver a tree canopy expansion, including growing new trees offsite to ensure they are as mature as possible come planting”.
“Of course, we know that hollows take more than 100 years to form, so planting three saplings for one tree with hollows is not going to make one iota of difference to the possums that are currently living there,” Ms MacLucas said.
She said there had been little consultation with wildlife groups, who meet with the Department for Environment three to four times a year, about the redevelopment.
The government took control of the course from the Adelaide CIty Council two weeks ago.
Last week, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas announced South Australia had secured hosting rights for the men’s Australian Open golf tournament after weeks of uncertainty about the future of LIV Golf in Adelaide.
Jasmine Connellan from Hills Wildlife Guardians said she attended at the golf course on Monday “to help with any wildlife that was injured”.
She said a lorikeet was later found on the ground nearby, unable to fly.
It was not clear what caused the injury.
“It had a bit of blood coming out of its eye so, we rushed it to the vet where it had an extensive treatment,” Ms Connellan said.
“It was X-rayed and unfortunately it had a broken clavicle so the bird had to be euthanised.”
Workers began felling trees at the North Adelaide golf club redevelopment site this week. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
‘Utmost care’ being taken at site
The spokesperson for Ms Bourke said there were more than 9,000 trees on the redevelopment site, with the 585 to be removed “representing around six per cent of the total tree population on the site”.
“The project has been subject to extensive environmental assessment and planning, with a strong focus on protecting biodiversity and preserving the character of the park lands,” the spokesperson said.
“The utmost care is being taken during all tree removal works, with strict environmental management processes in place, including dedicated fauna identification and protection measures.
“Fauna handlers, ecologists and arborists are coordinating all activities on site during tree removals to ensure wildlife is appropriately protected throughout the process.”
The spokesperson said “comprehensive fauna population surveys” had been undertaken in the area, and confirmed that “no threatened species are expected to be impacted by the redevelopment”.
“This project is about delivering a world-class public golf course while ensuring environmental impacts are carefully managed and minimised through evidence-based planning and expert oversight,” the spokesperson said.