Holey Moley, Toondah spin and koala fence

Uncertainty about the economic benefits of the having the Holey Moley TV series produced in the Redlands exist after one of this week’s letter writers exposes significant differences in the propaganda issued by Redland City Council and Screen Queensland.

Walker Group’s Toondah marketing spin and the Council’s erection of a koala protection fence are also raised in letters to Redlands2030.

If you have something to say to the Redlands community, email your letter to:

theeditor@Redlands2030.net

Holey Moley economic benefits questioned

The Free Dictionary describes “Holy Moley!” as an exclamation of surprise, shock, or astonishment.

The TV show of the same name  will grace our screens on  Monday 1^st February!

Why is there no public disclosure on the all too standard motherhood statement which we hear time and time again when politicians venture into the complexity of reality. 

You see, it’s all about  “job creation and economic benefit”.  

What exactly does that mean in relation to this TV show?

Well, according to the Redland City Council 9^th September 2020 media release, production of the TV show will create 100 local jobs and generate an economic benefit of $20 million. 

But hang on, according to a 21^st September media release from Screen Queensland , our peak body that invests in and supports the Queensland screen industry, this reality TV show will create 70 jobs and generate an economic benefit of $4.5 million to the economy.  

Why the forecast downgrade in the space of less than 2 weeks? 

A search on both the Council and Screen Queensland websites doesn’t disclose the calculations and assumptions behind their respective calculations.

Surely such calculations should be disclosed for the public record? They may well be correct, they may well be referencing different scenarios. If this is the case,  then why not say so?  Do we need to wait till their respective annual reports are presented to read and understand the logic behind the numbers? If indeed they will be included in the annual reports. 

If a company were to embark upon a share capital raise or issue bonds, for example, there is a whole raft of preparatory, disclosure and commentary to be provided to the investing public. 

100 jobs or 70 jobs?

$20 million or $4.5 million?

Why should a TV show made on Council owned land and  endorsed by Council under the motherhood statement of “job creation and economic benefit”  be any different?

“Holey Moley” – just how many staff did production of this show create and at what economic benefit to the residents of Redland City Council?

It will neither surprise nor shock that we will probably never know and politicians, again, astonished that the question should even be asked!

RP1
Cleveland

What about the negatives of the Toondah PDA? 

We have noticed recently that Walker Group has been placing half page advertisements in the Redland City Bulletin outlining imaginary positives of its still yet to be approved development proposal for Toondah Harbour. 

Many of these alleged benefits would not be seen for up to twenty years.

But Walker Group has mentioned nothing about their project’s obvious negatives.

The Walker Group advertisements are silent about:

·      Increased pressure of an extra 10,000 people on existing infrastructure, parking, schools, hospitals, roads, public transport, community services, etc,

·      A minimum of 30,000 extra car movements a day through an area with limited arterial road access,

·      Thousands of people living in a small area of multi-level buildings of up to ten storeys that current history has shown is not conducive to pandemic prevention,

·      Increased pollution including the stench that will be ever present throughout the area from the dredging of 42 hectares of Moreton Bay to accommodate up to 3,600 dwellings, 

·      The impact of heavy construction vehicles that will be using our already overloaded roads,

·      Disruption to the education of local school children from continual construction noise and pollution, 

·      Destruction of an international Ramsar migratory bird habitat that would further diminish Australia’s environmental reputation,

·      Destruction of a koala habitat,

·      Blocking of access to the Bay for users of G.J. Walter Park, and

·      Loss of sites and vistas of historical importance.

The hype about “jobs, jobs, jobs seems to blind the Toondah proponents and political decision makers to the real costs of the development!

B.D.
Cleveland

Temporary fencing cost?

How much did the “Temporary” fence cost in the off-leash area in G.J.Walter Park?

I believe it was put in place to protect a Koala joey from a dog attack. 

It was in place for 4 months and has just been removed.

Any Koala being attacked outside the fence would have had a hard time scaling the “Koala friendly” fence before it was mauled. The resident mother and joey were often outside the fence. 

How are decisions made concerning Koala protection in the Redlands?

And who exactly authorised the fence?  
       

RP2
Cleveland

More Letters To Redlands2030

Politicians: Not listening, Not caring

Holey Moley, Corporate Plan Gobbledegook And Toondah

Redlands Corporate Plan gets a serve

Redlands2030 – 24 January 2021