Promotion of Redlands as an international destination, a Council survey about residents’ use of beaches and foreshores, opinion polling in the Redlands, and some feedback for Redlands2030 are discussed in letters to the Editor.
Perhaps you have a view these issues or like matters, so take a few minutes to send your thoughts and ideas to theeditor@Redlands2030.net
Foreshore survey raises questions
At about 7.30am on 25 August, I encountered two men at Thorneside railway station wearing Redland City Council clothing and conducting a survey about residents’ use of beaches and shoreline areas.
I explained that I support the Redlands2030 position opposing development along the shoreline where it threatens important environmental values. At that point, they appeared to lose interest and did not offer me the survey.
Perhaps I am being cynical, but the experience left me questioning the purpose of the exercise and how the information will ultimately be used.
I would welcome Council officers explaining what the survey is for and who commissioned it, how participants were selected and whether the results will be publicly released.
Our shoreline belongs to the community. Residents deserve to know what Council is planning for it—and why it needs to know how we use it.
V.P.
Alexandra Hills
Editor’s note: Have your say about Redland City Council’s new Foreshore Access Strategy up until Sunday 6 September.
- Redlands2030 story: Redland City’s new Foreshore Access Strategy
- Redland City Council webpage: Shaping coastal connections
Who’s asking Redlanders what they think?
Someone with deep pockets is asking some very deep and interesting questions of Redland residents.
An interstate polling company is conducting a wide-ranging survey about local issues — including who residents might vote for as mayor from an interesting selection of candidates, the reputations of various (but notably not all) councillors, and views of Redland City Council.
There’s also considerable curiosity about the proposal recently floated by Council and developers to transform picturesque Mt Cotton into an industrial hub with small-lot housing.
And, intriguingly, there was even a question about Redlands2030.
So, who is paying to find out what Redlanders think about what’s happening now — and what might happen in the future?
Council? Developers? Political parties? Or someone else with a particular interest in the answers?
Whoever it is, they would be well advised to take one message from the survey: Redlanders want a genuine voice in decisions that affect their communities and their future.
Not token consultation. Not decisions made behind closed doors followed by cursory attempts to sell them to the community.
For years, Redland residents have been poorly served by governments that have failed to provide sufficient transparency, openness and honesty about major decisions affecting their lives and their local environment.
Perhaps this mysterious survey is a sign that someone has finally realised that what Redlanders think actually matters.
If so, let’s hope the survey points towards a new era of genuine community engagement — where residents are listened to before the big decisions are made, not after.
Otherwise, it could be $25,000-plus down the gurgler.
P.K.
Capalaba
Redlands Council should promote Ramsar wetlands
Redland City Council has been handed an extraordinary international branding opportunity — the recognition of Moreton Bay as a Ramsar wetland of international importance.
The Toondah debacle demonstrated just how much the Moreton Bay Ramsar area matters to the community. Yet, locally, there remains a lack of on-ground recognition, signage or information for either residents or visitors at key locations.
Rather than proudly leveraging this international status to promote the Redlands as a destination for nature-based tourism, environmental education, bid watching and sustainable economic activity, Council appears to have largely ignored it.
Perhaps Council simply doesn’t want to be reminded of how out of touch it was during the debate over the deeply unpopular proposal for 3,600 apartments in the waters of the Bay at Toondah Harbour.
International recognition of Moreton Bay’s spectacular wetlands and unique migratory birdlife — alongside our remaining koala habitat — has effectively been served up on a platter. Yet our response has been remarkably muted. Other communities would be spending serious money promoting such a prestigious environmental asset.
Why isn’t Redland City Council making more of it?
Perhaps it is time Council stopped looking for the next big development project and started promoting the outstanding international environmental asset we already have.
R.B.
Cleveland
Thanks for asking questions about issues that matter
I would like to acknowledge and thank Redlands2030 and its volunteers for their commitment and ongoing campaigns. They focus on issues that matter to our community — from Toondah Harbour and Whitewater to governance, planning and development, transparency, and the annual saga of the high Redland City rates.
The monthly Redlands2030 Town Hall meetings are a valuable community forum. They are consistently well attended, with a varied and interesting range of speakers and issues, providing residents with an opportunity to hear different perspectives, ask questions and stay informed about what is happening across our city.
Regardless of individual views on particular campaigns, Redlands2030 deserves credit for keeping important issues in the public spotlight and giving residents a voice.
Community advocacy takes commitment and persistence. Redlands is fortunate to have an organisation and people prepared to ask the difficult questions and hold our elected representatives to account.
I am but one grateful Redlands resident
J.D.
Cleveland
More letters to Redlands2030
Ratepayers question Redland City Council’s financial management
Campaign to save koala habitat at Ormiston College – letters
Is anybody else in the Southern Redlands noticing the increase in planes flying over our area?
regards
Anthony