Letters this week discuss the impact of suburban block splitting on neighborhood livability, questions about the controversial Toondah residential project and implications of fewer high rollers visiting Queensland casinos due to anti-corruption action overseas.
A lifetime’s dreams…gone!
I feel for the home buyers who take the time to purchase their house in our paradise.
Then one day in comes the demolition gang to knock down a house just nearby. A lifetime’s dreams gone.
Split block. Not enough parking. Everything that goes with higher density living.
Some will say they should have done their homework. No point really as EVERY AREA is not safe anymore from this rampant process. Objecting through council will do them no good.
A disgrace it is.
LS
Cleveland
Toondah’s secret deal hides risks to ratepayers
The Toondah Development Agreement has not been made publicly available. Why not?
What has also not been made available to the public is the cost to ratepayers if the Redland City Council reneges on the deal.
In the RCC General Meetings minutes 7 March 2018 (11.1.1 Petition to Council Toondah Harbour) under ISSUES the minutes clearly state:
“If Council unilaterally withdraws from the Development Agreement before the project is completed….the impact upon Council and consequently ratepayers will be significant.” and
“As with many contracts, there are penalties for withdrawing from the contract. If Council breaches the Development Agreement, Council will be required to pay to Walker Group and to EDQ, the amount of money that could have been made from the project. This amount is confidential, as the Development Agreement is confidential.”
Who signed such an agreement placing the ratepayers at financial risk?
Who are the councilors who ratified the deal and then agreed to make it confidential?
One would expect that in a contract the liability for reneging would be limited to the developer’s costs to date but NOT EXPECTATIONS of profit.
M.F.
Thornlands
Councillors should state their position on Toondah!
With local council elections coming up, I think it’s time that all Councillors and the Mayor make an open and frank statement on their position on wildlife protection and habitat conservation in general and the proposed devastation of Toondah Harbour in particular without hiding behind the excuse that the decision is up to the Federal government.
Those that favour this development should come clean about the almost certain structural degradation of the roads and the homes in the impact zone and the extraction routes.
What will the effect be on property values?
I’m glad I didn’t just build either of the new blocks of units on Wharf Street, but at least they might act as a buffer zone for dust and noise!
Is there a compensation plan for those residents and businesses who will be adversely affected before, during and after?
What is the proposed extraction route for the sewage? A lot will be generated every morning, I’m sure. And who’s paying for what?
Is there a traffic management plan for during construction and when occupied how will the residents get in and out?
We need these answers NOW! So I challenge ALL councillors to respond.
JK
Cleveland
Poker machines and high rollers
From about 2012 under Campbell Newman, then under Annastacia Palaszczuk, the Queensland Government has waxed lyrical about new casinos to attract the Chinese high rollers to Queensland.
Well, unfortunately, Chinese President Xi, made it patently clear (just ask James Packer) that the Chinese government was going to make the high rollers’ spending money evaporate.
It’s a poorly kept secret that much of the money that leaves China, frequently comes into Australia for the purposes of money laundering.
If fewer high rollers will be dropping in to Australia, there needs to be a new business model for casinos, one aiming to garner more “local” dollars, one where the one arm bandits and entertainment need to rise again.
Casinos will be competing more keenly with clubs and pubs.
That could surely be a major part of the reason for the slow decision on new casinos.
RH
Brisbane
More letters to Redlands2030
Wildlife, the Cleveland train line and air quality
Koalas, Raby Bay, Toondah secrecy and SLAPP
Toondah proposal blasted in residents’ letters
If you have something to say, email your letter to: theeditor@redlands2030.net
Redlands2030 – 30 November 2019
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3 Comments
Toondah Secret Deal
I would just like to add my support to the MF letter this week. Surely it can`t be correct that RCC has accepted responsibility for the loss of profits if the project does not proceed. This could well mean that this project could easily send the RCC into bankruptcy. Walker could very easily fabricate future blue sky numbers for such a challenge. We as residents must know where the Candidates for next March stand on this issue and committment to transparency. The future (the next 50 years) of RCC is very much at stake. It really is that important for our children and grandchildren.
I agree with the writer talking about split blocks ruining paradise. Sometimes we can be enjoying the peace and quiet (as much as we can on a main road with the traffic we get these day). Then we hear squealing, ear piercing squeals and we jump up to see who is in trouble only to find the young kid over the road and down 3, screaming because he didn’t get what he wanted. All i can think is school holidays are on so this will be a daily event for weeks now. Then i think thank the lord we aren’t on a split block with screaming kids next door. That would make life a nightmare and we would be forced to move.
We have a few councillors in Redland City Council who are trying to do the right thing by the residents and the environment of the Redlands but they are being out-voted by a block of councillors on every single important issue, the most important being a proposal by a wealthy developer to dredge part of the Ramsar Protected shore-bird zone for a high-rise commercial development. It has now got the stage where residents have had enough of mismanagement by the Council and I believe we need to do what was done with Ipswich City Council – dismiss the whole council.