Here are some of the things that happened during 2025 in the Redlands, based on reports throughout the year by Redlands2030.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred
In March 2025, tropical cyclone Alfred impacted severely on Redlands and elsewhere in southeast Queensland. The cyclone’s eye came close to North Stradbroke Island on the evening of 7 March 2025, before passing over Moreton Island around 1:00am on 8 March 2025. Strong winds brought down trees causing power outages affecting more than 500,000 in southeast Queensland. Some Redlands residents were without power for several days.
Courthouse Restaurant sells for $4 million
On 12 June 2025 the Old Courthouse at 1 Paxton Street in Cleveland sold for $4 million (excluding GST) at an on-site auction attended by more than 60 people.
The property has been listed on the Queensland Heritage Register since 1992.
The new owner, Mr Rajinder Singh, is associated with the Indian Brothers chain of restaurants.
It’s reported that the property will be used as a restaurant and venue for weddings and other functions after being restored to preserve its historic integrity. The property is expected to open in stages beginning in 2026.
Toondah Harbour Priority Development Area
Following Tanya Plibersek’s announcement on 9 March 2024 that she intended to refuse Walker Group’s plans for 3600 apartments on the Toondah wetland, Walker Group withdrew its proposal saying that it needed “an appropriate amount of time” to … determine whether an alternative scheme would be viable for the project partners which include Redland City Council and the State Government.
Redland City Council announced in February 2025 that it was “recently provided with a confidential briefing” on a draft concept plan prepared by Walker Corporation as the preferred development partner for the project. Since then, no news.
Meanwhile, an alternative plan for improving Toondah Harbour (the Better Plan) prepared by John Mongard Landscape Architects for an alliance of community organizations (including Redlands2030) was presented to the community at markets and public meetings in Cleveland and Dunwich. Feedback has been generally positive though concerns were expressed about increasing visitation to North Stradbroke Island and the need to engage genuinely with Indigenous people.
In late 2025 Australia’s national environment laws were updated. Speaking about the new laws, Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt said: “If a property developer wanted to build a development in the middle of an internationally listed wetland, that’s almost certainly going to get a no at the end of a process, and we might as well put everyone out of their misery early and give them a quick no …”.
Weinam Creek Priority Development Area
In December 2025 Redland City Councillors voted 7/3 on an urgent motion from Cr Shane Rendalls to limit the Redland Investment Corporation’s role in developing a multi-storey car park at the Weinam Creek ferry terminal. Council has not explained this decision including likely impacts on timing of car park construction, the number of car parks that might be built, and any cost implications for ratepayers or car park users.
Since February 2024, the Council had been working with its preferred development partner the Consolidated Properties Group to deliver a multi-storey car park and retail precinct within the Weinam Creek Priority Development Area (PDA). But at its meeting on 10 December 2025, the Council resolved that the Memorandum of Understanding with the developer will not be extended after it expires on 31 December 2025. It seems that the State Government will now be developing the multi-storey car park to meet the needs of residents on the southern Moreton Bay islands. But when?
Southern Thornlands Priority Development Area
In April 2025 the LNP State Government declared the Southern Thornlands Priority Development Area, claiming that over the next 20 years this area would have about 8,000 new homes, new shopping centres, parkland and community facilities.
An initial release area for about 800 dwellings known as Precinct 1 was fast tracked for immediate development by Mirabel Thornlands Pty Ltd which is jointly owned by two companies: Harridan Consolidated Pty Ltd and URBEX 124 Pty Ltd.
Heinemann Road land purchase
After spending $7.3 million in 2017 purchasing land at Heinemann Road in Mount Cotton with the expectation of being able to develop 46 hectares of sports fields, Redland City Council has found that very little of this land is suitable for its intended purpose, and the cost of complying with Federal environment laws would make development of sports fields prohibitively expensive.
To ensure that the community could understand what was happening (or not happening) Redlands2030 wrote a multi-part series about the Council’s purchase of 277-293 Heinemann Road (Part 1), the Council’s planning for new sports and recreation facilities on this land (Part 2), and the Federal Government’s assessment of impacts of the Council’s proposed development on Koala habitat (Part 3).
Redlands Whitewater Centre
The LNP Government’s 100 day review of infrastructure for the 2032 Olympics recommended that canoe slalom events be held at the proposed Redlands Whitewater Centre. During 2025, the Project Validation Report for this facility appears to have been completed but the report has not been made publicly available so the community is unable to check any claims that Redland City Council has made regarding the project’s financial viability.
In December 2025 the procurement of a design consultant was kicked off by Games Independent Infrastructure Coordination Authority (GIICA). Information disclosed at this time shows that several elements of this facility are to be the responsibility of Redland City Council, including the floodable streetscape intended for use by State Government agencies for swift water rescue training.
Ormiston College seeks Ministerial Infrastructure Designation
During 2025 Ormison College sought approval for its campus development plans by State Government ministerial infrastructure designation, having earlier been refused a permit by the Redland City Council because of impacts on State Government protected koala habitat.
Ormiston College’s plans include clearing of 652 non-junvenile koala habitat trees. Their consultant ecologist downplayed the presence of koalas in the area but a letter from Redland City Council to the State Government has raised questions about the need for more thorough ecology investigations.
Meanwhile, community members are finding several koalas in and around the area that Ormiston College is proposing to destroy, and promoting community awareness of the risk to Ormiston’s koala population.
Redland City Council
Yet again, Redland City Council has the highest rates and charges in southeast Queensland based on comparison of median residential property values.
The dysfunctional behaviour of Redlands elected officials resulted in a petition to Queensland Parliament signed by 1495 people calling for the Council to be dissolved. In response, the minister for Local Government Ann Leahy said: “I want to assure the Redland community that I take their concerns regarding the council seriously. Both I and the Department… remain committed to closely monitoring the situation”.
In December 2025 the Director-General of Local Government appointed Mr Chris Rose, a former CEO of Logan and Toowoomba city councils, to be a Governance Advisor to Redland City Council. His costs will be paid for by Redland City Council ratepayers.
During 2025 the Council persisted with attempts to purchase property in the Cleveland CBD to “revitalize” the area. In March 2025, the Council bought 96 Bloomfield Street for $2,557,500. A few months later the Council missed out on buying 99 Bloomfield Street (the Metro Arcade) which was bought by the Place Group for $6.5 million.
In the Queensland Court of Appeal, Redland City Council lost an appeal over a case of tree clearing on North Stradbroke island. The Council has decided to seek leave to appeal to the High Court.
In the Federal Court, Judge Stewart heard arguments in the Quandamooka Coast Native Title Claim which Redland City Council is opposing.
Redland City Council’s CEO wrote to local resident Emmanuelle Rouseau giving her a 12 month ban from contacting Redland City Council about its introduction of a fee for issuing paper rates notices, because of her alleged “unreasonable persistence” and “unreasonable lack of cooperation”.
A developer’s application to demolish two historic buildings in Shore Street East which are on the Council’s local heritage register provoked much community reaction and many submissions to the Council.
in January 2025 Redland City Council announced it had completed its restoration of Willard’s Farm in Birkdale with the property to be opened for community use later in 2025. We are now at the very end of 2025 but Willard’s farm is still inaccessible to the community.
The Council has spent a huge amount on this restoration project (including a contract with Baroque Group Pty Ltd for $5,066,985). But it seems there’s been little thought about how the property might be used, given that it does not meet accessibility requirements and can (we understand) hold only about six people at a time.
Perhaps it could be used as a clubhouse for Redlands residents who support the construction of a whitewater facility?
State Politics
The LNP ruled the roost in State Parliament during 2025, following its big election win in October 2024.
In February 2025 the LNP announced that the 50 cents Translink fares, which were introduced on a six month trial basis by the Labor Party, would now be “permanent”. A 50% subsidy on vehicle barge travel for southern Moreton Bay island residents was announced in the State Government Budget effective from August 2025.
No major investments in transport infrastructure for the Redlands were announced in the State Budget. Parking at Redland Hospital remains a hot button issue despite pre-election campaigning on this issue by local MP and Assistant Minister Amanda Stoker (LNP).
In December 2025 the State Government blindsided the Quandamooka People by announcing that L.J. Hooker had been appointed to sell off a large block of land at Ballow Road Dunwich for tourism purposes. The Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) has called for consultation and several Elders are calling on the state government to immediately halt the sale process and release all decision-making records related to the land.
Federal politics
At the Federal Elections held on 3 May 2025 the Albanese Labor Government was re-elected with an increased majority.
For the seat of Bowman which covers Redland City, incumbent Henry Pike (LNP) narrowly held on with 52.43% of the two party preferred (2PP) vote. His little known young Labor opponent Darcy Brown achieved a 3.08% swing consistent with the national 2PP swing to Labor.
Following the elections, Henry Pike was appointed to be an Opposition Whip.
Keep on top of Redlands news in 2026
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