Redland City Council meeting on 11 May 2016

In 2014 Redland City granted freedom of entry to 95 Air Wing. – Photo: Redland City Bulletin

A military parade in 18 months time and the purchase of land in Thornlands for a wildlife corridor were among the matters discussed at a General Meeting of Redland City Council on 11 May.

Here is a link to the Council’s meeting minutes. You can watch a video of the meeting or listen to an audio recording.

Cr Peter Mitchell was unable to attend the meeting in person because he was recovering from back surgery. He participated via telephone.

Some matters discussed and decided at the meeting are discussed below:

Purchase of land for Thornlands wildlife corridor

Council resolved to purchase land described as the East Thornlands Wildlife Corridor by negotiation if possible or otherwise by resumption. Details of the land to be purchased will remain confidential until the deal has been finalised.

The motion was carried 8/3.

Crs Boglary, Mitchell, Gollè, Hewlett, Edwards, Elliott, Huges and Bishop voted FOR the motion.

Crs Gleeson, Talty and Williams voted AGAINST the motion.

Freedom of entry ceremony

Councillors discussed a proposal that Redland City have a military parade in November 2017 at an estimated cost of $75,000.

The proposal discussed was to stage a ‘freedom of entry” involving 25/49 Royal Queensland Regiment which is based in Logan City.

It’s understood that the impetus for having this ceremonial activity came from Cr Julie Talty, well known for her equine participation in recent ANZAC Day marches. When proposing the motion she said the freedom of entry would lead to a “deeper relationship with army which benefits our R.S.L. ….our community social fabric and our cadet units.”

Cr Murray Elliott raised concerns about the cost involved to have a parade through the city. He said last time [2014] there was a “freedom of entry” military parade only 350 people attended. He suggested that the RSL should be making a financial contribution to the cost of staging the event.

Council decided unanimously to proceed with plans for the parade but agreed seek further community engagement and input across all associated Veteran Organisations and other organisations.

Local Government Infrastructure Plan (Item 16.1.1)

When the Council released its Draft City Plan 2015 for consultation the Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) which forms part of the planning scheme was not made available for the community to review. The officers report notes that the LGIP is still not complete. To comply with statutory requirements, Council is now required to seek approval for an extension of time from the Local Government minister. The application for more time is required to include a project plan that shows how the LGIP will be able to be adopted before 1 July 2018.

The Council has decided to keep its Project Plan confidential.

Appeal – LM Wigan (item 16.1.3)

Mayor Williams declared a perceived conflict of interest in this item stating that, the appellants attended a couple of her events 5 years ago and are also on her register. Mayor Williams chose to remain in the room and vote in the best interest of the community.

The motion was carried 8/3

Crs, Mitchell, Gollè, Hewlett, Edwards, Talty, Huges, Gleeson and Williams voted FOR the motion.

Crs Boglary, Elliott and Bishop voted AGAINST the motion.

Villa World appeals (Item 16.1.4)

A confidential resolution was carried. unanimously

Cleveland train station

In the public participation section of the meeting Raby Bay Harbour Body Corporate spokesman Kent Beal told Council the proposal to build 124 apartments on Cleveland train station land would worsen car parking problems in the Cleveland area. More information about his address to Council is available in this Bulletin report.

Council commended for removal of fallen tree

Also in public participation, Kay Murphy of Thornlands commended the Council for its “polite, professional and efficient” response to requests for assistance.

She contacted the Council regarding a tree that had fallen across the road late one afternoon. Within a couple of hours the tree had been moved from the road cut and stacked. By 8:45 next morning the tree debris had been removed.

Redlands2030 – 15 May 2016

Amy Glade, May 23, 2016

Thornlands Wildlife Corridor? I’d like to see that! 80% koalas extinct only 20% to go. The three who wouldn’t want to see a belated corridor for koalas/wildlife, namely: Mayor Williams, Cr Talty (daughter of ex-Cr John Burns, who, along with Cr Beard & then head town planner Gary White negotiated with commercial developer Peter Endacott to destroy, mulch habitat trees, fill mini-crater with imported earth, our specially protected wetland koala habitat under SEQ Koala Coast Policy) & Cr Gleeson of Capalaba. Newly elected to council, photo in Wynnum Herald showed him with foot on downed tree proudly holding his brand new power saw, stating he was going after those with VPO’s.. third vandal in council supporting extinctions to delight high profile local developers with deep pockets. This was beginning of the end of our Capalaba koalas along the creek, where I live, turned into a no-go zone for locals with Endacott’s towering concrete walls lining bank where sun never shines, a dark, dangerous place today. Next target were cluster of food trees end Ingham St turned into a ghetto by high profile developer Fiteni so Ingham Enterprises could have maximum profits. Developer would have spared trees, but Cr Beard silenced me mid-sentence in council stating ‘done deal Amy’….another koala killer in my view ..thankfully now retired, but I feel too late for conservation of remaining Redland koalas to prevent extinction of the species when Shoreline and rest of Thornlands is developed. Hope I’m proved wrong….

Toni, May 16, 2016

It was quite concerning that an item on the recent General Meeting agenda regarding Appeal – LM Wigan (item 16.1.3)
The Mayor declared that this applicant hosted a fund raiser for her and also is listed on her register and yet she stayed to vote. This application was lodged and does not comply with the Redlands Planning Scheme, it is for a residential development in a rural area. The application was refused back in about 2011, I believe that the applicant had a meeting with the Newman Government staff and the application was called in, after the 2012 Council election I believe that this application was given a green light. During the drafting of the new planning scheme this land in Taylor Road and other land in the South Boundary Road area was included for development, all this land was not included for residential development in the State regional plan so did not comply. It is a confidential document so would be interesting to hear what was approved. So is this the start of the Mayor having a conflict of interest and staying to vote, where is the accountability, I think many in the community should be very concerned. And what were the new councilors told to get their vote??????
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Mayor Williams declared a perceived conflict of interest in this item stating that, the appellants attended a couple of her events 5 years ago and are also on her register. Mayor Williams chose to remain in the room and vote in the best interest of the community.