Luxury apartments and coastal development

Letters to the Editor – 10 September 2023

Plans to squeeze more people into the Redlands, the impact on our coastal areas, and claims that luxury apartments at Toondah Harbour would solve the current housing shortage – are discussed in letters published by Redlands2030.

If you have something to say about a topical issue email your letter to theeditor@redlands2030.net

Picnic at Raby Bay

My wife and I thought we’d have a nice, peaceful picnic at Raby Bay Beach recently.

During our sandwiches and tea, we were visited by a woman taking photos on her mobile phone. Passing the time of day, we said hello and wasn’t it a nice quiet spot for contemplation?

Had she heard of the Toondah plans to turn our area into an unmanageable quagmire of people and traffic and people without any plans for how it would affect our suburb?

When we then we exchanged addresses she came from Raby Bay nearby, while we came from Cleveland, already being cluttered by medium rise units.

“Ah yes,” she said. “but who is going to keep all this going?” and with a vague, mental wave of her hand I suspect, indicated all the currently open space around. “Retirees” I retorted.

But she then left and continued to photograph all the open area and beach including, I suspect us. We fully expect to appear in some Real Estate promo, too small to pick out but enough to indicate we actually had some nice quiet space in the sunshine that we now ‘ought’ to be prepared to share, instead of being so selfish as to want what is currently available.

This is why we bought here. One wonders how long it will last …….. Perhaps Redlands2030 might like to share our concerns?

One only has to look at what is currently being foisted on other coastal cities to see where we are headed, especially as the State Government has recently taken over the power to dictate what will happen in our suburb.

P.O.
Cleveland

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Luxury apartments and housing stock

My wife and I live in Sydney but have been ongoing strong supporters of all the protests against the proposed development of 3,600 apartments on the mudflats of Toondah Harbour, which will occur at the expense of the destruction of the internationally significant protected wetland and bird habitat that currently lies there.

A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to join two wonderful friends who live close by Toondah Harbour. They were able to take us through all the issues associated with this outrageous development proposal, and we explored the whole area first-hand to really appreciate what a disgraceful impact this will have on the local area, including both the local natural environment and the urban environment. 

Mr Don Brown’s recent comments in support of the Toondah development as a solution to the housing shortage must surely be tongue-in-cheek! When do thousands of multi-million dollar apartments and a marina for the well-to-do contribute to the housing stock for those currently experiencing problems getting or keeping a roof over their heads? I am at a loss to even understand why Mr Brown would be offering such views.

May all those supporting the retention of Toondah Harbour as an extremely valuable part of our natural environment remain strong in their conviction that Toondah Harbour is worth far more than money.

B.R.
Sydney

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Redlands and the SEQ Regional Plan

Take note of the State government’s planning for Redlands and ponder for a moment the nonsense contained in the report. It is projected to be a 31% increase in Redlands housing stock over the next decade or so. How was this figure ever arrived at and why 31% and not 30 or 50%?

It is obviously bureaucratic number-crunched town planning projections into the future that are impossible to predict. Who’s to say that there will be enough builders capable to do the work within budget and why is the State Government and not local government making decisions in Council areas? 

Is it not the role of our local Council to feed information into the State system to be acted upon and if so, what has been the input of Redlands Council into a process that will see such drastic urban development?  

Here is the kicker that should worry everyone who pays taxes and rates. The Labor Government may well lose power at the next election so what will come of these housing plans? Is anything binding and have contracts already been signed and will a new government try and undo the plans?

Who is to pay compensation for any broken promises?

All fair questions, and as the cancelled Commonwealth games prove, the Victorian Government will pay dearly for the cancellation even though they have the full force of the law and the dire economic data to justify it.  

A close look at the report in the Redland Bulletin contains fluffy terms like Indigenous and environmental values and a need for “creating more diversity”. What exactly does “working on diversity targets” actually mean? One guess is that lower socio-economic groups will benefit from cheap residential units and the “reviewing height requirements” to allow three-story residential blocks confirms that high-rise blocks are clearly on the government’s agenda.

Since we are told that 85% of dwellings in Redlands are three-bedroom detached houses this is essentially code for “lets get people out of these big houses and into smaller high-rise flats”, an absolute windfall for the Council coffers and all the more reason why we should not expect rates rises in future. Now that is wishful thinking. 

The big question that is conspicuously absent concerns infrastructure. Does the Redlands plan include more arterial roads and parking to alleviate the effects of a massive population influx? The answer so far is NO!

Make sure to join up with Redlands2030 and stay informed. Ignorance of the issues and failure to be proactive is a sure way to get the politicians and the outcomes you deserve. I would welcome any feedback on the above.

Mr Ontheball
Wellington Point

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More Letters To The Editor

Wildlife protection and the housing shortage in southeast Queensland

Toondah And The Housing Crisis – Letters

Capalaba needs attention, banking, homeless in the Redlands, Toondah

Redlands2030 – 10 September 2023