More opinions in letters from Redlanders

Concerns of Redlanders this week canvassed the Prime Ministers announcement of $100M to improve “blue carbon” ecosystems, a suggestion for a more acceptable way of delivering Covid vaccine, praise for bike track construction in the Eastern Escarpment Conservation Area and one writer’s awakening about the Toondah PDA and the need for public information about the development of Toondah PDA.

If you have a view about these issues or any other matter concerning you please put pen to paper. Write to our editor about your grievance, your idea or your opinion (say 100-150 words) and email it to thereporter@redlands2030.net

It is said one letter nearly always represents to views of a thousand or more people, so you might find your concerns are shared with many other Redlanders. It just takes one person to write!

The PMs “blue carbon” media release lauded but consistency concerning!

Dear R2030

I applaud the Prime Minister’s recent announcement of the $100M initiative to protect our oceans and coastal environments that “… will target “blue carbon” ecosystems that involve seagrass and mangroves playing a key role in drawing carbon out of the atmosphere.”  

However, I have considerable difficulty in reconciling the announcement with the decision taken by the former Minister for the Environment, Josh Frydenberg, to send the Walker Corporation’s Proposal for the development of Toondah Harbour for assessment by an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act).  He took this decision notwithstanding earlier advice from his Department that a similar previous proposal by the Walker Corporation was “clearly unacceptable because it would result in permanent and irreversible damage to the ecological character of the Moreton Bay Ramsar wetland” (ABC Background Briefing by Steve Cannane).

The Prime Minister’s announcement included comments by the current Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley, who, among other things, claimed that the initiative would “.. deliver significant environmental outcomes” and “.. will restore blue carbon ecosystems and protect iconic marine species.”

Given the stated aims of this initiative and the findings of Professor Samuels Independent Review of the EPBC Act that the legislation was no longer fit for purpose, I await with interest Minister Ley’s decision on the EIS on the Walker Corporation’s Toondah Proposal.

BT
Cleveland

A dream way of delivering the Covid vaccine!

Dear Editor

Thinking outside the square (whilst I was dreaming) I envisioned an oral covid vaccine ,self administered by tablet or syrup & minimally trained staff.

Little doubt the negative constant clinical imagery of injections pushing into resisting skin, not to mention the incredible materials waste of glass vials, aluminium/poly caps stainless steel syringes, plastics packaging  and disposal problem accompanying such,  bodes well for an oral , variant resistant , passport worthy vaccine with acceptable side affects.

To seriously drive up future take up rates for many years to come.I’d bet on oral administration as the accepted future……unless you are a syringe manufacturer.

Regards,

RH
Sunnybank Hills

Please do not destroy the amazing network of bike trails

Hi there Redlands2030

The Eastern escarpment, is amazing. It will bring so much to the community.

I feel mountain biking is a real low  impact on the environment, they take up the same space as walking trails. There is so much in place and regulations. These trails have to be approved. These trails are still in the new process of trails where drainage is yet to be finalised. They are still in the building process.

Trailworkx crew are an amazing Company, please do not destroy this amazing network of trails.  

Thanks

JE
Redland City 

Toondah: It’s is not what I thought

Redlands2030

I have long been a sceptic of R2030’s alarmist reporting about the ills of the Toondah PDA development. It isn’t in my back yard so I haven’t paid close attention, but my wife suggested I go to the recent event and check it out for myself. So I went to Lights in the Mud. It was a well run show and I heard the concerns about the planned development: size, location, secrecy and impacts and I decided to look a bit deeper into the issues.

I thought a starting point would be something the developer or Council might have provided on site….your know something like here is what we plan for Toondah. I asked the organisers on the night if there was anything available in the Park about the development, by the developer or by the Council. The response was a bit baffling in that despite the huge development being planned for almost a decade I was told there was no official information available to those who use or visit the Park. I wondered why?

I went home and looked more closely at your Redlands2030 web site and in particular a post I found titled “Toondah Harbour – The illustrated history” …it is a must read. I never fully appreciated the scale, the history or the actual location of this development. I just assumed your organisation was another NIMBY group and it was just crying wolf. But I am now more informed and I owe you and your supporters an apology.

Also I can understand why the Council isn’t advertising their real plans for the site!

I cannot believe I was so taken by the soothing words of the elected councillors and i cannot believe they signed up to the deal that keeps so much of the development a secret.

NM
Capalaba

Editors comment re calls for a notice board about Toondah

A community petition from Redlanders was lodged with Redland City Council on 23 October 2019. This petition called for a large weatherproof notice board at G.J. Walter Park to inform locals and visitors about the unfolding plans for the area.

Councillors resolved the request by Redlanders was merely an operational issue and it was referred to the CEO for action. The formal response (by letter 28 November2019) was “a noticeboard would not be placed in the area for this purpose”. It seems no Councillors considered the petitioners were raising a matter of public interest or public policy, worthy of the Councillors themselves taking an interest in the outcome (see an extract of the formal response to the petition:

The matter has since languished, and the great many visitors to G.J. Walter Park ,including both Redlanders and people from all over south east Queensland, remain oblivious to plans for the area.

More opinions expressed by Redlanders

Lights In The Mud: It Was A Winner

Truck Driver Training, Trail Destruction And Koalas

Precious Coastline, The Environment And Where Have The Koalas Gone!

Redlands2030 – 28 May 2021