Draft master plan for a proposed sporting precinct in Heinemann Road, Mount Cotton
A Parks and Recreation theme will be evident at Redland City Council’s final general meeting for this year, on Wednesday 18 December 2019, commencing at 9:30am.
On Wednesday, Redland City Council will be discussing the following parks and recreation items:
- Commencing community consultation in February 2020 about plans for a large sporting precinct at Heinemann Road, Mount Cotton
- Investigations to acquire additional land for sport and recreation (a closed session item)
- Adventure Sport Precinct Feasibility Study (also a closed session item)
- Cr Paul Bishop will table a petition that canoe entry to Moreton Bay at Queens Esplanade, Birkdale be enlarged and permanently maintained free of mangroves
- Name changes are proposed for two parks in Redland Bay
As well as parks and recreation, the Council will discuss matters such as:
- Inviting expressions of interest for industrial land on Macleay Island
- Purchasing land on Russell island for car parking
- The Point Lookout Backlog Sewer and Water Main Project
- Funding agreement for the SMBI Ferry Terminal Upgrade
- Redland Investment Corporation’s quarterly financial report
Redland City Council’s field of Olympic dreams
With local council elections due in March 2020, it’s likely there will soon be some grand mayoral announcements about wonderful plans for exciting sports facilities – a Redlands field of dreams.
In July 2019 the Council voted to investigate the feasibility of a “combined whitewater rafting/canoeing and emergency training facility” which could be used as an venue if Queensland hosts the 2032 Olympic Games.
“This project would be a real coup for Redlands Coast and would support our reputation as a coastal destination of choice” said current mayor Karen Williams.
On Wednesday the Council will discuss, in closed session, item 19.8 Redlands Coast Adventure Sport Precinct Feasibility Study.
Where could such a field of dreams be located in Redland City?
Given Redlands’ lack of open land for sporting facilities, it won’t be surprising if the Birkdale Commonwealth lands (recently purchased from the Federal Government for $4 million) features in some high profile pre-election political stunts.
This site has already been spruiked as a site for wonderful dreams, before two previous elections.
During the January 2015 state election campaign, Redlands voters were told that this site could become a university.
“This area could serve environmental, educational, sporting, recreational and/or employment opportunities for Redlands,” said Mayor Karen Williams (in January 2015).
In the lead up to the May 2019 Federal election the prospect of a zoo being ‘relocated’ to the Birkdale Commonwealth lands was encouraged by the Redlands’ Federal MP Andrew Laming.
The Birkdale Commonwealth lands have significant environment and heritage values which may constrain grandiose plans for development.
Interestingly, the Logan City Council has also been investigating a white water adventure park which could be used as an Olympic venue. Their investigations are well advanced, with a preferred site at Greenbank already selected.
Voters (and local media) should keep in mind that it’s best to judge incumbent politicians on what they have done (and just as importantly not done), rather than pre-election stunts, promises and announcements.
Parks and recreation planned for Heinemann Road site
Plans for sports fields and other parks and other recreation facilities at Heinemann Road in Mount Cotton will be discussed by the Council on Wednesday, with officers recommending that community consultation be carried out in February 2020, before the pre-election caretaker period.
The 101.2 hectare site at Heinemann Road was purchased by the Council from the Goleby Family in February 2019 for $7,350,000 including GST, discussed by Redlands2030 in ‘Council fails to provide enough sports fields’.
Because the site is heavily constrained by environmental values and drainage it has become obvious to Council’s planners that there’s very little space for sports fields.
The draft master plan shows that a few rectangular fields could be squeezed into the site’s north east section together with car parks.
The north west area is proposed for less intensive uses including BBQ facilities, a kickabout park, and walking tracks.
Cycling facilities (including BMX track and a criterium circuit) will also be developed in the north west section of the site.
Given the Council’s failure to attract grant funding for its much hyped plan to redevelop the Cleveland Aquatic Centre into a surf lifesaving centre of excellence, it will be fascinating to see how Council plans to fund the development of parks and recreation facilities at Heinemann Road.
Name changes for parks and recreation areas
Continuing with the parks and recreation theme of this meeting, councillors will be asked to consider renaming two parks:
- The name ‘Camel Paddock Park’ is proposed to be the new name for Falkirk Parade Park located at 12-30 Falkirk Parade, Redland Bay
- The name ‘John Edward Downie Sportsfield’ is proposed to be the new name for the Donald Road Sportsfield, also in Redland Bay.
There’s no mention of any consultation with Traditional Owners (the Quandamooka People) in the officers’ reports about these proposed park name changes.
Public participation and exclusion at Council meetings
Members of the public may observe Council meetings from the public gallery, except when the Council closes the meeting to the media and public.
Eight closed session items are on the agenda for Wednesday’s Council meeting, making a total of 87 closed session agenda items in 2019. The items listed for discussion on Wednesday are:
- 19.1 Redland Investment Corporation 2019/2020 YTD September Financial Report
- 19.2 Matzin Capital Pty Ltd V Redland City Council – Planning and Environmental Appeal No. 3797/19 – Appeal Against Refusal Of Advertising Sign – 22 October 2019
- 19.3 Investigations to Potentially Acquire Additional Land for Sport and Recreation Purposes
- 19.4 Delegated Authority for Residual Waste Disposal Services
- 19.5 Delegated Authority – Point Lookout Backlog Sewer and Water Main Project
- 19.6 Land Aquisition for Future Car Parking – Russell Island
- 19.7 Southern Moreton Bay Island Ferry Terminal Upgrade – Funding Collaboration
- 19.8 Redlands Coast Adventure Sport Precinct Feasibility Study
The Council allows a short period of Public Participation at general meetings, with people allowed to speak to councillors for up to five minutes.
Anyone wishing to address Council through Public Participation must submit an application by midday on the Monday preceding the meeting.
The agenda contents are shown below. The full agenda including officers reports (except for the eight closed session items) can be downloaded from the Council’s website.
Redlands2030 – 15 December 2019
Please note: Offensive or off-topic comments will be deleted. If offended by any published comment please email thereporter@redlands2030.net
3 Comments
Naming of Parks. After the highly valued Bowen St Bush in Capalaba was cleared for townhouses by an Asian developer, (koalas walked with young from Valantine Park to this bushland block) residents from Denison Crt. led by the late Margaret Harvey, and myself, met with 1st elected Redland Council mayor, Eddie Santagiuliana, to ask for replacement bushland to make up for the loss. A map was produced with intact bushland between Bowen & Keith Sts selected, along with cleared house block beside it for a children’s playground for which I provided brochures to select equipment. The playground has recently had play equipment replaced, much to dismay of many locals since apart from new shelter, there is little else besides a small slide and exceptionally small swings for small children. This is unacceptable, leaving play equipment baking under Q’ld’s blistering sun, skin cancer capital of the world, and needs urgent attention in providing shade protection in what is known as, the Bowen Street Park. The Reserve, instead of Keith St in our view, should be renamed The Margaret Harvey Reserve as, without her perseverance in pursuing replacement bushland, this highly valued patch of green in a built up area, would not exist and would, as almost did happen, when signs were removed, be a unit development. These two blocks were purchased with the newly established ‘environmental levy’…intended for purchase of sensitive areas of high environmental value. Could RCC decision makers please consider this suggested name change in memory of Margaret Harvey?
Why would the financial report of Redland Investment Corporation 2019/2020 YTD September need to be discussed in a session closed to the media and the public? Can anyone explain?
19.1 Redland Investment Corporation 2019/2020 YTD September Financial Report, why is this item confidential? This is a department of Council in a round about fashion and everything should be open and accountable and should be open to the community , it is ratepayers money that just keeps filling the black hole of loss. The deals being done are so questionable and yet again we see the community shut out of any opportunity to see how they justify the $1m a year they spend on Council staff and the loss they make yearly.
Bring on the election.