It seems clear from an ABC news story that the current Federal Government does not want to ‘save our bay’.
Letters to Redlands2030 have flowed in faster than normal in the shadow of the ABC’s revelations about the EPBC decisions by former Minister for Environment Josh Frydenberg.
Surely the Federal Government can’t sustain a business as usual approach. Equally the State Government should be making sure that public confidence in its decision making is restored.
Besides the to be expected views on the Toondah processes, there are concerns about the health of the Cleveland CBD.
ABC Blows the cover from Toondah EPBC decisions
Protesters reject the mega residential development at Toondah.
We were devastated when we heard the news on the ABC last week that Minister Frydenberg (former Environment Minister) went against his Department’s recommendation to declare Walker’s Proposal for Toondah Harbour as “clearly unacceptable” under the EPBC Act. Instead he made it a “controlled action”.
We were equally disappointed with the (former) Minister particularly as the defence of his position appeared to be based on jobs and economic development. Neither of these matters, we understand, has anything to do with the EPBC Act or the Federal Government’s criteria for Matters of National Environmental Significance. Certainly his actions were not consistent with the Member for Bowman’s undertakings that he would trust the expertise of the scientists in the Department of Environment to make an informed decision, without political interference.
Having listened to the ABC report in full, we can’t help but feel that the Minister’s decision looks to have been influenced by the “standing” of Walker Corporation.
We thought we lived in a democratic society. However, the donations the Walker Corporation contributed to both the Federal Liberal Party and the Queensland Labor Party, the lobbying that has been carried out and the apparent legal threats, raise questions as to the integrity of the EPBC process. It begs the question: why do we even have a Department of the Environment when a Minister can just make up his/her own mind against advice given by intelligent, well researched servants of the public?
We thought that the Minister was FOR the environment not against it and the task was to protect the environment. It is very irresponsible of the current generation not to protect the environment for the children of the future.
There is need for a full and transparent inquiry into the Toondah PDA processes and decision making to date This needs to start with the whim or thought bubble of former State Minister Jeff Seeney when he set alight the Toondah debacle.
A & I
Cleveland
Cleveland CBD Being Ignored
On the 4thof December it was announced that Redlands City Council is looking to upgrade the Capalaba CBD. While this move is bold it proves that not enough is still being done for the Cleveland CBD.
The Toondah PDA will become the Mayor’s Adani if this current council isn’t careful. The Premier is now questioning the
One of the sadder views of the Cleveland CBD
Adani projects finances publicly, so time will tell if the same can be said about the proposed mega complex on the mudflats which could cost both the environment and the taxpayer.
Cleveland will be getting more train services which is a plus but that said the businesses in Cleveland are on a lifeline. What Cleveland really needs is politicians that truly listen to the people and deliver a Cleveland CBD upgrade and port upgrade, without 3600 units. People who don’t open up honestly with the public and hide behind closed doors are not leaders.
There is hope yet when the Federal ALP slams the Toondah PDA’s handling by the then Environment Minister now Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. But more needs to happen and now!
Cal Sorensen Karklis
Cleveland
The ALP could have acted to protect the Toondah environment
Jackie Trad
We constantly hear how Labor are good for the environment yet they have let the Toondah rubbish go through to the EPBC referral stage. They could have stopped it at any time.
Just how serious is the Labor party and just how serious are Don Brown and Kim Richards about protecting their own backyard.
Maybe Redlands2030 should ask both of them directly about whether they support it all and then let us tell them what we feel about it at the next election.
I’m starting (IMOATT) to think that Don Brown is just as arrogant as that clown Laming. And as for Kim Richards it’s now time for her to stand up for the Bay!!
CP
Cleveland
Toondah news is revealing
I just heard the news re the referral process for the Toondah PDA.
A person commented that once in hands of Environment Department as a controlled action the project will go ahead.
Did Josh Frydenberg turn his back on it (the environment, which was his responsibility at the time)? Seems so as both major parties eagerly accepted donations from Walker Corp. This investigation seems to show that neither of the major parties know how to say NO.
This abuse of process happens no matter how destructive to marine life, how much abuse is heaped on the country being signatory to Ramsar Convention and how much objection is raised by the people.
Bring on civil disobedience to send a strong message to politicians…this massive project Toondah Project is not wanted!
AG
Capalaba
Letters published by Redlands2030 8 December 2012
Minor edits made on 10 December 2018
Please note: Offensive or off-topic comments will be deleted. If offended by any published comment please email thereporter@redlands2030.net
5 Comments
It is timely to prepare for an independent report like the Great Barrier Reef.
The Toondah Albatross
It would seem to me , and I guess to anyone taking a fleeting interest in what’s going on in this beautiful neck of the Bay, that the main mouthpiece proponents of the terrible Toondah Harbour proposal are;
Mayor Williams
Councillor Peter Mitchell
Andrew Laming (I choose NOT to use the prefix-Honourable)
They should be very concerned. My local barber tells me he has done his own informal survey on his customers views about Toondah and he reckons its at least 80% against!
His survey is self admittedly not very scientific, but would it be much less scientific than Lamings famously suspect surveys?. I doubt it.
So, if I were a local Federal Member seeking re election within 6 months, or indeed a Councillor seeking to be returned in a year or so I would be much more cautious in who and what I support.
If these 3 are unable to sniff the breeze that’s billowing through the area then I would suggest they should consider looking at back up employment opportunities.
We know they have little concern for the endangered Eastern Curlew but they should be worried about the Toondah albatross they will each carry into their respective elections.
P H Cleveland
I have just listened to the ABC RN podcast Background Briefing re Toondah Harbour – The bird and the businessman: A billionaire developer’s plan to build on a protected wetland – by Steve Cannane.
It reveals truly disturbing corporate influences on our Federal government and previous Environment Minister Frydenberg to move this inappropriate project a step closer to being approved!! If only these corporate machinations to secure favours from politicians at any cost, were instilled instead into philanthropic causes that benefit and enhance the Redlands community and our unique environment.
Good to see this important issue getting some serious attention, and without knowing a great deal about the processes involved, my gut is telling me something stinks, and it’s not the so much sought after wetlands.
The people of the bay areas live and stay because of what the natural environment offers, in the main we’re not interested in projects that seek to take away from that by erecting man made em battlements against this ecology. The building of such a complex that incorporates an abhorrent number of units so close to any fragile zone will no doubt artificially flood the area with thousands of people, and should only be seen as willful, negligent, environmental vandalism committed by all involved.
When will the latte sippers who sit around in the back rooms dreaming up ways to make money, get it through their thick heads that this misplaced notion of artificial population increases and movements will do their constituents no good in the long term, only harm. In fact, out of control population is the biggest danger our planet faces.
At best, the current local Government hierarchy needs to go, and good riddance.
Referral process undertaken now since Frydenberg’s decision to ignore his department’s advice has put at risk the protection of the RAMSAR convention on the wetlands of Moreton Bay. The committee currently regarding the referral have only not approved 11 out of 1700 in the past and those that met with approvals have usually been able to provide conditions such as offsets to allow their developments to proceed. Walkers have already tried to obtain offsets in Eastern China for this development but China recently changed its legislation about the use of wetlands by foreigners. Where locally would anybody be able to find other wetlands similar to those at Toondah to act as “offsets” that Walkers could offer containing the same type of foods and rest conditions absolutely essential to the migratory birds on the South East Asian flyway???????