You may have heard about the South Australia Police’s proposed new barracks being located in Mirnu Wirra Park 21 West in the Adelaide Park Lands - home to a Bush For Life site and significant remnant native bushland and habitat. We are working hard behind the scenes to save this precious part of the Park Lands.
Trees For Life is maintaining pressure on the State Government to protect our precious Mirnu Wirra. Thank you to everyone who has been actively supporting this campaign. Please keep up the pressure by writing to the Premier the Hon Peter Malinauskas: [email protected].
There are also more activities coming up for you to show your support:
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Thursday 25 May, 9.30am-4.30pm, join Bush For Life for a Bushcare Workshop in Adelaide, which includes a field trip to Mirnu Wirra. More details here.
- Between 28 May and 4 June you’re invited to participate in art activities that highlight how precious this area is. More details here. Email Jacqui at Hunter Gatherings for more information.
- Saturday 27 May, 2.00pm-3.30pm, Digital drawing workshop at Mirnu Wirra. Find more information and register here.
- Sunday 4 June, from 12.30pm, join the Adelaide Park Lands Association, Trees For Life, Conservation SA, Nature Conservation Society of South Australia, and Butterfly Conservation South Australia Inc. for a picnic rally to ‘Provide cover for Mirnu Wirra’. More details here and don’t forget your umbrellas!
We’re excited to share that Gerry Butler, Chairman of Butterfly Conservation SA (BCSA), has confirmed BCSA member Greg Coote made a positive identification on Monday 10 April 2023, of a female Chequered copper (Lucia limbaria) butterfly in Mirnu Wirra/Park 21W, which has now doubled the records on iNaturalist for this species. This proves the site is home to this rare butterfly (also known as the ‘Small Copper’ and ‘Grassland Copper’) which needs a diverse range of species, including native sorrel and native grasses, for its unique breeding traits – with the caterpillars being raised by ants.
Media
This story by InDaily illustrates "how this southwest pocket of the Park Lands is both significant and 'precious'." I was also interviewed by Jules Schiller on Drive on ABC Adelaide (interview starts at 1.22.20).
Media coverage compilation of the Rally to save Mirnu Wirra on Saturday 1 April. Thank you to Adelaide Park Lands Association for compiling this and to everyone who attended and was interviewed.
Letters
We have sent letters to Susan Close MP (Minister for Climate, Environment and Water), Nick Champion MP (Minister for Planning) and Joe Szakacs MP (Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) as well as Police Commissioner Grant Stevens. We encourage you to also write.
Joe Szakacs MP: [email protected]
Lucy Hood MP: [email protected]
Grant Stevens, Commissioner of Police: GPO Box 1539, Adelaide, SA 5001 (no email provided).
We also sent a letter to The Hon Tania Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water and the Australian Heritage Council about the impact on heritage and biodiversity values on our Park Lands.
Petition
Councillor for Goodwood Ward, City of Unley, Chris Crabbe has started a petition which we also encourage you to sign and circulate.
Briefing paper
This document describes why Mirnu Wirra (Park 21W or Golden Wattle Park) is one of Adelaide’s hidden biodiversity treasures, overflowing with wildflowers, native grass meadows, birds and butterflies and why an alternative location must be found.
Natasha Davis
CEO, Trees For Life