Forming a local branch of the National Trust was discussed at the Fernleigh Heritage Forum.
Redlands could soon have its own branch of the National Trust of Queensland if the efforts of a small working group come to fruition later this month.
Setting up a local branch of the National Trust would provide the Redlands community with a broad based organisation focused on heritage issues across the City.
Redlands has a number of much loved properties with heritage value including Ormiston House.
In recent years plans for development on the site of Willards Farm resulted in Redland City Council buying the property after community advocacy led by the Birkdale Progress Association.
Activities of the National Trust
The National Trust (Queensland) enables people to get involved in advocacy of heritage values and conservation of properties.
Membership of the National Trust has a range of benefits in Australia and overseas.
Advocacy is a core activity of the National Trust and its members have been representing community interests in the places of cultural heritage significance since the 1960’s.
The Trust’s website explains that it operates in the immediate surrounds (or where people live) but also looks to support heritage protection across Queensland, especially in remote areas.
Initially the Trust began a Register of places of significance and started campaigns to save places at risk.
Nowadays the Trust advocates for heritage both in the wider sphere and for specific cases. This is done through an Advocacy Committee, which meets regularly. This Committee ensures the Trust puts effort behind the projects which have greatest heritage value.
The Trust makes submissions to councils, and government organisations with planning powers over heritage places and encourages members to become involved in what is happening in the community around them.
The National Trust owns and manages a number of properties in Queensland including Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
Moves towards a Redlands Branch of the National Trust
Redlanders interested in preserving local heritage have already indicated that a local register of heritage places is needed.
Discussion about forming a Redlands Branch of the National Trust began at the Fernleigh Heritage Forum early this year.
Jonathan Fisher, the CEO of National Trust (Queensland), has been invited to speak at a public meeting in late September where he will explain how the local branch would operate and the benefits of being part of an organisation experienced in dealing with heritage issues.
Anyone interested in helping advance the understanding and protection of local heritage will be welcome to attend the meeting.
If you wish to attend please RSVP by email to thereporter@redlands2020.net
Redlands2030 – 30 August 2017
Please note: Offensive or off-topic comments will be deleted. If offended by any published comment please email thereporter@redlands2030.net
4 Comments
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service need to make themselves heard when we see blatant government sanctioned vandalism, such as the plan for Toondah Harbour. Wildlife can be impacted by poor decisions and since that word is part of QNPWS you people need to stand up and be heard on such issues. As regards the ding0 situation on Fraser Island you’re very happy to accept camping fees from visiting tourists so you need to handle the situation with dingoes. We read in the Editorial on P21 of this week’s Redland City Bulletin that dingo numbers are the fault of well meaning tourists but are they? These animals are natural scavengers but if you leave them half-starved in an area which is heavily populated with tourists some defenceless children will die, as they have already. You have the expertise to de-sex the majority, as we do with domestic dogs, so why do you just shoot the excess and then blame the tourists? We need to see some forward thinking at management level within the QNPWS.
We keep hearing that when the sand mining finishes in 2019 we can expect increases in ferry fares to North Stradbroke Island, as though they have been maintained at a low price till now. Allow me to give you a couple of facts. About 10-12 years ago I was paying $109 per vehicle for the return ferry fare. In 2012 when one company took over and had a monopoly the fares increased by 20% in that one year. The fares increased to $121 and then to $140 in a couple of years. Last year I was paying $160 for a vehicle and the return fare for this coming October is $180 per vehicle. One thing I can say for Stradbroke Ferries is that they have been a reliable service over this last 10 years but many of the local schools and colleges prefer to drive down to Northern NSW for the annual biology field trips because the ferry fares and accommodation on Straddie are too expensive.
A Branch of the National Trust might be able to “guide” Council to bring about a Redland City Heritage Strategy.
The Shire is blessed with a rich history but so much is under threat fro the development agenda of the Council. The new City Plan being but the latest example of a timid Council in the face of developer interests.
The National Trust is a conservative organisation and its voice in the debates over so many aspects of the history of Redlands and the conflicts between development and heritage will be better informed if the Branch is established.
I say, well done to all involved.
Two weeks ago the Redland City Bulletin had a story on their front page that was a half baked story and it angered a number of the Councillors. It was titled “Hospital fire risk” but the commissioner of the Emergency Fire Service had already addressed the issue, along with the whole of Council. So today there was a follow up article on P4 titled “Councillors trade insults over fire plan.” Instead of admitting that the first article was half-baked this follow up article just concentrated on the anger it generated because there were ulterior motives according to a number of the councillors. On the front page of today’s issue of Redland City Bulletin we have another half-baked story and this one is entitled “Back off dolphins.” As a senior marine biologist I can tell you that the evening dolphin feeding at Tangalooma does not threaten the independence or welfare of the dolphins and neither does the occasional feeding at Amity Point on North Stradbroke Island. You don’t need a PhD in biology to see right through this story. The fact is Tangalooma Resort pay a substantial amount of money to QNPWS for a Permit to carry out their feeding activity and they also care for any dolphin that has been attacked by sharks. Perhaps in time something similar will develop on North Stradbroke Island with the slightly smaller species of Indo Pacific Dolphins. Once National Parks are making some money out of it I don’t think they will be threatening big fines of up to $10,000. Isn’t it funny how the perspective changes when money is involved?