State Election: Candidates in the Redlands

From what I’m hearing Mick de Brenni doesn’t stand a chance of retaining his seat in Springwood against Redland Council’s Julie Talty as she has powerful friends, Mayor, developers/pollies in high places there to help. Read where she has a road bearing the family name on Russell Island and in Mt Cotton as well so far. Hearing about it wherever I go, there is a huge poster pictured with Mr de Brenni’s fingers in his ears, erected by Master Builders on a highway? RCC it seems to many locals is run by ‘master builders’ who shall remain nameless.
Cr Talty’s father was a powerful force in Redlands council when still a Shire…& behind our first Mayor Eddie’s back, made a deal with commercial developer Peter Endacott, to destroy & fill in our ‘specially protected wetland site 29-37 Moreton Bay Rd Capalaba’, assisted by Cr Beard, plus a solicitor. I had gathered over 300 signatures on a petition that then State Govt Env Min Brian Littleproud stated would require an EIS. Not to be.. as Rod Welford, Labor Env Min replaced him…listened and believed local pollies State & local, the 1.5ha site was NOT a wetland (took weeks to drain and fill w imported soils depriving locals using creek bank). Loyal AWU Capalaba Labor Cr Bucknall agreed the area did not legally constitute a wetland and that area around the creek won’t be bulldozed. *

Wildlife Preservation’s Adrian Caneris was hired for time needed to ‘get all approvals in place’ as Council’s wildlife officer, & promised developer would contribute $15,000 to wildlife protection & conservation but that ‘rather than developer doing the work we’d take the money and do the work ourselves’.**

Birkdale Cr Helen Murray slammed the preserving of only 25% of land for wildlife habitat. She was backed by Mt Cotton’s Cr Toni Bowler who accused Council officers of misleading Redland residents over amount of ‘green shaded areas’ that appear on planning maps.***

* Note: Cr Bucknall was correct…area around site was not bulldozed…reason ?..because it was a wetland. All tall majestic trees (many used by koalas) that Wynnum Herald (Editor BB not allowed to comment) editor stated should have been left to the people as a beautiful little oasis, were cut down by hand. Neighbour bought some mulch. Sickening to watch Cr Bucknall led in like dog on a leash pointing, as a good boy, to map over decade old looking green, making out lots of green space left. TODAY ENTRY FROM 19 CROTONA RD ON COOLNWYNPIN CREEK IS AT OWN RISK. A NO GO ZONE FOR LOCALS. Why? Peter Endacott’s towering concrete walls line the creek bank, popular place for graffiti artists and social misfits.

** I can still picture a smug looking Cr John Burns swivelling around in his chair looking directly at downcast Adrian Caneris announcing gift of $15,000 by developer to his area. Mr Caneris left when no longer needed by powers that be in council and State govt operatives.

*** Cr Murray was correct. Nothing has been preserved for the people…nothing has been preserved for wildlife along Coolnwynpin Creek from 19 Crotona Rd creek bank winding around through what we once had…boardwalk built by unemployed…through to bridge on Old Cleveland Road, Capalaba. Today’s Cr Gleeson blocked that view by replacing existing metal fence allowing some view of what was left of green space, with a tall, non-see through timber one.

In closing, am reminded of what Prof Paul Williams, political scientist of Griffith University had to say about Redland Council’s last local government election campaign, that it was: ‘the dirtiest and grubbiest campaign he’s ever seen!’
Well it looks like it’s started already for the coming election starting with the ‘fingers in ears poster board of Mr De Brenni ….not listening to the people’…

Will Cr Julie Talty on winning the seat of Springwood?

I am a landowner on Russell island, I would like to know when the government might find the funds for a bridge connecting the islands to the main land. Continuing to hold and not build until this is clear