Parks back-flip, koala laws and Birkdale units discussed by Redland City Council

Redland City Council Meeting had its last general meeting of the year on 9 December 2015.
Here is a link to the Council’s meeting minutes. You can watch a video of the meeting or listen to an audio recording.
Some of the matters discussed at the meeting are detailed below.

Council back-flips on park sell-off

In response to community feedback about plans to rezone and sell off Council parks, councillors voted for a mayoral proposal (item 12.2) to cease work on rezoning and selling off land currently zoned ‘environmental protection’, ‘conservation’ and ‘open space’.
This decision does not preclude the Council from making decisions in relation to other properties it owns which are suitably zoned for development such as the Doig Street car park.
During discussion of this item words like “leaked list”, “scaremongering” and “outrage” were bandied about depending upon which councillor was speaking at the time.
The resolution adopted by Council clearly stated that it would cease its transfer to Redland Investment Corporation of ‘environmental protection’, ‘conservation’ and ‘open space’ land. Council also voted (item 12.3) to ask its wholly owned property company (Redland Investment Corporation) to provide a report by 27 January 2016 setting out a revised business plan and statement of corporate intent.

Council wants less density for Birkdale units

The officers report (item 11.1.10) about development application MCU013407 recommended approval of a proposal that would allow a 22 units with an average density of one dwelling per 143 m2 in three buildings including a four storey building. These aspects of the proposal exceed the envelope of the planning scheme’s ‘probable solutions’.
Councillors decided to not accept the officers report. Instead they voted to approve development conditional upon the developer staying within the probable solutions (three storeys and average dwelling density no less than 200 square metres).
This motion was supported by councillors Boglary, Ogilvie, Hardman, Hewlett, Elliott, Talty, Beard, Bishop and Williams. Councillors Edwards and Gleeson voted against the motion.

Control of dogs in koala areas (item 11.3.1)

After months of delay councillors discussed and supported a proposal to undertake public consultation about extending the areas where dog owners living on blocks of land greater than 2,000 square metres must den or restrain their dogs at night.
Consultation about changing this local law will commence on 17 February 2016 which means that the final decision will be made by the new Council elected on 19 March 2016.
The only councillors to speak and vote against the proposal to consult with the community about the proposed change to koala protection laws were Gleeson and Talty.
Councillor Ogilvie said if koalas could vote on this proposal they would have both paws in the air.
Mayor Williams said there are better ways to protect koalas, but did not say what they were.

Council to investigate ‘market based’ transport solutions

Following another mayoral minute (item 12.1) , councillors voted that officers consider options for market-led proposals for the delivery of road and transport infrastructure that is the State Government’s responsibility within Redland City, as recognised in the draft Queensland Infrastructure Plan.
The Mayor was unable to clarify what sort of proposals this might include but in response to pressure from Councillor Ogilvie the possibility of toll roads was clearly ruled out.

Thornlands Integrated Employment Area

Another mayoral minute put to the meeting (item 12.4) proposed that Council investigate options for urban development in an area of Thornlands to be considered as an integrated employment area, instead of yet more small lot housing.The specific resolution was:

1. Reviewing the scope and outcomes of previous studies for the area formerly known as the Thornlands Integrated Employment Area;
2. Considering emerging opportunities for employment embracing new technology, innovation, transport and logistics in this area;
3. Identifying opportunities for high speed internet infrastructure, strategic transport corridors connecting the area with the Gateway Arterial Road and Australia Trade Coast as well as other regionally significant employment areas to strengthen economic supply chains; and
4. Achieved initially through current budgets. Any further funding requirements will come back to Council

More information about policies of Mayor Karen Williams and mayoral candidate Greg Underwood on future development in Thornlands is available in this Bulletin report.

Toondah Harbour infrastructure agreement

It is expected that Council will soon have a special meeting in closed session to discuss a Toondah Harbour development infrastructure agreement with Walker Corporation.

Redlands2030 – 9 December 2015