Redlands2030 looks back at some of what happened in Redland City during the year 2020, month by month going back in time.
There are many pictures, and links to some of the stories published by Redlands2030 throughout 2020.
December
On 11 December the Planning and Environment Court handed down a decision which upheld an appeal against Redland City Council’s refusal of permission to build a McDonald’s fast food outlet in the car park of Birkdale Fair shopping centre.
This was a Council decision following officers’ recommendations and supported by all eleven of the Redland City councillors.
Tax transparency reports
Corporate tax transparency data published by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) shows that Walker Group Holdings reports $2.75 billion of income over the past six years but paid no tax. Of the 2,311 corporations in this year’s report only 80 (3.5%) have reported zero tax for each of the six years covered by the ATO’s corporate tax transparency reports.
November
Plans for 236-246 Queen Street, Cleveland opposed by community
Plans for 199 small apartments on land at 236-246 Queen Street have an interesting history going back to 2016, before the current Redland City Plan was finalised with this site’s zoning mysteriously flipping from Environmental Management to Medium Density at the last possible minute.
October
2020 State election
At the 2020 State election on 31 October 2020 the four members of parliament who represent Redlands voters were all returned.
- Capalaba was retained by Don Brown (Labor) with 59.81% 2PP
- Oodgeroo was retained by Mark Roboinson LNP with 54.48% 2PP
- Redlands was retained by Kim Richards (Labor) with 53.90% 2PP
- Springwood was retained by Mick de Brenni (Labor) with 58.30% 2PP
Ahead of the election Redlands2030 coordinated roadside actions to increase community awareness of plans for residential development on wetlands next to Toondah Harbour.
The 1980s attempt to destroy the Toondah wetlands
In the late 1980s plans for real estate development on wetlands next to Toondah Harbour were given some encouragement by the National Party government. After strong community opposition the Government pulled its support and the project was terminated. Using previously confidential cabinet papers Redlands2030 provided a detailed account of what happened.
September
Holey Moley deal exposed by Redlands2030
In September Redlands2030 revealed that a TV game show series was going to be filmed next to the animal pound at 240 South Street, Thornlands.
The show was filmed a few weeks later creating a significant night time noise disturbance for nearby residents. They have petitioned the Council to find a new site for any future filming of this TV show.
Right to Information searches show that the Council had been discussing this project secretively with Eureka Productions since October 2019.
August
Toondah inquiry petition sets Redlands record
A petition to State parliament calling for an independent inquiry into the Toondah Harbour project was signed by 6,063 Queensland residents.
No other Redlands related petition to State Parliament has attracted such strong community support during the past two decades.
July
Birkdale radio receiving site added to State Heritage Register
A World War II radio receiving site in Birkdale was added to the State Heritage Register by the Queensland Heritage Council.
Following strong advocacy from Pam Spence of the Birkdale Progress Association, the footprint of the heritage listed area was increased significantly to include one of the rhombic antenna sites.
We wrote about this in:
Community champions thrilled by Birkdale Heritage win
June
Council spending on the Eastern Escarpment Conservation Area
The State MP for Capalaba Don Brown spoke in Parliament about Redland City Council’s decision to use $2.1 million of State grant funding on facilities in the Eastern Escarpment Conservation Area which he said “materially benefits the mayor’s backyard”.
May
Heinemann Road planning study
A planning study carried by Redland City Council found that land in Heinemann Road Mt Cotton which cost ratepayers $7,348,000 would yield only 21 hectares of sports and recreation facilities.
This was about 45% of the area originally anticipated to be usable when the property was purchased by Council from the Goleby family in 2017.
EPBC Act submission by Redlands2030
Redlands2030 made a submission to the independent review of Australia’s national environment laws – the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
April
April was notable for what didn’t happen. Due to COVID-19 public health concerns ANZAC Day was commemorated without the services and parades which attract large crowds.
March
Local council elections
Local council elections were held during March 2020 with widespread concerns about COVID-19. The percentage of enrolled voters not participating in the 2020 elections was 18.6% compared with a 13.7% non-participation rate in the 2016 elections.
Mayor Karen Williams scraped back into office with a very narrow win over challenger Claire Richardson. Mayor Williams’ final margin after distribution of preferences was just 0.89% which makes her one of Queensland’s least popular mayors. Only four of the state’s 77 mayors were elected with narrower margins.
Two incumbent councillors were defeated by challengers. Rowanne McKenzie took Division 7 from long serving councillor Murray Elliott. Cr Paul Gleeson who had been found guilty of misconduct on several occasions lost Division 9 to Adelia Berridge.
Cleveland Train Station approval questioned
In March 2020 we reported that plans for construction of 124 apartments and coffee shop at the Cleveland Train Station had received final approval.
But the approval by a council officer acting under delegation appeared to be legally invalid because it approved development on land which was not the subject of the original development application. Embarrassing!
February
Community opposed to Toondah plans
A survey showing strong community opposition to the proposed Toondah Harbour residential development project was published by Redlands2030.
Indigiscapes expansion officially opened
The Indigiscapes environmental centre was reopened on 21 February 2020 by Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe and Redlands Mayor Karen Williams with speeches and a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The Indigiscapes Centre had been closed for more than 12 months while undergoing a $3.7 million expansion project.
January
Wellington Point apartments refused by Council
At a special meeting on 7 January Redland City Council considered a controversial development application to build ten apartments on an 810m2 property in Wellington Point, at 18 Chermside Street.
Prior to the special meeting, developer Todd Reinke announced that he would be running for council against Division 1 Councillor Wendy Boglary.
The development application was refused in a 7/4 vote but this decision was overturned a few weeks later by the Planning and Environment Court.
When nominations were called for the council elections a few weeks later, Mr Reinke was notably missing from the list of candidates for Division 1.
Aunty Joan Hendriks remembered
In late January, we remembered the life and achievements of Aunty Joan Hendriks – a highly respected Ngugi woman and Quandamooka elder who lived her last decades on country, on Minjerribah.
Redlands2030 reviews for earlier years
If you want to know what happened in earlier years:
2019 in review – a Redlands2030 recap
Redland City in 2018 – a Redlands2030 recap
Redlands2030 – 31 December 2020
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2 Comments
Interesting when council makes a decision that benefits the community by not approving an inappropriate development, it is overturned by the Planning and Environment Court, that is apartment block at Wellington point and MacDonalds at Birkdale Fair shopping Centre. Perhaps the court should visit the site to see for themselves what the situation is and give them a better understanding as to why the application was not approved?
What a year of dodgy deals from a majority of redland councillors. Over $7m of ratepayers money spent on land that won’t even come close to the sporting facilities needed and now they want to spend more money wonder if it will be in South Thornlands and who benefits? Mayor Williams was most outspoken on the sporting facilites planned back in 2011 and after her stuff up of spending $7m on 21 hectares for sporting fields plus millions to build the fields the 2011 plan was bargain. Watch out for purchase of land in South Thornlands with a different zoning add more millions to the cost, wonder who will benefit?