Latest news with #TreesNotTeslas
The Guardian
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Fight to stop Tesla project in South Australia to continue after council approval
An anonymous group of Adelaide activists will keep fighting to stop Elon Musk's Tesla from setting up a battery factory in the suburbs. Tesla has been targeted globally by protesters furious at Musk's work with the Trump administration, and at his ideology which the billionaire often espouses through his social media platform, X. This week that anger boiled over in the South Australian capital, half a world away from Washington DC. About 95% of the nearly 1,000 submissions were opposed to a proposal to build a Tesla showroom and battery recycling and repurposing factory. Many expressed 'anti-Tesla and anti-Elon Musk sentiment'. For decency, the local council redacted the language in some submissions to describe Musk and Tesla. 'We should not support and put money in the pockets of a [redacted] who openly [redacted] salutes, is [redacted] human,' said one. The world's richest man has announced he will leave his role in the department of government efficiency, which has slashed jobs and funding for US government agencies with often chaotic and devastating effects. He is pivoting back to his businesses, including Tesla, amid slumping sales. Meanwhile in Adelaide, the Marion city council overrode community objections and approved the factory project to proceed to the next stage, which will need state government approval. The council said the project would bring in 100 jobs and millions of dollars to the community. But the protest movement 'Trees not Teslas' is determined to fight on. While conservation groups and others were protesting against the Tesla project because of the need to remove trees on the land where the plant would be built, Trees not Teslas also fired people up over Musk himself. 'Neon' from Trees not Teslas did not want to use his real name, in part for fear of reprisals and in part because the group considers itself a collective. He said the traction the group got was 'wild', with their website getting thousands of views, but he acknowledged it was impossible to work out how much influence they ultimately had. Neon said the fight will continue, as the state government considers whether to approve the council's proposal to revoke the site's status as community land. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email 'We just move that further up. We have to. We move that into actions for the state government,' Neon said. 'We spread more awareness. We try to get more people involved. It now becomes not just a council issue but a fundamental state issue.' He said they started the campaign primarily to protect the trees on the site. '… our main focus was the trees … we're looking to preserve green spaces,' he said. 'We're very pro-electric vehicle and pro-green energy. 'But the industry that destroys green spaces is … green in name only.' The council argued that the space had not been publicly accessible since 2016 because of contamination. Neon said trees can help remediate the land. He also echoed comments made by the councillor Sarah Lascombe, who voted against the proposal, that the factory would only recycle or repurpose Tesla batteries, when most people use other brands. While the discussion has centred around electric vehicle batteries, it is possible the site could also recycle and repurpose Powerwall batteries. Guardian Australia has contacted Tesla for comment. Neon said the council voting eight to three to seek state government approval despite the community objections made the public consultation process seem like a box-ticking exercise. The mayor, Kris Hanna, said the project would bring jobs and an income stream into the community, and that Tesla would just set up elsewhere, if not in Marion. Tesla, Hanna said, had pledged to retain most significant trees and replace more trees than it was required to. Neon said the established trees would be replaced with saplings, removing many of their benefits. The state premier, Peter Malinauskas, said earlier this week that major industrial developments were welcome in the state and that while he 'violently' disagreed with Musk's politics, they were 'his prerogative'. A state government spokesperson said the government welcomed investment and job creation in SA and would consider the proposal.
Epoch Times
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Epoch Times
SA Premier Backs Elon Musk's Planned Tesla Factory Amid Local Opposition
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has backed a plan for a Tesla factory in the state despite protest from activist group 'Trees Not Teslas.' Developer MAB CCT is seeking to build a factory for Tesla tenancy in the suburb of Tonsley in Adelaide. The facility would establish a long-term tenancy for Tesla, enable the repurposing of Tesla batteries, and create a showroom for Tesla vehicles. However, Trees Not Teslas has set up a webpage encouraging the community to oppose this development, arguing that it destroys green spaces and is linked to CEO Elon Musk. 'Associating with a company like Tesla (and subsequently Elon Musk) risks bringing protests to the area, gives the community a bad image, and hurts Tonsley's reputation,' the activist group SA Premier Defends Tesla But Malinauskas told reporters that Tesla has a 'pretty good track record in South Australia,' especially when it came to renewables. 'Any time we see any big, major industrial investment in our state, in my view, it is welcome,' he told reporters. Related Stories 5/25/2025 5/21/2025 Malinauskas indicated he disagreed with Musk's politics but added, 'If he wants to spend money in South Australia, creating jobs for South Australians, I'm fine with that.' Development Details The City of Marion Council is proposing to sell community land in Tonsley to the developer at market value, council documents show The proposed development site is the former Mitsubishi Motors Australia plant, and now forms part of the Tonsley Innovation District, where Tesla has a presence. The council argued in its public consultation letter that the facility would create 100 jobs, financially benefit the council, and generate revenue. 'Tesla have an existing presence at Tonsley and strong connection to the clean technology energy agenda of the Tonsley Innovation Precinct,' City of Marion 'Chestnut Court Reserve has not been accessible to the public since 2016 due to contamination concerns. Through the sale of the land, MAB CCT Pty Ltd would be required to address the contamination to support a future development application.' In response to the public consultation on the proposal Among submissions opposing the development, there was an 'anti-Tesla and anti-Elon Musk sentiment.' The responses reflected 'distrust of Musk's influence,' 'disapproval of Tesla as a company,' and 'moral objections,' according to the City of Marion May 27 report. 'Several submissions reflect strong ideological opposition to Elon Musk and Tesla,' the report stated. It noted the feedback did not relate to the site or project-specific impacts, but instead reflected broader fears. 'They introduce complex global issues into a local planning context,' the council added. However, despite this criticism, council officers argued the project offered innovation, economic, and employment advantages. 'Despite ideological and environmental critiques, the proposal offers significant benefits that appear to outweigh the objections. The land is currently unused because it is contaminated with all council assets being demolished over 10 years ago,' council officers argued. 'It is unlikely that this land would ever be considered suitable for residential occupation again, however, its use as an extension of the Tonsley Precinct and the location for a new factory/warehouse focusing on battery repurposing, vehicle servicing and showroom functions is a good use for land that is currently under-utilised. In conclusion, council officers said the benefits outweighed the 'geopolitical of symbolic' criticisms expressed in submissions. 'While several objections to the proposal refer to ideological opposition to Elon Musk or Tesla's global position, these do not directly undermine the local merits of the developer's proposal,' they said. Shares Surge After Musk Returns However, Tesla shares were up 5.34 percent in U.S. markets on May 27 in response to Musk announcing he would be back to working at his companies. 'Back to spending 24/7 at work and sleeping in conference/server/factory rooms. I must be super focused on X/xAI and Tesla (plus Starship launch next week), as we have critical technologies rolling out,' Musk posted to X. Musk's Tesla, created in 2003, is the world's top-selling electric vehicle brand and dominates EV markets globally. His signature EVs include Model S, Model X, Model 3, Model Y, Cybertruck, and the upcoming Roadster high-performance sports car.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Residents blast Elon Musk's 'ugly' Tesla plan in Aussie suburb
Passionate residents in the south are pushing back against a plan to build a Tesla factory on a disused community reserve, with locals describing the proposal as "ugly", saying it would be a "planet-destroying temple to billionaires". In April, Marion Council, in Adelaide's southwest, proposed selling Chestnut Court Reserve for a Tesla battery factory, service centre, and showroom, citing the potential financial benefits. However, many residents strongly opposed the plan, sharing concerns over its controversial owner, Elon Musk and the loss of green space. The world's richest man, Musk has faced mounting backlash in recent months for his close involvement in the 2024 US election, his personal ties to President Donald Trump, and sweeping cuts to public services in his role as head of the US Department of Government Efficiency. Tesla factories and showrooms around the world have recently drawn hundreds of protesters opposing Elon Musk's political ventures — a scene Adelaide residents fear could be replicated if the proposed site goes ahead. While the Chestnut Court Reserve has remained closed since 2016 due to contamination stemming from historical industrial activity, some 90 per cent of nearly 1000 community consultation responses rejected the proposal. A total of 897 respondents voted against the project, while just 57 were in favour. Community members have created a website dubbed "Trees Not Teslas" to oppose the facility, stating that it could soon "bring protests to the area and give the community a bad image". Hundreds of Teslas in Aussie car park exposes grim truth for Musk Warning after Tesla footage shows 'stupid' act that can cop a $2,200 fine Tesla's Australian nightmare continues as EV sales tank again "Clearing this public land will mean removing 58 trees, including mature trees that help cool the neighbourhood and support biodiversity. Once they're gone, they're gone. Replacing these lost trees by replanting saplings does not offset the harm, and new sapling growth can't be guaranteed," the site read. "The ground contamination, which was exacerbated by previous manufacturing (including car manufacturing) in the area, is larger and more widespread than most realise. "Putting a factory on top of it will not help, and promises from private companies to clean and decontaminate public land are ahistorical. The government should, and can, commit to decontaminating the land itself." City of Marion councillor Sarah Luscombe is against the idea. She said council should look at alternatives. "If council wants to do more to activate the land, then it could be put out to open tender to more local companies who could innovate and do something with the land for conservation biodiversity (and) improve tree canopy," Ms Luscombe told The Adelaide Advertiser. The land is positioned in two areas owned by the state and council, with Tesla reportedly looking to purchase the whole area. The issue is set to be discussed at the next council meeting. Yahoo News has contacted the City of Marion for comment. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
