Future use of a 6.69 ha parcel of “prime real estate” at 61-73 Macarthur Street, Alexandra Hills is listed on the agenda for tomorrow’s monthly meeting of the Redland City Council.
At the time of purchasing this former research station site from the State Government, the Council announced that it would undertake a full planning process to determine options and associated costs for future use of the land described as “prime real estate”.
No interest in Macarthur Street tourist park
In 2020 the Council invited expressions of interest in the development and operation of a high quality tourist park on the Macarthur Street land.
“Ideally, Council would like to see an operator willing to invest in infrastructure that would also benefit the broader community, such as a water park and connections to nearby recreational trails” said Division 7 Councillor Rowanne McKenzie.
The Council received no expressions of interest in doing a tourist park but there were “four non-
conforming submissions received from parties who have an interest in using all or part of the land
for other purposes” said the officers’ report submitted to the Council meeting on 2 December 2020 “.
The Council resolved (item 19.2) to hold discussions with proponents of non-tourism related purposes and that proposed commercial arrangements and details pertaining to individuals are kept private.
“The four responses show there is a great deal of potential value of the site for community uses, including education and community use,” said Mayor Karen Williams in a council announcement on 14 December 2020.
At its meeting on Wednesday 18 May 2022 the council will receive an update on the progress of planning for future use of 61-73 Macarthur Street.
This agenda item (19.2) is classified as confidential because: “…the Council is satisfied that discussion of this matter in an open meeting would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest as it deals with negotiations relating to a commercial matter involving the local government for which a public discussion would be likely to prejudice the interests of the local government.”
Public gallery to ‘reopen’ says Redland City Council
The Redland City Council website says that the public gallery will reopen from May 2022.
But in fact the public are being offered the opportunity to sit in an adjacent room and watch the proceedings on a TV. Seating is limited to 12 people and “bookings are essential”.
So here’s a question.
If the Council can broadcast a live feed of its meeting to a room next door, why can’t this live feed be made publicly available through the internet to any person in Redlands?
Most other local councils in south east Queensland (e.g. Logan City Council) are doing live stream broadcasts of their public meetings. Why is Redland City Council the inadequate exception?
Have a say about Redland City Council’s Birkdale plan
The Birkdale Community Precinct Information Days have been rescheduled to Friday May 27 and Saturday May 28, due to wet weather.
The Information Days will be a rare opportunity to walk on these public lands which Redland City Council bought for $4.1M in 2019 from the Federal Government.
The community will also be able to view the increasingly dilapidated Willard’s Farm – unrestored since it was bought by the Council six years ago for $1.4M.
The Council is currently consulting on its draft $300M master plan for development of these sites. This ‘master plan’ includes a proposed white water facility which got very little community support during a consultation process in 2021.
So who will pay to build and operate these facilities and other thought bubbles included in the Draft Master Plan? The operating costs are likely to be several million dollars per year.
The complete Draft Master Plan and opportunity to comment can be found on the Council’s website.
The consultation period closes on 6 June 2022.
Wildlife hospital study proposed by Cr Berridge
Cr Adelia Berridge is proposing that Council investigate an appropriate location for the creation of a wildlife hospital on Birkdale Land or another suitable location which could attract private investment.
Heritage Register Fail by Redland City Council
The Council has not listed for discussion tomorrow the local heritage listing of 40 historic properties.
This has been a lengthy planning process involving expert assessment, public consultation and two cycles of review and approval by the State Government.
But at its meeting in August 2021, councillors failed to make a decision to protect the heritage values of these properties.
A Temporary Local Planning Instrument which offers some protection from removal or demolition of these historic properties will expire in ten months.
Planning in South West Victoria Point
You have until 2 June 2022 to make submissions about a proposed housing estate subdivision in south west Victoria Point RAL21/0135.
This parcel of land is in an area designated as an emerging communities zone by the State Government in its 2017 SEQ Regional Plan.
Instead of the planning for this emerging community being done properly by Redland City Council through a structure plan process based on community consultation, most of the planning has been done by property developers through subdivision applications which were refused by the Council but approved by the Planning and Environment Court in 2021.
The Council has detailed most of this story on its webpage: Planning in South West Victoria Point.
Use the slide show to zoom in and see the proposed subdivision.
About this Council meeting
The ‘public’ version of the 18 May 2022 meeting agenda (including officers’ reports for non-confidential items) can be accessed on the Redland City 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 this Council webpage.
Here are the contents of Redland City Council’s meeting agenda for 18 May 2022:
Redlands2030 – 17 May 2022
Update: we added a brief mention about Cr Adelia Berridge proposing that Redland City Council investigate location of a wildlife hospital.
Please note: Offensive or off-topic comments will be deleted. If offended by any published comment please email thereporter@redlands2030.net