Nearly a year ago, at one of its many non-public meetings, Redland City Council discussed the idea of selling off many pieces of community owned land: parks, conservation areas and open space.

Then Council decided, at a closed session of its Meeting on 26 November 2014, to set up a property investment company to be known as the Redland Investment Corporation.

Council didn’t tell the community about the Redland Investment Corporation until June 2015 when it published an uninformative media release and webpage. The public was not told at this time that Redland Investment Corporation had already sold a block of Council owned vacant land at 108 Old Cleveland Road, Capalaba; an area currently used as overflow car parking for people using the nearby soccer fields.

UPDATE: 3 October: The Council’s website now includes a page titled Property Investigations. It says that councillors voted to transfer nine parcels of land to the RIC.  No details are provided about when this decision was made and which councillors voted for it.

UDATE: 7 October: The Council discussed the activities of the Redland Investment Corporation and the process of rezoning ‘surplus’ Council land at its meeting on 7 October. More information is available in this Bulletin Report.

Map showing all 35 blocks of land considered for sale at the council's 'workshop'. Click here for a more detailed version in Google maps.

Map showing all 35 blocks of land considered for sale at the Council’s ‘workshop’. Click here for a more detailed version in Google maps.

The Redland City Bulletin recently published a leaked list of the 35 properties that were considered by the Council at its closed-door meeting in October last year. This was the first inkling that most people in the community had that Council was planning to dispose of many small areas of community owned land, including some blocks bought with Environmental Charge funds.

Divisional Fact Sheets produced by Council for its public consultation about the Draft City Plan 2015 indicate that many of the Council owned properties on the leaked list are intended for disposal. It is possible that some of these blocks are surplus to community requirements. This could have been established months ago through a properly conducted consultation process, consistent with principles set out on page 84 of the Redland Open Space Strategy (December 2012).

Some local communities have already expressed concern about the prospect of losing these neighbourhood parks. In most cases, it appears that open space will be replaced with low to medium density residential development.

Find out more about City Plan

The proposed rezonings discussed below are part of the Draft City Plan that the Redland City Council submitted for public consultation. Information about the Draft City Plan is available on the Council’s website.

The Council is conducting City Plan information activities at various places in Redland City – here is a list of venues, dates and times.

Have your say

Now is the time to make submissions about any aspect of the Draft City Plan that is of concern. Information about how to make a properly made submission is available on the Council’s Draft City Plan 2015 webpage. As well as making a properly made submission, take a few minutes to send an email to the Mayor and councillors if you feel strongly about an issue. Here are their contact details.

The blocks of land mentioned in the various City Plan Division Fact Sheets are listed below, grouped alphabetically by suburb.

Alexandra Hills

Workington Street Park in Scotby Court

Workington Street Park (click to enlarge)

Workington Street Park (click to enlarge)

Map – Council is proposing to rezone this park from open space to Residential Low Density. Here are current details in PD On-line.

This is “a small interesting shaped park providing
linkages through the neighbourhood” according to the Open space Strategy (page 135). The park contains a number of mature gum trees and a small todler playground in the middle.
UPDATE 11 October Local residents have set up the Save Workington Street Park Action Group (SWAG). Here is a link to the SWAG Facebook page.

Sussex Street Park in Vienna Road

Sussex Street Park (click to enlarge)

Sussex Street Park (click to enlarge)

Map – Council is proposing that this park which has a walkway and a dozen mature gum trees be rezoned from open space to Residential Low Density. Here are current details in PD On-line.

The Open Space Strategy says (page 144): Sussex Street Park “is currently undeveloped and functions as a recreation corridor. The park is quite large at 4,232m2 and should be considered as a formal kick-about area and in the future as an off-leash area for dogs as dog registrations rise.”

Burwood Road Park 2 in Alexandra Circuit

Burwood Road Park 2 (click to enlarge)

Burwood Road Park 2 (click to enlarge)

Map – Council is proposing to rezone this land from open space to Residential Low Density. Here are current  details in PD-On line.

This neighbourhood linkage park has a large gum tree.

Keynsham Street Park in Vienna Road

Keynsham Street Park (click to enlarge)

Keynsham Street Park (click to enlarge)

Map – Council is proposing to rezone this land from open space to Residential Low Density. Here are current details in PD On line.

This park has a playground and is described in the Open Space Strategy as “a recreation corridor providing a link through to Vienna Road for residents of Keynsham Street”

61 McMillan Road

61 McMillan Street, Alexandra Hills

61 McMillan Street, Alexandra Hills (click to enlarge)

Map – Council is proposing to rezone this land from urban residential to Medium Density Residential. Here are current details in PD On-line.

Council’s register of Environmental Charge Acquisitions says that

“Council’s intention for these blocks is to ensure a high level of protection of the habitat values on this property through the purchase and then limited and reduced redevelopment of the property to protect the vegetation values of the property.”

“It is estimated that there are in excess of 200 koala habitat trees on this property.” and “The value and importance of this small patch of habitat is significant in the movement and food source for the koalas that live and move through this area Alexandra Hills.”

Birkdale

521 Old Cleveland Road East

521 Old Cleveland Road showing proposed City Plan 2015 rezonings

521 Old Cleveland Road showing proposed City Plan 2015 rezonings

Map –  Most of this property is currently zoned conservation, with the balance zoned community purpose. Here are current details in PD On-line.

Council is proposing to rezone this land to Low-Medium Density Residential and Conservation. The picture shows the proposed new zones. Residential development would be allowed in the northern part marked in red. The rest of the block would remain zoned Conservation.

This very well treed property is known by Council as the “Creswick Place Bushland Refuge”.

49–57 Quarry Road

Proposed rezoning of 49-57 Quarry Road, Birkdale.

Proposed rezoning of 49-57 Quarry Road, Birkdale.

Map – Council is proposing to rezone this 2.5 hectare block of land from open space to Low Density Residential and Conservation.Here are current details in PD On-line. And here is a link to the site’s proposed rezoning as shown in the Draft City Plan interactive mapping.

This site has environmental values with significant tree coverage but public access has been restricted by the Council due its use of part of the site for operational activities.

Cr Paul Bishop addresses a public meeting about the rezoning of 49-57 Quarry Rd

Cr Paul Bishop addresses a public meeting about the rezoning of 49-57 Quarry Rd

About 50 people discussed the Council’s proposed rezoning of this site at a public meeting held in Byng Rd Park, Birkdale on 19 October.

More information is available in this video by Cr Paul Bishop and at the Quarry Road Park, Birkdale Facebook group.

Capalaba

Wills Lane Park

Map – Council is proposing to rezone this from open space to Low-Medium Density Residential. Here are current details in PD On-line.

The open Space Strategy says: “This open space area currently provides no recreation activities and should be considered for reassignment to another use.”

Elmhurst Street Park

Elmhurst Street Park - Photo Google Maps (click to enlarge)

Elmhurst Street Park – Photo Google Maps (click to enlarge)

Map – Council is proposing to rezone this land from open space to Low Density Residential. Here are current details in PD On-line.

The Open Space Strategy said that this area should be classified as a recreation corridor and amenity buffers.

62 Bowen Street (part of Keith Street Bushland Reserve)

62 Bown Street under the current planning scheme as shown in PD On-Line (click to enlarge)

62 Bown Street under the current planning scheme as shown in PD On-Line (click to enlarge)

This land (and adjacent blocks) were bought with Environmental Charge funds in 1997. Collectively these blocks provide valuable green space for local residents, in addition to providing benefit to the wildlife in the area.
Map – Here is a link to 62 Bowen Street , Capalaba in PD On-line.

UPDATE: 10 October Another confusing one.
The Fact sheet for Division 9 says: ” A number of Open Space lots have been identified as surplus land and zoned residential consistent with adjoining lots. These include: [among others] 62 Bowen Street, Capalaba, zoned to the Low Density Residential zone”.

62 Bowen Street as shown in the Draft City Plan interactive mapping (click to enlarge)

62 Bowen Street as shown in the Draft City Plan interactive mapping (click to enlarge)

But the interactive mapping for the Draft City Plan suggests that only part of this block is to be rezoned. It appears that the eastern portion which is not heavily treed is to be rezoned to low density residential and the middle portion will become Community Facility CF6 (infrastructure e.g. road).

There are a few mature koala trees on the portions that are proposed for rezoning.

62 Bowen Street eastern portion proposed to be rezoned residential (click to enlarge)

62 Bowen Street eastern portion proposed to be rezoned residential (click to enlarge)

View from the eastern portion of 62 Bowen Street looking at the western portion which would remain zoned as Conservation (click to enlarge)

62 Bowen Street – View from the eastern portion looking at land which would remain zoned Conservation (click to enlarge)

Cleveland

UPDATE: a detailed submission has been prepared by St James Lutheran Community Kindergarten and Child Care which opposes the Council’s proposed rezoning of this site. If you want to use this as the basis for your own submission you can download a copy from the Kindergarten’s website.

St James Lutheran Kindergarten has used the John Street site for many years

St James Lutheran Kindergarten has used this land in John Street, Cleveland for many years.

The Fact Sheet for this area says “An Open Space lot identified as surplus Council land in John Street (map) , Cleveland, is zoned Principal Centre consistent with zoning of adjoining land.”

Here is a link to information about 7 John Street in PD On-Line.

Here is a link to the Draft City Plan interactive mapping for John Street, Cleveland. It shows that the whole street is now zoned Principle Centre.

7 John Street's current zoning in PD On-Line (click to enlarge)

7 John Street’s current zoning in PD On-Line (click to enlarge)

This block of land is has been used by St James Kindergarten for more than 40 years under an agreement with the Council.

This issue is discussed in a report by the Redland City Bulletin: Centre begs to keep its playground.  This report notes concerns by the kindergarten’s management committee that there might be pressure on the Council to sell from a developer who owns the surrounding blocks.  The report also notes that the CEO of Redland Investment Corporation had told the kindergarten committee that the kindergarten could buy the land or pay commercial rates and lease it.

John Street Park's zoning is the subject of this petition

John Street Park’s proposed City Plan rezoning is the subject of this petition

Here is a link to a change.org petition to stop the proposed city plan rezoning of John St Park. The petition is discussed in this Bulletin report.

The Redland Open Space Strategy (December 2012) included the following action for this site; “discuss with St James Lutheran Child Care Centre whether they would consider taking control of John Street Park” (page 179. Given the consternation caused by the proposed city plan rezoning, it appears that not much discussion has happened in the past three years.

On 1 October the Council published a news release in response to the Bulletin’s story. It was titled: “Get the facts: No decision made to sell land used by kindergarten”. You had to be very quick to get these facts because the news release was pulled from the Council’s website almost immediately.

On 4 October Council published a news release titled: Get the facts – no decision has been made to sell land. It includes this statement:

Council would like to advise that Redland Investment Corporation CEO Peter Kelley did not advise the childcare centre that Council was assessing its surplus land or suggest they could buy the land or pay commercial rates and lease it, as stated in the article. Mr Kelley had discussions with the Lutheran Church who has the permit to occupy the land.

The Council does not provide any fact about what Mr Kelley discussed with the Lutheran Church.

On 20 October the Bulletin published this letter written by Garry Hauser, chairman, Redlands Lutheran Church Management Team: Loss of childcare centre would be disappointing.

Thorneside

UPDATE 44 Ferry Road (located between 80-82 and 86 )

44 Ferry Road, Thornside as shown in PD On-line (click to enlarge)

44 Ferry Road, Thornside as shown in PD On-line (click to enlarge)

This one is a bit confusing. The block in question has a number which is out of sequence.

Map – Council is proposing to zone this block Medium Density Residential. The site has some drainage constraints.

We can’t find 44 Ferry Road in PD Online. Here are details of the block next door in PD On-line. 

The map shows 44 Ferry Road in green.

53 Fisher Road

53 Fisher Road, Thorneside (Photo Paul Bishop)

53 Fisher Road, Thorneside (Photo Paul Bishop)

Map – Council is proposing to zone this land Low Density Residential. The 1.3 hectare site was bought in 1997/98 with environmental charges. The site adjoins other conservation areas.

Here are details in PD On-line.

Here is a link to the site as shown in the Draft City Plan interactive mapping.

Public meeting to discuss Council's proposed rezoning of 53 Fisher Road

Public meeting to discuss Council’s proposed rezoning of 53 Fisher Road

On 12 October a public meeting was held at Vic Arthur Park to discuss this proposed rezoning.

Go to the 53 Fisher Road, Thorneside Facebook public group for more information.

Also see: 53 Fisher Road submission must be in before 27th November

Victoria Point

68 Sycamore Parade

68 Sycamore Parade

68 Sycamore Parade (click to enlarge)

Map – Council is proposing to rezone this land from open space to Low Density Residential.

Here are current details in PD On-line. 

The site currently forms part of a fairly large neighbourhood park.

UPDATE: 23 Thompson Street (and not 23 Thompson Esplanade)

23 Thompson Street, Victoria Point in the Draft City Plan 2015 interactive map

23 Thompson Street, Victoria Point in the Draft City Plan 2015 interactive map (click to enlarge)

Another confusing one. Cr Hewlett has confirmed that the Division 4 Fact Sheet contains a typo. It incorrectly lists “23 Thompson Esplanade” as being “identified as surplus land”.

The property which should have been listed in the Fact Sheet as “surplus” Council land is 23 Thompson Street which is now shown in the image (right) taken from the Council’s Draft City Plan 2015 interactive mapping.

Here are current details for 23 Thompson Street in PD On-line.

141 Bunker Road

141 Bunker Road rezoning in Drtaft City plan 2015 interactive mapping

Proposed rezoning at 141 Bunker Road, Victoria Point  (click to enlarge)

Map – Council is proposing changes to the zoning of this block with part of it being rezoned to Low-Medium Density Residential and Recreation. Here are current details in PD On-line.

Here is a link to the proposed rezoning of this site as shown in the Council’s Draft City Plan interactive mapping.

The block is currently zoned conservation and is known by Council as the Bunker Road Bushland Refuge. Some of this block is flood prone, presumably the portion that Council proposes to rezone as open space.

The Council’s Open Space Strategy says: “The Bunker Road Bushland Refuge has some cleared areas.Given the lack of recreation open space in this neighbourhood it is recommended that at least some of this area be retained as open space for a kick-about area. A community garden site is still to be found.”

UPDATE: 8 October Here is a link to a Bulletin report about this property.

Updates

Information about the various blocks of land discussed above will be updated when further information is available.

28 September 2015

The Division 4 Fact Sheet should have listed 23 Thompson Street as “surplus” Council land, instead of 23 Thompson Esplanade.

The block in the division 10 Fact Sheet listed as 44 Ferry Road has been checked.

1 October 2015

On 1 October the Council published a news release in response to the Bulletin’s story. It was titled: “Get the facts: No decision made to sell land used by kindergarten”. You had to be very quick to get these facts because the news release was pulled from the Council’s website almost immediately.

It included the following statement:

Redland Investment Corporation has been established to deliver a whole range of activities to deliver new revenue streams to Council and keep downward pressure on rates. Some of these potential activities include entering into partnerships with community groups or the private sector to deliver projects that could provide jobs and a boost to the economy or delivering a higher and better use for land Councillors have assessed and determined as surplus. The sale of land is only one of many options which will be considered.

So now you know.

1 October 2015

Public meetings have been scheduled to discuss the future of properties at 53 Fisher Road and 49-57 Quarry Road.

3 October 2015

The Council’s website now includes a page titled Property Investigations. It says that councillors voted to transfer nine parcels of land to the Redland Investment Corporation (RIC).  No details are provided about when this decision was made and which councillors voted for it.

The section about the Cleveland kindergarten has been revised.

4 October

The section about the Cleveland kindergarten has been revised again, following a new news release from the Council.

 7 October

Added photo of Keith Street Bushland Reserve at 62 Bowen Street Capalaba

Added photos of Burwood Road 2 Park, Keynsham Street Park, Workington Street Park in Alexandra Hills

Replaced photo of Sussex Street Park in Alexandra Hills

Added link to the Bulletin’s report about discussion at the Council meeting on 7 October

8 October

Included link to list of Council’s City plan consultation activities.

Included link to Bulletin story about 141 Bunker Road, Victoria Point.

Included links to video by Cr Paul Bishop and the Quarry Road Park, Birkdale Facebook page. Added picture.

10 October

The section about 62 Bowen Street has been revised.

11 October

Local residents have set up the Save Workington Street Park Action Group (SWAG). Here is a link to the SWAG Facebook page.

12 October

Updated links for 53 Fisher Road, Thorneside

15 October

Revised information about 521 Old Cleveland Road East with inclusion of new photo.

17  October

Change of meeting venue to discuss Quarry Road , Birkdale. Updated picture.

19 October

Updated image for Quarry road Birkdale.

22 October

updated section about John Street Cleveland with links to maps and to a letter in the Bulletin.

3 November included link to submission about the kindergarten in John Street, Cleveland.

Report by Redlands2030

N Deacon, Mar 16, 2016

I note your reference 1 October 2015, and extract the following statement “…Some of these potential activities include entering into partnerships with community groups or the private sector to deliver jobs…..”.

I refer to the Redland Investment Corporation Quarterly Financial Update Q4 2015 Page 9 to highlight certain ironic inconsistencies. The page title reads “Q4 2015 activities continued, Engaging with community”. Paragraphs 1-4 are consistent with the featured advertisement “Redlands Open For Business & Investment EOI for preferred builders and investors” Paragraph 1 on the advert reads ” Redlands Investment Corporation is seeking expressions of interest from licensed builders and developers for future commercial, residential and retail projects”. I note that “community use applications” are deliberately excluded, as are philanthropic interests, social enterprise, community agencies and community collaboratives. So what is the validation for paragraph 5, page 9 of this quarterly report that says, and I quote “The EOI period coincided with a public introduction of RIC via the media release “Community to Benefit from new land management company” distributed 12 June 2015 and published on Council’s website? My biggest criticism has been the exclusion of ANY community enterprise involvement and participation at all. The one exception, The kindergarten referred to here, was involved only due to an unauthorised leak of the information. This observation was publicly branded, and again I quote, as “the worst kind of political sledging…….unsubstantiated and arguably defamatory sledging in fact”, but the wording, and actions speak for themselves, and have notably remained unchanged, without any amendment or action to include community investors or stakeholders, including the likes of well established & reputable authorities like Foresters Community Finance & Community Development. The RIC has exposed itself to allegations of being an exclusive buying pool, restricted to a private and preferred group of commercial builders and developers only. That is not in “the communities interest” at all.

One final share. I have to draw comparison between the proposed Shoreline Development urban density Vs 7 Master Planned Communities being built nationally elsewhere. In these 7, populations are capped between 1500 and 2500 people in areas averaging 250-300 hectares, to create self-sustaining communities with provision for redundancies, agriculture, distribution, infrastructure (Hospitals, schools, places of worship, recreational facilities and easy flow-through road networks) and a centralised industry. The formula offers for lifestyle and optimal local employment opportunities, comprehensive servicing with no transport bottle-necks. The comparison with Shoreline, to squeeze 4000 homes and approximately 10,000 people in that same space, obviously doesn’t give equal consideration to the creation of viable, self-serving and sustainable communities. There are too many glaring irregularities here that indicate an alleged “lack of integrity” and a prioritisation of profit over people.

Maryann & Ray Bowles, Nov 10, 2015

We moved into the Redlands 15 years ago for the tranquility that Redlands had to offer. We understand progress must be made but not at the expense of the “KOALAS and WILDFLIFE” that Council appears to have forgotten about OR just don’t give a damn about these animals. After a phone call to the Redland City Council they informed us that ” all sales of these parks would benefit the people of the Redlands”. We don’t understand that the properties are sold to developers, who clear all vegetation to a dust bowl and then build 400-500 Townhouses or family homes jammed in on 400sqm blocks. Please explain what will happen to the animals that call these parks home, not to mention some of these parks and properties have been bequethed to the Council on “good faith” that they should be kept as a sanctuary for these animals. We believe that this is ‘GREED” on the Concil’s part to make more revenue from rates.
Also, please explain what happens to the Market Value of homes who reside next to parks that have been re-claimed by Council and then have townhouses built next to them. Is Council going to compensate these people for the loss of valuation on their property because they now have NO privacy.

Christopher Stuart, Nov 10, 2015

Maryann & Ray I could not agree more with your comments… We too moved to the Redlands from Camp Hill 15 years ago for the same reasons. As soon as we arrived we registered our property in Sheldon with Land For Wildlife. One of the reasons we chose the property was that it has a vegetation protection order over the area and felt secure in the fact that the creek which flows through the property eventually joins the Tingalpa Creek which provides the water flowing into the Tingalpa Reservoir. However to our astonishment we have recently learned that it is proposed in the Draft City Plan that the Council is planning ” Removing ‘environmental protection’ and ‘conservation’ zoning from some private properties in Sheldon and Mount Cotton”!!! Over the years we have noticed the rapid decline in the koala population, so it seems that not only is this council hell bent on destroying our urban sanctuaries but also has their plans on the bush sanctuaries too!!

carole west, Nov 23, 2015

This rapid decimation of The Redlands has been done in just 3 years, think of the next 3 if this council isn`t removed. An inquiry is warranted.

Redland Bay Tom, Oct 14, 2015

I thought at least some of this land was purchased using the environmental levy on rates?
If so are we to be reimbursed or at least get a share of the developers payments to council for the service they provide in swallowing yet more parks and koala habitat for personal gain?
When will politicians understand they are appointed to improve the standard of life for all, not the standard of living for a few?

Amy Glade, Oct 01, 2015

ELMHURST STREET PARK, cnr Elmhurst & Ingham Street, Capalaba, by Finucane Rd entrance, where traffic converges from 3 different directions, & where residents have urged Main Roads to provide lights for safety reasons. Having lived nearby for almost 30 years, pass by this lovely treed park every day & along with other area residents, am terrified of how this highly visible corner will look developed. Will it be a mini-ghetto like the large one other end of Ingham St? .. when under Don Seccombe’s watch, the tall, cluster of koala food trees by TAFE fence were destroyed.. resulting in extinction of our area koalas. Ingham Enterprises rep Michael Parkinson told me trees were important to him and only those trees that had to go, would. Sadly for us, a prominent, prolific Capalaba developer also built houses in there, doesn’t care for koalas as witnessed in Ormiston. Tried speaking up for koalas in Council, but Cr Beard silenced me mid-sentence with words “done deal Amy”. Locals fear this same developer may wish to build wall-to-wall houses squeezed into the ample park space that would not be in keeping with surrounding homes in and around Elmhurst Street. Over development destroys community values of a pleasant and attractive area in which to live since today it’s all about maximum profits…as in the case other end of Ingham St that looks like a ghetto. It is therefore hoped passers by will not be subjected to visual pollution when this prominent entry from a main road is developed.

Jan C, Sep 30, 2015

This is a disgusting travesty of care for the community. Those blocks of land belong to the community and should not be “sold” to the rapacious developer friends of the Mayor. I can’t believe that a modern council would think they could behave in such a disgraceful manner. These are our parks, our wildlife corridors and our green lungs! The Mayor and her cronies should remember the community has already kicked one level of government this year and we are itching to kick this greedy mob out of office, before there is NOTHING left of our once-beautiful Redlands. Please everyone, tell your friends, family and neighbours about their greedy plans and please, make a submission to the City Plan about this.

Travis, Sep 30, 2015

Absolutely disgraceful, I’ve grown up in the Redlands and watched our bush slowly erode away due to corrupt councils and developers. Why make these reserves if you can just destroy them 20-30 years down the track?
I’ve never been compelled to speak out about anything in the past including our over inflated rates and other money grabbing expenses like yearly dog registration and turning Cleveland into some sort of resort town but this has gone to far.
The council has a short memory and I think its time we had another council purge like the last one, enough is enough.

carole west, Nov 23, 2015

Travis, this greedy land grab by developers makes me wonder where all the funds are coming from, it wasn`t so long ago, that some of these developers were small companies. Do they have backing from foreign investors, keen to bypass the foreign investment rules….just wondering.

Ian, Sep 30, 2015

I am reminded of an ancient English proverb;
The law goes hard on man or woman
That takes a goose from off the common
But lets that greater sinner loose
That takes the common from off the goose.

These areas should not be sold.

Jan Smith., Sep 30, 2015

At a quick check, the word ‘koala’ does not appear to be mentioned in the new City Plan. This goes completely against the 2030 Community Plan which was drawn up and handed to the previous Mayor Melva Hobson. 16 parks have also been identified as land which could be used for probable development and many of these parks have koala friendly trees. So our koalas don’t matter at all according to Mayor Karen Williams and her team.
We need to think very seriously about this as we write our submissions. Remember too the election for a new Council and Mayor is coming up very quickly. Do we really want a Mayor who cares nothing for our koalas?

carole west, Nov 23, 2015

Jan, I have been informed that it costs about $100,000 to run for mayor, if that is the case and an individual doesn`t have that kind of money, then the RCC will once again be the front for developers. Even a `drover`s dog` could win the next election, but this money thing is the issue.

Big Boy, Sep 29, 2015

Today’s online paper says the CCC “confirmed it would not pursue the matter based on the information from the mayor” with reference to Mayor Williams dobbing herself into the CCC. The Commission said there was “no reasonable suspicion of corrupt conduct by Redland City Council, a condition required for an investigation under Section 38 of the Crime and Corruption Act 2001.”
Well that’s good but maybe Mayor Williams should have included her “Secretive plans for rezoning and sale of 16 parks revealed in Draft City Plan” on her resume.
Still time for the Mayor to do a revised self-nomination and even use the ready prepared details from the Redlands2030 site.
The Mayor hopes debate (will) now return to important citywide issues. If that’s the case, then lots of attention please to explaining and reversing this sell off of community land. Perhaps a quiet word to developer friends that sorry, the land you wanted isn’t available, take it off your shopping list.

Amy Glade, Sep 29, 2015

62 Bowen St Capalaba. Agree with Toni, Keith St Reserve needs to stay, purchased with our newly set up environmental levy by first Redland Shire Mayor Eddie Santagiuliana.. Walking through there noted the familiar track now gone as under Don Seccombe’s regime the Reserve was totally neglected…whereas under Mayor Melva Hobson’s watch, it was rehabilitated with bollards placed around it preventing visitor parking.. Major planting undertaken had surprise visit by ex-MP Peter Dowling. Denison Crt across from there has seen 2 shootings in recent times, housing commission units have thin walls where domestic violence is high to be expected where people are forced to live on top of one another. Latest shock was seeing what was left of Will’s backyard home situated on Willard Rd in this cut up area, with EIGHT TOWNHOUSES presently being squeezed in between two regular homes towering high above them. We asked councll to please buy that green strip years ago but sadly, it didn’t happen. Mayor & Co must stop this Reserve from being turned into yet more housing as all around Willard & Daveson Rds homes/units by the dozen are being built. Trees are valuable as they remove pollutants, reduces noise, provides homes for countless native species. Old growth trees should be retained as in this same area a tree 100+ years old, fenced, was cut down. Why! After more than a decade kookaburras still encircle the spot where their home once stood. Council…show some compassion for locals, rehabilitate Keith St Reserve.

Debra Harris, Sep 29, 2015

Absolutely disgusted! Our beautiful Redlands is slowly being destroyed !!!!

carole west, Nov 23, 2015

Debra, even Cleveland is lost to multiple dwellings. Slowly but surely a house and average block is getting scarce, like what`s happened on the Gold Coast, only it`s not the Gold Coast. The RCC should have plenty of funds considering the rates pouring in from all the units in the area, more than enough to maintain our parks and green spaces.

NSI KOM, Sep 28, 2015

unbelievable and underhand – selling off open space bought by ratepayers. The recent land supply studies show there is more than sufficient land for the next 30 years. Why is RCC doing this ? it is cheap easy pickings for the developer who won’t pay market prices

Sarah, Sep 28, 2015

HOW DARE YOU KAREN! What an absolute disgrace to have your public face on when it suits you and your developmental face peeking our from below at every opportunity. Where’s the accountability Karen? It’s getting to the point where you’re going to have to put on thicker and thicker make-up in order to hide your developmental face, because we can see it more and more each day – and it’s definitely an ugly side to you that the Redlands doesn’t like!

Why are there closed council meetings where you get all of these underhanded deals through without debate? And before you say that everything’s above board….. maybe an open meeting with the public would have convinced us of that! Nothing above board is ever happening behind closed doors where major stakeholders are banned! Selling off and developing these areas is completely against what we want as community members! YOU CANNOT DEVELOP THESE AREAS – THEY HAVE MATURE GUM TREES WHICH PROVIDE FOOD FOR THE BEAUTIFUL KOALAS OF THE AREA! (You do realise that they are unable to cross at pedestrian crossings – when the traffic is clear, navigate through heavy Redlands traffic, shop at the local IGA for their food or hang around in cafes all day?) I know you’re doing your damnedest to eradicate these gorgeous animals, but it’s not for you to decide – YOU ARE NOT GOD! Some of these properties were bought because of the vegetation contained on them and were promised as a safe haven for the animals to feed on and for public enjoyment – it’s in writing. Does this mean that if you develop them, we can sue you for breach of promise?

If you get to ignore the law when it suits you, does this mean that WE CAN CHOOSE TO PAY OUR RATES OR NOT, depending on whether we think you’ve done a good job or not for our community during that quarter? I’m pretty sure that your Council income would diminish significantly. I don’t want to have to pay to live in an area when you’re working hard to destroy it at every opportunity and turn it into something different from what we were promised.

Why don’t you do us all a favour and go and leave the area and don’t come back? Take all of your developmental cronies with you and leave our gorgeous community as it is. You are a disgrace and I can’t wait for the elections early next year…. I’m going to be working hard to make sure that you’re out of office! Tick tock, tick tock…..

carole west, Nov 02, 2015

Absolutely spot on Sarah, couldn`t say it any better myself. The destruction of our beautiful Redlands under the reign of this present council is despicable, but then again, money talks all languages. This lot have really ramped up the small block development and the developers are swarming over the carcass, ripping and tearing it apart. It`s a bloody disgrace. The sooner gone, the better. Hope they can live with themselves, nothing here to be proud of. Wish we knew then, what we know now. Bring back Melba.

Rob, Sep 26, 2015

The Info we got in division ten states 44 Ferry Road, not 82. This is actually the entire Jack and Edna Finney reserve, which has a lot of large Eucalyptus trees and is built slightly higher. It says it is being rezoned as Medium Density. It is already approximately 40 housing blocks under original divisions, and adjoins number 4, which had a house that burnt down(before Council purchased it back). Given the sale of the block across the road to State Government(54-58) recently is it reasonable to assume this whole block will become units? most likely the housing commission kind (it is near the train line)…. and the Water, given its linkage to Tingalpa Creek and other lower lying Council owned land it would make beautiful community space with a small amount of infrastructure added. What precedent does this set for the additional ‘Conservation’ Land in the area?

Toni, Sep 25, 2015

62 Bowen Street Capalaba is another purchase with the Environmental levy, the Council at the time, recognised the amount of units and development in this area. The local Ambulance a few years ago advised me that in this area due to high density housing and minimal open space the calls out were higher due to domestic violence, drug abuse.etc I would hope that Council does some research into the impacts of high density housing on residents health and wellbeing with lack of playing areas and open space for families

Toni, Sep 25, 2015

Bunker Road Victoria Point land was dedicated by a family in lieu of getting a Small block excised for a family member in about 1996. The block is part of the Eprapah Creek catchments, is also part of a significant koala corridor. The block butts onto a conservation block and the important Eprapah Creek. In about 2011 the SEQ Council of Mayors identified this block as perfect for a carbon sink, research that was being done by the University. A launch was held on the site with all Mayors in SEQ attending the celebration, this block is also land locked and sadly if the local Councillors gets her wish then the traffic impact will be a nightmare for the housing estate on the western boundary. If approved for what the Council is pushing for as a site for more units and town houses, the local area will lose an important linkage
I encourage hundreds of residents to object to this proposal, this is just another example of the respect this Council has for open space and environmental values
The comments I heard recently is that if this Planning Scheme is approved Redlands will become Wastelands or Brownlands

cam finlay, Sep 25, 2015

Disgraceful – selling public parks for the almighty $ – RCC should all hang their heads in shame…

Ian, Sep 25, 2015

Dear oh dear, how much can this dreadful Mayor and Council destroy in the short time remaining until she deservedly gets booted out in the March election? A devious and secretive bunch of people the like of which Redlands has not seen before ……….

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