While opposition to the Adelaide MotoGP street circuit remains, the South Australian government has received federal approval to go ahead with redevelopment of the Victoria Park precinct to accommodate the track.
The federal environment regulator, acting under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, found that proposed works did not require a separate federal sign off, meaning redevelopment of existing track and related parkland areas to accommodate MotoGP can commence from December as originally planned.
At a press conference on 27 October that was attended by Dorna’s Carlos Ezpeleta, and soon-to-be MotoGP riders, Senna Agius and David Alonso, the South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas, announced that redevelopment of the city-based circuit had received the required federal approval.
Elements of the track that have been in place since the first international Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1985 will receive an upgrade to “facilitate international motorsport at the highest level”. The cost for this is estimated at $96 million (excluding pit facilities), with around 400 trees to be removed or relocated to make the 4.13km circuit safe for MotoGP. However, for every tree removed, Malinauskas says that ten new ones will be planted, as part of a broader $15 million investment in biodiversity across the parklands.
While acknowledging the commitment and dedication of MotoGP fans to Phillip Island, Malinauskas added a slight dig to the circuit’s distance from Melbourne as he touted Victoria Park’s proximity to Adelaide’s CBD.
“Visitors can land at [Adelaide] international airport, be in the city within twenty minutes, and then five minutes after that, be at the track. That is a very different experience from any other MotoGP circuit anywhere in the world. South Australia will be facilitating that first.”
Chris Picton, SA’s Minister for State Development, added: “This is incredibly exciting, getting the federal environmental protection agency’s green light for works to start on the MotoGP circuit.
“This new circuit has been designed to achieve a safe track, a fast, great racing track, but also to minimise environmental impacts from the track.”
The first Grand Prix of Australia in Adelaide is scheduled for 12-14 November, 2027.
