Controversial plans for development of 199 units at 236-246 Queen Street in Cleveland, changes to dog access restrictions in some public places, and City Plan amendments for local heritage protection are on the agenda for Redland City Council’s monthly meeting on 17 March 2021.
A motion about protection of freshwater bodies, proposed by Cr Paul Golle (Division 3), is listed for discussion.
The agenda includes seven confidential items which are detailed below together with the full agenda contents and details of how you can access a full copy of the agenda including the officers’ reports for non-confidential items.
199 units proposed for development on land once zoned environmental
Plans to develop a retirement facility with nearly 200 “semi dependent” single bedroom apartments on land at 236-246 Queen Street Cleveland will be considered by Redland City Council on Wednesday.
The officers report says that councillors don’t have much time to think about this matter – the deadline for making a decision on this application is 17 March 2021 (the day of the Council meeting). If Councillors don’t make a decision on this day then in accordance with the Planning Act 2016, the developer will get a deemed approval.
This developer is controversial because of the way in which this property’s zoning changed significantly from Environmental Protection to Medium Density Residential, after much of the site’s vegetation was cleared.
The officer’s report does not include much of the site’s interesting history including details of two court cases between the Council and the site owners Adam and Michelle Webb. The fact that site owner Mr Adam Webb was employed in the Council’s planning department is not mentioned directly, but there is a cryptic comment that:
“The submission in relation to this property was assessed by an external planning consultant.”
The officers’ report goes on to say: “Council engaged an external planning consultant (Reel Planning) to provide assessment advice to Council and this advice has been considered by assessment officers in their assessment of the application.”
Why are the advice from the external planning consultant and this consultant’s terms of engagement not attached to the officers’ report?
The officers’ report also does not mention that this proposed development has attracted significant opposition from the local community including a petition to Council signed by 235 people, including over 100 from the immediate vicinity.
Some of the history of this project including links to the court case files were included in a story published by Redlands2030 on 29 November 2020: From trees to units – 236-246 Queen Street, Cleveland
One of the interesting omissions from Redland City Council’s publicly available records is any document which explains why the court cases were discontinued. Normally, decisions about such cases would be a matter that is decided at a Council meeting.
Changes to dog restrictions proposed after community consultation
In 2020 the Council consulted with the community about proposed changes to relax laws which restrict dogs from various public places including Wellington Point Reserve, Beth Boyd Park in Thorneside, Redland Bay Esplanade, Yeo Park in Victoria Point and Swamp Box Conservation Area in Capalaba.
The officers’ report to Council for Item 13.3 includes details of the feedback provided during community consultation and proposes that most of the proposed relaxations be adopted with two exceptions;
- The changes for Wellington Point Reserve are proposed to be for a trial period of six months; and
- It is proposed that the current prohibition on dog access to Swamp Box Conservation Area be retained.
These relaxations do not alter requirements for dogs to be kept on leash except in designated dog off leash areas.
The community consultation submission review attached to the officers’ report for Item 13.3 recommends that the council review its current compliance regime, saying:
The community as a whole whether in favour or against the restrictions were clear in their views, and are seeking an increased presence in the community by compliance officers to manage the current restrictions, specifically noting dogs off leash and dogs at Wellington Point on Weekends.
Protection of Wellington Point home will be local heritage decision
The protection of about 50 local heritage places, including a house at 509 Main Road Wellington Point threatened with immediate demolition, will be discussed as a confidential item on Wednesday.
This agenda item includes “Interim Protection Options to Safeguard Local Heritage Places Prior to the Commencement of Heritage Major Amendment”.
After Redlands2030 revealed that the old house at 509 Station Street Wellington Point was about to be demolished, the issue was also covered in stories by the Redland City Bulletin and Redlands Community News.
Mayor Karen Williams wrote to the State Government on 15 January asking for this property to be considered for State heritage listing.
The State Government agreed to use its powers under the Queensland Heritage Act 1992 to stop any action on the property while its heritage status was considered by the Queensland Heritage Council. A decision is expected to happen at the Heritage Council’s next meeting on 26 March 2021.
But following a publicly advertised call for submissions, the State Government is recommending to the Heritage Council that this property NOT be added to the Queensland Heritage Register. It seems unlikely that the Heritage Council will go against a departmental recommendation that this property does not qualify for State heritage listing.
So the decisions made by Redland City Council at its meeting on Wednesday are likely to determine if this property, which Council has already found to be of local heritage significance, will be preserved – or demolished.
The Council’s proposal to give about 50 properties local heritage listing through an amendment to the City Plan were put out for community consultation in October 2020.
Cr Golle’s motion to protect freshwater bodies
In recent weeks Cr Paul Golle (Division3) has been advocating publicly for the Council to amend the City Plan to protect freshwater bodies such as old farm dams from being destroyed by projects such as new housing estates.
Cr Golle’s push for better protection of freshwater wetlands is discussed in this Redland City Bulletin story.
A 52 lot housing project on coastal land in Thornlands was approved by the Council in November 2020 despite opposition from Cr Golle. This project was discussed by Redlands2030 ahead of that Council meeting.
In his notice of motion Cr Golle says:
“Wetlands, historic farm dams and riparian corridors in the Redlands are threatened by earthworks where developers have been allowed to back fill natural overland flow paths, drastically changing the landscape. Drainage and water extraction from urban development are all activities which now pose threats to private properties through flooding, further impacting wildlife corridors, depleting, and changing natural overland flows.”
The complete wording of Cr Golle’s lengthy notice of motion is presented below – click to enlarge each page.
Confidential items on the 17 March meeting agenda
Seven confidential items are listed for discussion at this meeting:
19.1 Voluntary Transfer of Land Concession [for overdue rates and charges]
19.2 Review of Options to Enhance the Protection of Core Habitat and Wildlife Corridor
Habitat in the Urban Footprint of the City
19.3 Investigation into the Purchase of Conservation Land
19.4 Investigation into Purchase of Land at Ormiston [presumably about the koala habitat land in Cowley Street].
19.5 Heritage Major Amendment 03/19 and Interim Protection Options to Safeguard Local
Heritage Places Prior to the Commencement of Heritage Major Amendment 03/19
19.6 City Plan Major Amendment Package (04/20): Medium Density Residential Zone Code
Review – State Interest Review
19.7 Project Delivery Group – Delegated Authority Report to Chief Executive Officer for
Award of Contract over $2M for Financial Year 2020/2021 [for a playground and park upgrade].
Agenda contents and link to officers’ reports
A full copy of the agenda including officers’ reports for non-confidential items (235 pages) is available on the Council’s website.
The meeting will be video recorded (except for confidential discussions) and this video recording will be posted to the meeting video recordings webpage on the Council website. Videos usually appear within 48 hours of the meeting.
The Council usually publishes the meeting minutes about one week after the meeting. Meeting minutes include the wording of all resolutions adopted and details of which councillors voted for or against every resolution – including the confidential items. When published, the minutes will appear on this Council webpage.
Here are the contents of the agenda for Redland City Council’s general meeting on 17 March 2021.
Redlands2030 – 14 March 2021
Please note: Offensive or off-topic comments will be deleted. If offended by any published comment please email thereporter@redlands2030.net