Local news coverage, the non-dismissal of Redland City Council, net zero and Roundup are discussed in letters to the Editor.
We have time to publish more letters before Christmas so keep them coming by email to theeditor@redlands2030.net
P.S. Lighting of the Christmas Tree at Raby Bay Harbour Park was held on 28 and 29 November 2025 – photos and video.
P.P.S. Redland City Council has extended the time for you to have a say about its next budget to 7 December 2025. More information in: Redland City Council spending priorities – community consultation – UPDATED survey closing date extended to Sunday 7 December 2025
Redlanders deserve better local news
The Redland Bayside News’ latest attempt to revive the whitewater facility proposal reads like a rerun no one asked for. Dusting off a long-discredited project and propping it up with quotes from a former mayor whose credibility on the issue evaporated years ago does nothing to strengthen the case. If anything, it underscores just how flimsy the argument always was.
The article repeats the same tired claims while ignoring the core problem: the whitewater facility was never viable—financially, environmentally, or politically. No credible business case, no proof of long-term sustainability, and certainly no community mandate.
Even the paper itself previously reported widespread scepticism and a clear lack of support. That inconvenient truth seems to have vanished along with any semblance of balanced reporting. What’s most frustrating is the refusal to engage with present-day realities.
Our community is grappling with real issues—affordable housing, crumbling infrastructure, transport pressures. Instead we are served yet another puff piece about an expensive, high-risk vanity project the community decisively rejected.
Redlanders deserve better than nostalgia masquerading as news. The whitewater dream sank years ago. It’s time the commentary finally caught up.
B.H.
Cleveland
Do nothing and nothing changes!
According to Local Government Minister Leahy who has been in the job for five minutes, Redlands Council does NOT meet the threshold to be dismissed regardless of the rorts and wastage of money not to mention the overwhelming opposition to the Birkdale Olympic white-water project. How could she make a determination so quickly with so little time in the job?
Talk about a reckless waste of taxpayers money throwing good money after bad on superfluous legal cases. Whoever is advising Council about Native Title needs to do some serious research. NT claims have been lodged over Brisbane for decades and if you are going to sue on NT claim land best make sure the costs of Federal Court litigation don’t bankrupt us.
Such is the palpable waste not to mention the petty bickering and juvenile arguing in the Council meetings. Ratepayers are footing the bill for our Councillors to sit there and waste time and money on trivialities and infighting when there are more important works to be done like building new roads and infrastructure. The parking near Redlands Hospital is diabolical. The Birkdale Olympic venue still hovers over Council and exactly how much is this costing for consultants and advisors?
Questions must also be asked about the actual role of the Redland Investment Corporation and how much it is costing us? What do they do with our money and who is getting paid to do what? Lets hear from anyone who can enlighten us about the RIC’s role.
I look forward to any feedback to this letter. Remember the old adage, do nothing and nothing changes.
Mr No more wastage
Birkdale
Liberals walk back net zero
Photo: Photo: Stacey Whitlock, Redland City Bulletin
Watching the Liberals desperately trying to keep the Coalition alive is like them trying to fill a bath but not putting the plug in.
Let’s hope they start being realistic sometime soon about the environment. The science shows we have an issue, the Liberals need to study the science rather than introduce distractions. It beggars belief that they have walked back on net zero.
This when the message that Sussan Ley gives is she wants better future for children. Has she read any of the science?
F.J.
Logan Reserve
Stop using glyphosate it’s a carcinogen
I wrote to mayor Mitchell to draw her attention to Chantelle Court Park, Capalaba. I have had a personal interest since moving a hop, skip and a jump from it, and I visited there recently.
There I noticed a few weeds in a garden bed by a cul-de-sac on a cleared edge, and I had a compulsion to remove them. On doing so, I felt a wet patch and could smell the poison, Roundup! This product is known for its glyphosate, and in cancer studies, is linked to cancer. There should be signs warning people when poisons are used to kill weeds, and that includes Redland City Council.
I recall over a decade ago visiting Keith St Reserve with my puppy when a home owner came running out towards me yelling to not let the dog near the edge of vegetation since it had just been sprayed. The dog was heading towards the sprayed area it so I pulled him back…just in time. Kids and dogs should be safe to frolic in local parks without fear of ingesting or running over poisons. I was reminded, and as for first time, I have been asked to donate to research into children’s cancers.
I read recently where…is it Moreton Bay Council…uses STEAM?
Huge clusters of Lomandra are used as border plants around shopping centres, median strips, etc. needing little care, and it stifles weed growth. Noticed at Bunnings a small version could be used on borders surrounding garden beds in parks, so avoiding use of poisons. It’s called ‘Lomandra Little Con’…it is an attractive version of large ones.
I understand, thirty three countries have banned use of glyphosate, the key ingredient in Roundup. Research on cancer categorizes glyphosate as a probable carcinogen for humans. Redland City Council should consider other methods of killing weeds, and ban use of this poison in our local parks. Commuity health should be a priority.
A.G.
Capalaba
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