People power can work in the Redlands

You have been busy writing about what’s going on in the Redlands but there’s more to do. Will you email some politicians to say that the Mt Cotton super quarry should be permanently ‘knocked on the head’?

Other letters discuss the need for transparency as Redland City Council continues to sell off large amounts of local community property through its secretive property company. Will a well connected developer of retirement homes be buying the community owned car park in Doig Street Cleveland – without the people having a say?

And there’s continuing concern about the impact of proposed residential development on wetlands at Toondah Harbour, but hope that parking could be improved at Weinam Creek.

Land deals by Redland City Council

I agree wholeheartedly with the recent Redland City Bulletin editorial questioning how Redland Investment Corporation makes decisions about the future of Council/community property.

Where is the transparency and information regarding prices and valuations of property transactions for ratepayers? At what point do “commercial in confidence” transactions prevent the community finding out what is being done on their behalf.

I recall about 10 years ago Council discussed the sale of the Cleveland Woolworths carpark land to Stockland, as there was an existing easement. It was claimed Stockland was the only one Council could negotiate with – which was questioned by some in the real estate industry at the time.

I see from the recent RCB front-page story, Council fixed the easement – and then Council sold the land to Stockland. As a ratepayer, I would like to know why wasn’t the land open to public tender or sale, now the easement issue was sorted.

I also am aware that Council is going into a joint deal with a retirement village to build on the Doig Street carpark. My question is what’s in it for ratepayers upfront? Where is the Council staff and public car park going to be replaced – and what is the detail of the deal?

Buying the environmental land in McDonald Road has been on the Council books for many years. Whilst it’s a great purchase, the ratepayers should be aware of the costs and sale of all public property. But when do we find out how much ratepayers forked out for that?

The development above Cleveland Railway Station is also not providing the required car parks, so the Mayor is planning to cover the open space grassed area with a tarred carpark beside the Performing Arts Centre.

And just for the record, the sale of the Wynyard Street carpark is losing not six, but about 100 car parks, due to the sale to Pacific Motel.

As the Bulletin editor says, “there is nothing more likely to pique the interest of the ratepayers than some opaque dealings with what they rightfully see as their property”.

Let’s not forget the development company set up by Ipswich City Council and where that all ended!

How about a few answers?

Toni Bowler
Sheldon

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Superquarry

This letter is for all Redland and Logan City residents who are concerned about the Barro Mt Cotton superquarry, which after four years has done nothing…but now suddenly wants another three-year extension of its application.

Redland City Council has listened to the community and, to its credit, has refused the superquarry extension.

Barro says it will take the Council to court at great cost to the ratepayers. Redland and Logan Councils have already spent thousands of dollars beating them in court and twice refused their application.

Historically, it was only the LNP’s Jeff Seeney who went against the Councils’ wishes and gave the Barro Group the go-ahead. Barro Group has been fined nearly $2 million during the last few years for causing the death of a worker, theft, and environmental vandalism – even as late as last year.

According to the Queensland Environment Department, Barro will destroy some of the best koala and wildlife habitat we have.

History showed that Peter Beattie promised to ban this quarry, but Anna Bligh refused to keep his promise. Now is the time for the Labor government to step up and do the right thing for its constituents.

We need you to let the Labor state government and other politicians know we want them to help Redland City Council defeat this environmentally disastrous extension. Here are email addresses for community members to get your message out to tell them how you feel:

thepremier@thepremiers.qld.gov.au; attorney@ministerial.qld.gov.au; statedevelopment@ministerial.qld.gov.au; environment@ministerial.qld.gov.au; nrm@ministerial.qld.gov.au; lgrma@ministerial.qld.gov.au; transportandmainroads@ministerial.qld.gov.au; springwood@parliament.qld.gov.au; macalister@parliament.qld.gov.au; capalaba@parliament.qld.gov.au; redlands@parliament.qld.gov.au; bundamba@parliament.qld.gov.au; logan@parliament.qld.gov.au; andrew.laming.mp@aph.gov.au

Luke and Jean Daglish
Cornubia

People power

It’s been refreshing to see the recently-elected MP for Redlands, Kim Richards, back some vision into renewing the Weinam Creek area by challenging ‘head on’ the car parking issue in Redland Bay.

For too long this has this been swept under the carpet for Bay Islanders and the mainland residents of the Southern Redlands area. It is safe to say it has been a joke the way it’s been handled, but Kim is saying ‘no’ to the mess, which is great news.

It’s a sign also when reason prevails for five Redland city councillors (including Cr Huges) to vote against too much foreshore development in a close vote on the issue of Toondah Harbor – when most people support a simple port upgrade.

It seems the proposed development on top of the Harbor upgrade goes beyond the scope of what the community actually wants, which is one that is also beneficial to the environment.

It shows that in time people power can work and will prevail in due course. Perhaps the Council and other levels of government will review certain provisions on the issue further as well?

I think it’s a great step forward that those who’ve had present to past affiliations to the QLD ALP are now taking grassroots people power seriously, when it has been greatly overlooked in past years by others.

It was a step in the right direction with Kim talking up the need to address unemployment in her electorate during her maiden speech and it’s a great sign seeing a passionate island bloke like Tony Gilson (also concerned by the lack of previous years support for the Southern Bay region) who announced his candidacy for Division 5 for the next Council election in less than two years. Tony seems to be very open to ideas around renewables, jobs, and education.

If the ALP keeps it up, maybe others in its fold will step up to the plate sometime soon and run for the Bowman division at the next federal election? We need some vision and a strong candidate to step forward for the Redlands.

CS
Victoria Pt.

Toondah travesty – few jobs, much downside

I strongly believe that there should be no building in the RAMSAR area and natural environment being proposed at Toondah Harbour. It’s a travesty making out that it is what the people want.

There are the infamous catch cries that:

• It is what the community needs for job creation!! (Sure, there will be temporary jobs for construction workers, but they could have jobs in upgrading the existing water transport terminal)
• It is what is needed for tourism!! (Yet two of Redlands’ main tourist attractions are the dwindling koalas and Moreton Bay)

There really won’t be that many jobs created longer term after the destruction and construction of this high rise development which will house up to 10,000 new residents.

The continual talk of governments and local representatives about caring for the environment, being environmentally friendly should lead to better waste management. More useful jobs there.

What, indeed, will there be left for the tourists to come and see in the Redlands? There has been such a significant drop in koalas alone, as when I first moved here there was a very large population of koalas to be seen in Sheldon as well as in smaller block suburbs like Alexandra Hills, Birkdale, Cleveland where I could take visitors anytime and be assured of seeing a koala or two.

It is now a very worrying thought that the general community, locals, visitors, tourists will be restricted from the natural Moreton Bay where bush meets the Bay and shorebirds and bush birds still have homes and feeding grounds.

Will it just be the final few jobs the development creates in overpriced boutique shops and hotels? This type of development will only be for the select lot of people who are able to afford to shop, dine and holiday – whether they are locals, national, international tourists or visitors.

We don’t need another ‘White Elephant’ in the Redlands. There are a number of upscale, upmarket ventures/business that have turned into ‘just that’.

And Hello!!! Redlands is the end of the line!! The traffic is chaotic now – even just within the Redlands – and has been for some time.

Many residents do work outside the Redlands, but that is OK as people understand there isn’t now, and won’t be in the future, enough local jobs for everyone or every profession. They are willing to drive outside this area for work, but a proper upgrade of the roads has long been warranted.

My ‘end of the line’ statement pertains to for the most part the majority of people who travel to the Redlands. Most will enter and exit the same way, just as Redlands residents do. We do not need to continue with more development as people are transient as to where they reside, work, play – holiday.

I believe the number of full time jobs created will be minimal, but the long term detrimental affects will be huge based on the current amount of proposed housing estates, units, and business developments.

As a long time resident in the Redlands, while accepting there is bound to be progress in the form of development, there has to be a cap put onto it otherwise what is the quality of all our lives going to be in the not too distant future?

Actually this cap needs to be secured right now before any more environmental damage is done!!

We all need trees trees trees, trees and the great big old mature trees that sustain life ALL LIFE – most importantly they are also homes and a necessary food source to our native wildlife , including our koalas.

Bush is being cleared at an alarming rate and also once where there was small acreage for one dwelling, now there have been allowances and changes to build extra dwellings on them. With this comes even more clearing, more people, of course, and in so many cases more domestic animals.

Many people who don’t have much knowledge of acreage and wildlife to be able to take care to preserve it – let alone keep their domesticated animals controlled in the proper manner so they do no harm to the native bush, wildlife inhabitants, let alone down to the smallest of inhabitants in our ecosystems.

Trusting in an environmental future for the Redlands,

BB
Sheldon

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Letters published by Redlands2030 – 5 April 2018