Pirate ship to go and Council repeals decision to investigate environmental corridor protection in rural areas

Redland City Council announced this week that a much loved pirate ship playground structure will be removed from Beth Boyd Park in Thorneside, with work scheduled to commence on Friday 21 May 2021..

Also this week, Redland City Council decided a number of issues at its monthly general meeting including:

• Reversal of a Council decision to investigate protection of environmental corridors in rural areas after Cr Paul Golle (who supported this planning work at Council’s 6/5 vote on 21 April 2021) switched sides and supported a repeal motion from Cr Julie Talty.
• Inviting expressions of interest in operating sites for caravans and RVs in Redland City
• A temporary amnesty for sporting clubs’ use of outwards facing sponsorship signs while Council urgently reviews its local laws.

These decisions are discussed in more detail below.

Pirate ship to be removed from Beth Boyd Park

The pirate ship at Beth Boyd Park in Thorneside will be demolished and removed by Redland City Council commencing 21 May 2021.

Mayor Karen Williams said removal of the much loved play structure was necessary. “Sadly, it must be removed to ensure the safety of park users and the delicate ecological values of the marine zone in which it is situated” she said.

Division 10 Councillor Paul Bishop said that local residents and visitors to the area will be sad to see the boat go, however Council had an obligation to ensure public assets were compliant and safe for community use.

“An upgrade to Beth Boyd Park has been proposed for late in the 2021/2022 financial year and is being considered for funding during Council’s city-wide prioritisation and budget approval process,” he said.

“Shovel-ready plans have been informed by community feedback to include an upgraded play area that continues the pirate ship theme, along with other interactive, fun and educative inclusions as well as seating and shade.”

More information about plans for Beth Boyd Park is available on the Council’s website.

Council meeting on 19 May

Redland City Council had a general meeting on Wednesday 19 May 2021. The agenda for this meeting including officers reports about non-confidential items can be accessed from the Council’s website. Meeting minutes will be posted to this same webpage when they become available, about a week after the meeting.

Here is a link to the video recording of this meeting.

Some of the matters resolved at this meeting are discussed below

Cr Golle flips in vote on environmental corridors

At the general meeting on 19 May 2021 the Council decided 6/5 to reverse its decision to investigate protection of environmental corridors in rural areas.

This issue had been discussed just a month earlier when the motion to investigate protection of environmental corridors in rural areas was passed 6/5.

Following that vote, the councillors who supported the investigation of environmental corridors were targeted with an anonymous brochure dropped in letterboxes in their divisions.

The only councillor to change their position on the need for officers to investigate protection of environmental corridor in rural areas was Cr Paul Golle (Division 3).

The repeal motion, moved by Cr Julie Talty was passed 6/5.

Crs Peter Mitchell, Paul Golle, Mark Edwards, Julie Talty, Rowanne McKenzie and Karen Williams voted for the repeal motion.

Crs Wendy Boglary, Lance Hewlett, Tracey Huges, Adelia Berridge and Paul Bishop voted against the repeal motion.

Council’s discussion of this motion (Item 16.1) can be viewed on the video recording of the Council meeting commencing at time: 2:16:29.

Council to invite interest in running RV facilities

After considering an economic needs assessment, Redland City Council decided to invite expressions of interest from not-for-profit organisations or community groups interested in operating small capacity sites in Redland City for self-contained recreational vehicles (RVs) and caravans.

The report to Council identified five preferred sites out of a long list of 20 possibilities:

• Island St, Cleveland (existing overflow parking area adjoining Cleveland Bowls Club)
• Redland Showgrounds – 44 Smith Street, Cleveland
• Raby Bay Boulevard Park (William Street boat ramp)
• Indigiscapes Nursery – 377-385 Redlands Bay Road, Capalaba
• 594-596 Main Road, Wellington Point

Sporting clubs welcome sponsorship signs fix

A local law which bans the use of outward facing sponsorship signs on council properties such as sporting clubs will be reviewed urgently.

Meanwhile, there will be a Council amnesty on policing the current laws so that sporting clubs can continue to earn advertising revenue.

This matter was addressed following concerns raised publicly by the Redlands Netball Association discussed in this story published by the Redland City Bulletin.

Public participation at Redland City Council meetings

There were two items of public participation at the Council meeting on 19 May 2021:

• 9.1 Jason Schmalkuche (Redlands Netball Association) Regarding Item 8.1 Mayoral Minute – Subordinate Local Law 1.4 (Installation of Advertising Devices)
• 9.2 Dino Rosa Regarding Item 15.1 Proposed Park Naming – 44-56 Randall Road, Birkdale (Lot 2 on SP313794) 1032

There had been no public participation at Council meetings for the previous 12 months. State Government legislation relating to the COVID-19 pandemic allows the Mayor to close Council meetings to the public.

In a submission to a Queensland Parliament, Redlands2030 pointed out that since April 2020, Redland City Council was regularly allowing attendance at Council meetings by clergy people, there to provide councillors with religious instruction, but not allowing members of the community to raise issues.

Four confidential items discussed this month

Four confidential items of business were discussed at the 19 May Council meeting:

• 19.1 Sale of Land for Overdue Rates and Charges
• 19.2 Lease RCC and Seqwater and Sublease Telecommunication Facilities
• 19.3 Delegated Authority – Cleaning and Maintenance of Stormwater Quality Improvement Devices
• 19.4 Hydrogen Industry Development Fund (Round 2) Application

A total of 21 confidential items have been discussed at Redland City Council’s formal meetings, this calendar year.

In 2020, there were 65 items of confidential business discussed at Redland City Council meetings.

Redlands2030 – 20 May 2021