North Adelaide Public Golf Course Bill

Introduction and First Reading

Received from the House of Assembly and read a first time.

Second Reading

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (23:08): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I seek leave to have the second reading explanation and explanation of clauses inserted in Hansard without my reading them.

Leave granted.

LIV Golf Adelaide has delivered major economic benefits to South Australia, contributing 136 million dollars to the economy in its first two years alone. LIV Golf has served as a vehicle to showcase South Australia to a global audience, with a broadcast reach of more than 500 million viewers across 80 countries.

The inaugural event in 2023 attracted over 77,000 attendees, with 43,000 international visitors to Australia from 37 countries. The 2024 tournament drew more than 94,000 attendees and generated over 79,000 visitor nights. During this event, approximately 40% of ticket holders came from outside South Australia.

Proving the event's popularity, 2025 delivered bigger and better impacts for the State with a record 102,000 attendees.

Adelaide has hosted the Australian fixture at The Grange Golf Club since the first event 2023. The initial agreement to host LIV Golf in Adelaide was for 2 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years up to 2026.

The State has secured an extension of the LIV Golf Agreement for a period to 2031. The North Adelaide Golf Course will be the exclusive home of LIV Golf in Australia following a redevelopment by Greg Norman Course Design. This firm has delivered more than one hundred iconic courses across 34 countries and six continents.

The redevelopment of the North Adelaide Golf Course is necessary to provide the required facilities and amenities to accommodate year-round use for the public, world-best tournaments, and tourism to South Australia.

Our National Heritage Listed Park Lands has had a Golf Links since the late 19th Century. As part of the evolution of the precinct, the North Adelaide Golf Course was developed in the early 20th century and is the most centrally located golf course complex in any Australian capital city.

The necessary redevelopment the North Adelaide Golf Course carries arguably the greatest potential of any public owned golf facility in the country. The development will make it a world class, landmark venue to secure major tournaments, as well as drive national and international visitation and tourism to South Australia.

Considering its unique location within the Adelaide Parklands and sightlines to the Adelaide CBD and River Torrens a new North Adelaide Golf Course is an amazing platform on which to showcase our state to the rest of the world.

The economic potential of golf tourism is significant, with the average domestic and international golf traveller spending significantly more per trip than non-golf travellers in Australia.

When a round of golf is played there is a 43% increase in spend on international trips. The average spend increases by 38% on interstate travel and 72% on intrastate trips. This is an economic multiplier which adds to our multibillion-dollar tourism industry.

The redevelopment will create one of the world's best public golf courses for year-round use for all South Australians. No matter who you are, or your background, this will remain a public golf course, in public hands.

Golf has seen unprecedented growth across Australia in the past 5 years. Emerging is an increasingly younger and more diverse player base. Off-course and alternative format golf also tends to attract a younger audience due to the reduced barriers to entry such as time constraints. Off-course golf often acts as a feeder to more formal participation and future growth within the sport.

The existing North Adelaide Golf Course is currently comprised of two 18-Hole Courses on approximately 75 hectares of Park Lands, together with one Par 3 course. The current golf course does not contain a dedicated driving range facility or the amenities and infrastructure for the development of the sport at the scale required. This is also about getting more people, more active, more often.

The City of Adelaide has through successive Councils have investigated options for the redevelopment of the North Adelaide Golf Course but this has never progressed. The operations of the existing golf course are also limited by restrictions on current permitted uses.

It is essential that we respond to the economic opportunity which has presented itself. A new North Adelaide Golf Course will create an accessible, high-quality public golf venue encouraging expanded accessibility that caters to golfers of every age and skill level.

The redevelopment will enhance the Adelaide Parklands for both non-golfers and golfers alike. The upgrades will connect spaces to improve public access and movement in and out of the city through the Parklands. This is incredibly important due to the increase in development at key areas such as Southwark and Bowden.

This legislation will ensure the redevelopment of the North Adelaide Golf Course can go ahead as soon as possible to host the LIV Golf Adelaide Tournament in 2028. This will not occur at the expense of the Adelaide Parkland's public amenity, environmental importance or character.

The State Government and the City of Adelaide have already been working together on the initial design and planning activities for the redevelopment works. The legislation commits a positive duty to consult with Council on the development and to resolve the future ownership and operating structure of the North Adelaide Golf Course.

The redevelopment of the North Adelaide Golf Course will be constructed on what is defined in the legislation as the 'project site'. The 'project site' will include the area currently operating as the North Adelaide Golf Course as well as the intention to include Park 27A—also known as John E Brown Park. The use of Park 27A will see the transformation of an underutilised area of the parklands to provide more useable space and will reduce the impact on trees.

The legislation has outlined a significant protection of trees within the Golf Course precinct. For every tree removed, no less than 3 new trees, or seedlings must be planted within the project site or support zones. This policy for vegetation management will provide significant visual and environmental enhancements to the Parklands and Golf Course.

The legislation also ensures that the future operations and maintenance of the golf course are not restricted and allows the staging of tournaments and other events as required.

Under the Planning Development and Infrastructure Act 2016, the redevelopment of the North Adelaide Golf Course will be classified by the Planning and Design Code as 'deemed-to-satisfy'

This approach will ensure that planning controls will still remain and building rules consent will be required, mandating the quality, safety and integrity of any facilities constructed.

It is important to highlight the cultural significance of the Adelaide Parklands for the Kaurna people. The application of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 is not affected by this legislation. No ground disturbing works will proceed without consultation with Traditional Owners and relevant approvals under the Act.

The legislation establishes safeguards and limitations on various components of the site and its surroundings. To avoid environmental impact, it defines the project site and support zones which will be utilised to facilitate construction but with clear limits about what can occur in these zones.

The support zones are explicitly for developing facilities and amenities for the golf course and the future staging of events. Additionally, the legislation imposes an ongoing obligation for those areas to be made good once their use is complete.

This is a project that will facilitate the redevelopment of the North Adelaide Golf Course to be a world-class facility which will support world-class events. The Golf Course will remain as a public golf course, for anyone and everyone to enjoy.

The redevelopment will enhance and protect the environmental features of the Adelaide Parklands and builds on South Australia's presence on the global stage. This is a project which builds and drives economic, social and community benefits for generations of South Australians to come.

Explanation of Clauses

Part 1—Preliminary

1—Short title

This clause is formal.

2—Commencement

The measure will commence on assent.

3—Interpretation

This clause inserts definitions for the purposes of the measure.

4—Effect of Act

The measure has effect despite any other Act or law of the State. It applies to land notwithstanding the provisions of the Real Property Act 1886 and the Land Acquisition Act 1969 does not apply to a vesting of land under the measure.

Part 2—Project site

5—Project site

The project site will be delineated in a plan or plans to be deposited in the GRO and identified by the Minister by notice in the Gazette but is to include the area currently operating as the North Adelaide Golf Course as well as Park 27A in the North Adelaide parklands and certain road reserve areas in the vicinity of such land.

6—Cancellation of leases and licences

All leases and licences existing in relation to the project site are to be cancelled in accordance with this clause.

7—Preparations for handover of project site

This clause requires the Minister to consult with Adelaide City Council in relation to the handover day. The Council must vacate and handover possession of the site to the Minister on or before the designated handover day and the Minister is able to issue directions to the Council to ensure an orderly handover.

8—Vesting and care, control etc of project site

On handover day the project site vests in the designated Minister in an estate in fee simple, free from all dedications, encumbrances, estates and interests other than those indicated in the plan or plans deposited under clause 5. The Minister to whom administration of the Act is committed is vested with care, control, management and use of the site.

Part 3—Carrying out the project

9—Consultation requirements and protocol

This clause requires certain consultation to be undertaken by the Minister with the Adelaide City Counsel and the development of a consultation protocol.

10—Application of Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988

The Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 applies in relation to any Aboriginal sites, objects or remains found in the course of the carrying out of the project on the project site or the support zones.

11—Application of Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 etc

This clause specifies requirements of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 the are to apply to a development proposed to be undertaken, for the purposes of the project, on the project site or the support zones and that such development will be taken to be classified by the Planning and Design Code as deemed-to-satisfy development for the purposes of that Act (and that the State Planning Commission will be taken to be the relevant authority for all purposes under that Act).

12—Application of other State laws to project

Except as is specified in clauses 10 and 11 or as may be determined by the Minister by notice in the Gazette, no assessment, decision, consent, approval, authorisation, certificate, licence, permit or permission and no consultation, inquiry, notification, process or other procedural step is required under a State law in connection with the project or the performance of functions under the measure.

13—Requirements relating to trees

The Minister must ensure that for every tree that is removed during the project not less than 3 new trees are planted within the project site and support zones.

14—Support zones

Support zones and support services and facilities are defined. Specified powers are conferred on the Minister for the purposes of the provision of support services and facilities in support zones in connection with the development on the project site. Provision is also made in relation to the exercise of those powers.

15—Roads

The Minister is authorised to open or close any roads in connection with the development on the project site (both temporarily and on an ongoing basis).

16—Minister may make provision in relation to vesting etc of project land, structures or property

This clause allows the Minister to make provision in relation to land, structures and property by instrument in writing, in order to implement leasing or other arrangements that may be agreed between the Minister and the Adelaide City Council or for any other purpose connected with the operation of the measure that the Minister thinks fit.

Part 4—Operation of golf course

17—Interpretation

This clause defines certain terms used in the Part. The Part applies to the North Adelaide Golf Course as in operation following the completion of the project.

18—General operation of golf course

Subject to this Part, following the project the North Adelaide Golf Course must continue to operate as a public golf course and must not have permanent fencing around its perimeter for the purpose of excluding members of the public from the course (subject to subclause (2)).

19—Use of golf course for approved events

The Minister can, by notice in the Gazette, approve an event, specify a declared period for the event and temporarily close any roads as needed.

20—Minister to have care, control etc of golf course for declared period

The care, control, management and use of the land comprising the North Adelaide Golf Course vests in the Minister (to the extent that it is not already so vested) for the declared period for an approved event and the rights or interests of any other person in or in relation to the land are suspended.

21—Approved event support zones

Support zones may be created for an approved event in accordance with this clause. No permanent buildings may be constructed pursuant to this clause and the Minister must, after the end of the declared period for the approved event, ensure that the public amenity of the approved event support zones is restored.

22—Temporary fencing of land by Minister

This clause deals with fencing for the purposes of an event.

23—Application of Major Events Act 2013

This clause allows the regulations to modify the application of the Major Events Act 2013 in respect of an approved event.

24—Application of certain laws to events and activities

Various laws do not apply during an approved event and an activity carried on by or with the permission of the Minister on the North Adelaide Golf Course will not constitute a nuisance.

25—Application of Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016

Future development on the North Adelaide Golf Course land will be taken to be classified by the Planning and Design Code as deemed-to-satisfy development for the purposes of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016. The Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 does not, however, apply to or in relation to any works within the North Adelaide Golf Course or an approved event support zone that are certified by the Minister as being necessary or desirable in connection with the conduct of an approved event.

Part 5—Miscellaneous

26—Other actions to give effect to Act etc

This clause provides for the making of alterations to the Planning and Design Code (or other instruments), that are, in the opinion of the Minister, necessary or desirable to give effect to this Act or for the ongoing operation of any facilities on the project site or support zones. The clause also provides for the grant of a statutory authorisation at the request of the Minister if that is, in the opinion of the Minister, necessary or desirable to give effect to this Act, for the ongoing operation of any facilities on the project site or in connection with an approved event (whether on the project site or an approved event support zone).

27—Delegation

This is a delegation power for the Minister.

28—Duties of Registrar-General

The Registrar-General may be required to take certain steps for or in connection with action taken under the Act.

29—Evidentiary provision

This clause provides for facilitation of proof of certain matters by evidentiary certificate of the Minister.

30—Certain fees etc not payable

Fees and charges are not payable to the Adelaide City Council in respect of the exercise of functions under the measure.

31—Regulations

Regulations contemplated by, or that are necessary or desirable for the purposes of, the measure may be made by the Governor.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. D.G.E. Hood.