Public servant faces $4m damages bill in golf course fight

Edwin Kemp Attrill plans to lodge an injunction to stop works on the North Adelaide Golf Course. (Supplied: Edwin Kemp Attrill)

Edwin Kemp Attrill opposes the South Australian government's redevelopment of the North Adelaide Golf Course, which is already well underway.

The Crown solicitor said it might have to recover costs of up to $4 million if work had to stop and then restart on the project.

The public servant has called on the premier to meet him for a public debate on the issue on Saturday.

A public servant claims the South Australian government has threatened him with a $4 million damages bill if he takes planned legal action to stop the controversial North Adelaide Golf Course redevelopment.

Edwin Kemp Attrill and Kaurna woman Janette Milera intend to lodge an injunction in the Federal Court next week, calling for works in the Adelaide Parklands to come to a halt.

The controversial $45 million redevelopment was green-lit after the state government passed legislation to take control of that portion of the parklands from the Adelaide City Council a year ago.

It followed the announcement that SA had secured the hosting rights to the LIV Golf tournament until 2031, with events from 2028 to be held at a redeveloped North Adelaide Golf Course.

The $45 million redevelopment of the North Adelaide Golf Course has been bankrolled by the state government. (Supplied: SA government)

The plans set aside 585 trees for removal and when the chainsaws roared to life in May, it fuelled protests in the parklands and on the steps of Parliament House.

Almost all of the trees have been cut down but work is continuing on other upgrades to the golf course.

Mr Kemp Attrill argued the state government should have referred the redevelopment to federal Environment Minister Murray Watt if there was a likelihood the work would impact on national heritage or environmental values of the site because of the its place on the National Heritage List.

His lawyer, Ted Hui, requested works stop and that the matter be referred to Mr Watt.

Protesters on the steps of Parliament House on May 13. (ABC News: Sarah Maunder)

Mr Hui had previously estimated Mr Kemp Attrill could be required to pay the government $50,000–$100,000 if he lost.

But in a letter to Mr Hui and the principal of Mr Hui's law firm, Nathan White, the Crown solicitor said the "actual cost to the state of any potential delay brought by this action would be closer to $40,000 per day to temporarily stand down works".

"If demobilisation and subsequent remobilisation were required, further costs in the order of