Residents blast Elon Musk’s ‘ugly’ Tesla plan in Aussie suburb
The world's richest man, Musk has faced mounting backlash in recent months, now Australians are joining in.
Passionate southern residents are opposing a plan to build a Tesla factory on an abandoned community reserve, with residents calling the proposal “ugly” and saying it would be a “billionaire shrine that would destroy the planet.”
In April, the council of Marion, southwest of Adelaide, proposed selling Chestnut Court Reserve to build a Tesla battery factory, service center, and showroom, citing potential financial benefits. However, many residents strongly opposed the project, expressing concerns about its controversial owner, Elon Musk, and the loss of green space.
Musk, the world’s richest man, has faced growing criticism in recent months due to his close involvement in the 2024 US election, his personal ties to President Donald Trump, and his deep cuts to public services as head of the US Department of Government Efficiency.
Tesla factories and showrooms around the world have recently attracted hundreds of protesters opposed to Elon Musk’s political plans, a scene Adelaide residents fear could be repeated if the proposed site goes ahead. Why are residents opposed to a new Tesla factory in Adelaide?
Why are locals against a new Tesla factory in Adelaide?
Although the Chestnut Court Reserve has been closed since 2016 due to pollution from historical industrial activity, approximately 90% of the nearly 1,000 community responses rejected the proposal. 897 participants voted against the project, while only 57 voted in favor.
Local community members created a website called “Trees Not Teslas” to oppose the facility, claiming it could “soon spark protests in the area and damage the community’s image.”
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The website states: “Clearing this public land involves the removal of 58 trees, including mature trees that help cool the neighborhood and support biodiversity. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. Replacing these lost trees with new seedlings does not compensate for the damage, and the growth of new seedlings is not guaranteed.”
Soil pollution, exacerbated by past industrialization (including car manufacturing) in the region, is worse and more widespread than most people realize.
Building a factory on it will be pointless, and private companies’ promises to clean up and decontaminate public land are a farce. The government should, and can, commit to clearing the land itself.
Marion City Councillor Sarah Luscombe opposes the idea. She said the council should consider alternatives.
“If the council wanted to do more to activate the land, it could put out a tender to more local businesses that could innovate and use the land to conserve biodiversity and improve tree cover,” Luscombe told the Adelaide Advertiser.
The land is located in two areas owned by the state and the council, and Tesla is reportedly seeking to purchase the entire area. This issue is expected to be discussed at the next council meeting.
