In July we found out that Redland City Council broke the law when it cleared a number of trees in a coastal area near Carolena Street in Cleveland. The illegal tree clearing happened in April 2013, eleven months after the current Redland City Council was elected.
Councillor Hardman
The Councillor elected in 2012 to represent Division 3 (where the illegal tree clearing occurred) is Kim-Maree Hardman. A number of questions about the illegal tree clearing have been put to her by email. More than five weeks have passed but so far no response has been received, other than a brief acknowledgement sent by Council staff on her behalf.
It has been pointed out to Councillor Hardman that the questions raised are matters of public interest. The relevant emails are reprinted below.
Redlands2030 is concerned about the possibility that people in Division 3 are not being adequately represented by Councillor Hardman. If you have any examples of dealings with her which might shine a light on her performance (favorable or otherwise) then tell us your story.
31 July 2014
Councillor Hardman
Could you please provide some information about Council’s clearing of trees near Carolena Street in Cleveland, as discussed recently in the Redland City Bulletin:
http://www.redlandcitybulletin.com.au/story/2441642/updated-council-guilty-of-illegal-tree-clearing/?cs=213
Area of vegetation illegally cleared by Redland City Council in April 2013 photographed 15 months later
Council’s tree clearing in this area concerned me when it happened in April 2013. The act of clearing appeared to be completely pointless. The stealth with which the operation was conducted also concerned me. I have walked past the cleared areas two or three times a week since then and they remain areas of desolation. I attach a couple of photos which show what this area looks like now, in case you are not familiar with it.
This incident is of widespread community concern. It raises important questions about Council’s decision making processes, management systems and respect for the law.
Some specific questions that I would like you to answer are as follows:
1. Who petitioned for these trees to be cleared (petitioner’s names are usually public information)?
2. Who at Redland City Council approved the tree clearing?
3. Were the Mayor and any of the Councillors involved in or aware of the plan?
4. When was Council first made aware of the fact that this tree clearing was illegal and what was its initial response?
5. Why was this illegal action by Council not disclosed to the public?
6. What discussions took place between Council and the State Government?
7. Why has 15 months elapsed with no re-vegetation to this area?
8. What has Council done to improve its legal compliance procedures?
I am directing these questions to you because this tree clearing occurred in Division 3 which you represent. I am sure that the community would welcome some strong action by you to shed light on this matter.
I look forward to your response.
Regards
Chris Walker
View from the felled tree’s perspective 15 months after the illegal clearing by Redland City Council
12 August 2014
From: Lynn Waugh
THE FOLLOWING EMAIL IS SENT ON BEHALF OF KIM-MAREE HARDMAN, COUNCILLOR FOR DIVISION 3
Our ref: DW8215541
Dear Mr Walker
Thank you for your email dated 31 July regarding clearing of trees near Carolena Street, Cleveland.
I have forwarded your email to Council officers for advice and will respond to you more fully once that information is to hand.
I appreciate you taking the time to write to me.
Yours sincerely
Cr Kim-Maree Hardman
Councillor for Division 3
12 August 2014
Councillor Hardman
I note the acknowledgement by Lynn Waugh of my email to you about my questions of you which were:
1. Who petitioned for these trees to be cleared (petitioner’s names are usually public information)?
2. Who at Redland City Council approved the tree clearing?
3. Were the Mayor and any of the Councillors involved in or aware of the plan?
4. When was Council first made aware of the fact that this tree clearing was illegal and what was its initial response?
5. Why was this illegal action by Council not disclosed to the public?
6. What discussions took place between Council and the State Government?
7. Why has 15 months elapsed with no re-vegetation to this area?
8. What has Council done to improve its legal compliance procedures?
I look forward to Council’s response to these questions which are all matters of public interest.
Regards
Chris Walker
21 August 2014
Councillor Hardman
It is now three weeks since I emailed this request for information to you.
The questions that I have raised are important and are matters of considerable public interest.
I do not understand why it would take this long to provide the answers to my questions since they relate to matters which have been under active consideration by the Council.
I would appreciate your reassurance that this matter is being given your full attention, and some indication as to when I might receive the information that I have requested.
Regards
Chris Walker
28 August 2014
Councillor Hardman
Four weeks have passed and you have not responded to my request for information about Council’s illegal clearing of trees.
Could you please advise when I might get the information that I have asked you to provide.
If I do not get a response from you by the end of this month I will have to consider alternative courses of action.
Chris Walker
Please note: Offensive or off-topic comments will be deleted. If offended by any published comment please email thereporter@redlands2030.net
5 Comments
You’ll be waiting a longtime for this councillor to respond. She hasn’t responded to any question put forward by residents in her electorate.
Its a trick question: before you answer you need intelligence and knowledge so that you respond appropriately. If you have neither then maybe but shutting up it will go away and blissful ignorance can prevail
Don’t hold your breath, going on past performance she is missing in action; maybe at the ballet lessons, or home doing some cleaning. I believe she justifies it, claiming that Mayor Williams said if she runs she only needs to be at Council twice a month for General Meetings, So for $100,000 a year wage not bad hourly rate.
Toni,
Deja vu all over again … and again 🙁
Toni
Dija vu all over again and again.
Isn’t it amazing how things never change. At least she wasn’t building houses or so drunk at meetings they had to be poured into a cab. And then there’s the “Farmer”/ councillor ( ?) I mean developer who commuted from his flower farm ….where was it Bundy ? to satisfy the the rules.
There was the the Cr who well chopped trees down after their building approval had expired but was later renewed .
Or the Cr who was going to send his ‘girlfriend’ to “mayoress school” pity about his wife …
It reminds me of the adage once is a mistake, twice is a habit but more than that is potentially a psychosis in need of help.
And then there was the greenie Cr who had the trees in front of their house cleared
There is clearly one rule for the plebs and a different standard by those who learn the true meaning of representation and accountability through their butts on council leather.
The council has always be a cess pit of self serving interests/ignorance and narcissistic ego and sadly always will be