Letters raise concerns about issues in the Redlands including threats to koala habitat, demographic changes, traffic congestion and livability.
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Koalas in the Redlands
The threat to koala habitat in the Redlands is at an extreme level due to “death by a thousand cuts”. The Birkdale Precinct which contains prime habitat is marked for the Olympic whitewater development, although opposed by more than 73% of residents.
The Ormiston College expansion proposal and the Heinemann Road Sports Complex both threaten long established koala habitat. Also, the ongoing PDA in southern Thornlands is becoming a tree-free zone. All of these are subject to community opposition of which the Redland Council must be aware.
Hence, it is with some surprise that the Redlands Council have brought to the public attention the need to watch for koalas, with huge bill-board signs appearing at the Redland Bay Rd, Old Cleveland Rd intersection and also in front of the overhead rail bridge on Old Cleveland Rd East. These are great bill-boards and one cannot but feel impressed by the beautiful koalas on these signs.
Meanwhile we must ensure that in the future these are not going to be the only way we can see a koala!
J.L.M.
Redlands
Hidden agendas in Redlands
Redlanders all, I think our Council is a failure. We are seeing things have gone out of control, regardless of the people’s power.
The promises of transparency and bringing things out into the open mean absolutely nothing, as they are nonexistent, as hidden agendas in private discussions always seem to find their way to fruition, one way or another.
Residents can also see beyond the needs and greed in development, the mindless lack of foresight and accountability within the Council’s town planning division, which has now created another 5-10 years of chaos within each project we transition through in this facelift, but now with twice as many people.
We now have another looming Valuer General report for the area, which will again compound further with the rates notices, making them even further out of reach, considering what we get in return.
I thought I would never have said it before, but today, I’m considering moving away from what was once a hidden treasure, it has now become a laughable option.
It’s not the modernising infrastructure killing things; the more than doubling of the population without development of services and manufacturing is only going to create a transient society, where it becomes unsustainable and heavily commuter-driven.
B.G.
Cleveland
Demographic storm
Australia is quietly heading into a demographic storm — a “grey tsunami” that could reshape our economy and way of life. Falling birth rates, longer lifespans and slowing migration mean our population is ageing faster than we’re ready for.
As more Australians retire and fewer young people enter the workforce, labour shortages are spreading across key sectors — from healthcare to construction. Productivity risks falling, while younger taxpayers shoulder a growing load to fund pensions and aged care.
Our hospitals and aged-care homes are already under pressure. The need for nurses, carers and specialists is soaring, yet the workforce itself is ageing. Costs rise, waiting times grow, and governments keep patching the system rather than reforming it.
Socially, communities are changing too. Smaller families mean fewer carers for ageing parents. Schools in some areas are closing while retirement villages multiply and medical services occupy the urban blight. The energy and innovation that once drove our nation risk being replaced by caution and constraint.
This is not just about getting older — it’s about balance. Australia needs policies that boost birth rates, attract skilled migrants and reform pensions and healthcare now, before the grey tide sweeps away our future prosperity.
P.R.
Cleveland
Traffic congestion
Having retired I now don’t have to join the traffic stress of peak hour anymore. So I guess when I do have to drive and join the snail pace of traffic, it makes me realise something needs to change.
Possible solutions could be more working from home, a greater use of public transport, staggered working hours or better still permanent school holidays. I am sure teachers and students would love that. It’s amazing to see the change in the traffic when school breaks up.
Realistically though we need to take a leaf out of Finland’s book by minimising individuals in cars.
More bike tracks and green spaces would help – and thoughtful planning to support this.
Instead of developers seizing land, building on it, then selling it to make a profit with no infrastructure, far more stringent conditions are needed.
This won’t get better as populations expand under the existing business as usual approach.
Lets do it before it’s too late
F.J.
North Stradbroke Island
More letters to Redlands2030
Koala extinction, shorebirds, ferry fares, daylight saving, fire ants – letters
Selective hearing, aged care changes, and speaking up: Letters
Hospital car parking, whitewater cost shifting, and middens cover up – in letters
Re FJ Nh Stradbroke Island on traffic congestion. Having retired to Capalaba within a hop, skip & jump from where the Palasczcuk/Miles Labor Government. along with Redlands ex-Mayor Karen Williams, secretly decided, after ex-Fed Member Andrew Laming, lied to Feds on releasing the withheld land since WWII to protect the Radio Receiving Station in Birkdale, for community use. Plan was to build a Whitewater Complex for 2032 Olympics. Imagine the shock on hearing Ms Palasczcuk announce on Channel 9 first evening locals were permitted to view the site over a 2-day period, that she would be hosting the Whitewater canoe-racing at the Olympics. Sign on-site of Whitewater facility received no attention from people ‘having their say,’ preferring nature based projects, walking trails, koala conservation, tourism, a place for people of all age groups. Politicians fail to consider impact on local community when clearing land for major projects, concentrating solely on the project itself. Entry is off Old Cleveland Rd East, leading to/from 4-way intersection at Capalaba, congestion beginning around 2:00 p.m. weekdays. Tradies especially drive vehicles powered by diesel, a carcinogenic fuel, causing cancer and other pollution related illnesses, along with road trauma, where several people have died between Finucane Rd Capalaba and Alexandra Hills. Development of backyards along Old Cleveland Rd East leading to entry of Birkdale land are being filled with units, houses, creating more traffic congestion as we have poor public transport in Redlands and commuters depend on personal transport. This land must be left as open space for the people with politicians all sides, finding a more suitable location for a Whitewater facility some 80% of Redlanders do not want, knowing they would be saddled with future maintenance costs. Too many people suffer with lung disease, respiratory ailments (as I do + heart disease) and for first time, have been asked for donation to help children suffering with cancer. Without health, you can’t have a productive workforce.