Redland City Council news – 16 August 2015

Redland City Council Meeting had a general meeting on 12 August 2015.

Prior to the meeting several residents gathered outside the council’s chambers to protest about two issues:

• Development plans for Rushwood Estate in Thornlands; and
• The Translink levy imposed by Council on southern Moreton Bay island properties

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 matters discussed and decided at the meeting are discussed below:

Koala protection status of land in Birkdale (Item 11.3.3)

This item of business showed that in Redland City we have smart developers and a Council that has been outsmarted.

Trees on the land at 22-34 Collingwood Road were supposed to be protected by a Koala Conservation State Planning Regulatory Provision. The developer initially applied for approval to build a residential dwelling which according to the rules enabled some trees to be cleared. With the trees cleared, the developer was then able to apply for the land’s koala conservation status to be reduced from Bushland to Rehabilitation. This fits in with the developers’ new plan for a multi-unit residential project.

Discussion of this item commences at 40:05 minutes on the video recording.

Following the discussion Council resolved to:

• downgrade the property’s koala protection status; and
• write to the State government asking them to review the South East Queensland Koala Conservation State Planning Regulatory Provisions

Further information about this item is contained in a Redland City Bulletin report.

North Stradbroke economic transition

Councillors discussed the manner in which it should engage with the State government regarding plans for North Stradbroke Island’s post-mining economic transition. Following a robust debate, Councillors resolved unanimously to request a briefing from the State Government before developing a proposal to the Government.

Debate about this item commences at 1:20:05 minutes on the video recording. It was covered in a Redland City Bulletin report.

Renewal of South Gorge beach access (Item 11.4.2)

Following storm damage in January 2015, Council officers and a consultant developed an interim plan to restore beach access at South Gorge on North Stradbroke Island.

The officers report to Council noted that:

This section of the gorge is a popularvenue for wedding ceremonies and other recreational activities with bookings for this site cancelled until remediation works are undertaken.

Council voted to spend $180,000 on the proposed interim solution which has a design life of one year. It was decided that these funds woulf be transferred from Council’s 2015/16 Environmental Reserve.

Ferry services to southern Moreton Bay islands (Item 11.1.1)

This item was discussed in an earlier report: Translink levy is unfair say island residents.

Following presentations to Council from two island residents, Council decided to postpone any decision until a Councillor workshop is conducted and further discussions are held with the State.

Helping low income and disadvantaged groups access sporting and cultural pursuits (Item 14.2.1)

Councillors resolved to investigate options for helping low income and disadvantaged groups to access sporting and cultural pursuits with this matter to be listed for the next Community Grants workshop.

This motion, raised by Cr Craig Ogilvie, sought to broaden Council’s consideration of providing assistance to disadvantaged groups compared with a more narrowly targeted motion put forward by Cr Paul Gleeson at the previous Council meeting.

 Bloomfield Street Park

Councillors were keen to wrap up the meeting by midday so that they could attend the official opening of the refurbished Bloomfield Street Park. The refurbishment has had a mixed reception from the community as indicated in feedback to a Redland City Bulletin Facebook post.

 

Report by Redlands2030 – 16 August 2015