Public participation at Council meetings suspended

Redland City Council’s offices in Bloomfield Street, Cleveland

Due to the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic the Council has advised that public participation at Redland City Council meetings has been suspended until further notice.

But councillors will continue to receive some religious instruction, during the next meeting, on Wednesday 19 January.

The agenda says that some or all Councillors may attend Statutory Meetings of Council by audio visual arrangement, due to the pandemic.

So why is the Council not allowing public participation by audio visual arrangement?

Planning amendments on the agenda

Five planning matters are listed for discussion with more than 700 pages of reports for councillors to read before the meeting.

14.2 Major Amendment General is a proposed package of amendments to the City Plan which will be put to the State Government for review prior to a public consultation process.

14.3 Major Amendment – Medium Density Residential Zone Code Review – Public Consultation is a report back to Council following a public consultation process which found that the majority of submissions support the proposed changes to City Plan. The officers’ report recommends that Council proceeds with making these amendments to the City Plan but with some changes which are detailed in the report.

14.4 Administrative and Minor Amendment – General is a proposal to make various minor amendments to the City Plan which have been identified by “various stakeholders who use City Plan”. This City Plan amendment process will not require State government approval and a public consultation process.

14.5 Review of New Commercial Development in Existing District Centres is a response (initiated by Cr Paul Bishop) to the court decision which overturned Council’s refusal of a MacDonalds in Birkdale Fair Shopping Centre. The officers are recommending that council proceed with a major amendment to the City Plan.

14.6 is a proposal to proceed with a major amendment to the City Plan dealing with the Southern Thornlands Potential Future Growth Area.

One planning matter is missing from the agenda

In August 2021 a proposal to amend the City Plan by adding more than 40 properties to the Local Heritage Register was deferred. Since then one historic property in Wellington Point has been demolished and approval has been given for demolition of an historic property in Cleveland.

Willard’s Farm – State Heritage Listing

A report updating councillors about the nomination of Willard’s Farm for State heritage listing is included as item 14.7 of the agenda.

The officers’ report says that a State Government departmental recommendation to list Willard’s Farm aligns with the views of the Council’s heritage consultants.

“The proposed heritage extent does not include adjacent lot (Lot 2 on RP146445) with
exception to a small portion of land within the Conservation area” says the officers’ report.

The officers’ report says that they are not proposing to make any further submission to the Queensland Heritage Council about Willard’s Farm.

Redlands2030 made a submission supporting the application for heritage listing of Willard’s Farm which can viewed here: Heritage listing of Willard’s Farm – submission by Redlands2030

Olympic Legacy Working Group

An officers’ report (Item 14.1) recommends the formation of a Redlands Coast 2032 Legacy Working Group to advise on desirable local legacy opportunities and outcomes that should be pursued in the lead up to, during and beyond the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Confidential items

Four confidential items are listed for discussion in closed session.

19.1 Redland Investment Corporation Financial Report for Period Ending 30 September 2021 and Annual Financial Statements for 2020-2021.

19.2 Business Case and Three Year Funding Allocation for Potential Materials Recovery Facility for the Sub-Regional Waste Alliance.

19.3 Potential Additional Land for the Purpose of Sport and Recreation

19.4 Expression of Interest – Redlands Coast Basic Camping Ground – Short Stay Facility of Self – Contained Recreation Vehicles and Caravans

There are also two notices of motion which appear likely to be discussed in closed session.

17.1 Cr Paule Gollé – Investigation to Purchase of Land in Thornlands for Open Space.

17.2 Cr Julie Talty – Investigation into the Purchase and Dispersal of Land on Russell Island.

About Redland City Council meetings

This Redland City Council meeting is closed to the public due to the Council’s interpretation of the State Government’s COVID public health directions and Local Government Regulations.

There will be no opportunity for public participation. The Council says it has “suspended public participation until further notice”.

The agenda for this meeting says that there will still be a ‘devotional segment’ led by a member of the Ministers’ Fellowship.

The ‘public’ version of the 19 January 2022 meeting agenda (including officers’ reports for non-confidential items) can be accessed on the Council website.

The meeting will be video recorded (except for confidential discussions) and this video recording will be posted to the meeting video recordings webpage on the Council website. Videos usually appear within 48 hours of the meeting.

The Council usually publishes the meeting minutes about one week after the meeting. Meeting minutes include the wording of all resolutions adopted and details of which councillors voted for or against every resolution – including the confidential items.

When published, the minutes will appear on the Council’s website.

Here are the contents of the agenda for Redland City Council’s meeting on 19 January 2022:

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Redlands2030 – 16 January 2022