Redlanders vent about governance

Readers and commentators are showing increased levels of frustration at governments at all levels. The gripes cited seem relate to be poor, short term or mediocrity in governance and decision making.

Letters to the Editor of Redlands2030 are a great way to let others know your views, vent your frustrations or provide praise for issues and people. A letter to the editor (sometimes LTTE or LTE) is a letter sent for publication about issues of concern from its readers.

For most effect a LTE is best published in the Redland City Bulletin of the Courier Mail but we know many people are frustrated at their inability to get their message into the pages of those outlets. Redlands2030 provides an alternative for Redlands (subject to normal standards of LTEs).

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Natural beauty V a concrete jungle

According to the results of the Tourism Australia and Tourism and Events Queensland consumer studies, most visitors mentioned natural beauty and/or wildlife as what they wanted to see as visitors to Australia. 

In the circumstances, it is difficult to reconcile the Palaszczuk Government’s failure to condemn and end the proposed Toondah Harbour development at Cleveland. There plans are to not only decimate 42 hectares of “protected” Moreton Bay wetlands, but also puts a local koala colony at risk. 

Interestingly, no one was reported as having said they wanted to see a development of 3,600 dwellings of up to ten storeys on reclaimed land in lieu of natural Bay vistas!

Another example of the Government ignoring the science

BJ
Cleveland

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Mediocrity in governance

Terry Sweetman made the very valid point recently in the Sunday Mail. He said we, “the taxpayers, pay the average Cabinet Minister, and some are very average, more than $350,000 and for this we deserve excellence but we settle for mediocrity and in a lamentable number of cases, incompetence.”

All around us we have examples of excellence, motor vehicles, aircraft , electronics, mobile phones & thousands of others, all produced to the highest standards of excellence; why, because they are built to a specific design and rigid specification standards.

While we continue to accept governments that treat the business of Government and nation building as little more than a trivial power game that does not demand the same standards of professionalism and excellence, as the other sciences of this world, we will continue to stumble along as we are.

A primary education standard that is down the bottom of the list in World Standards should be considered totally unacceptable. Growth and economics was the policy standards of Julius Caesar; an indication of how much governments continue to live in the past. 

One only has to look around the world at the countries that have adopted Western style government and western democracy to see the vast variation in interpretation of the process. Quite clearly, until we as a people demand a specific and detailed specification of good government and democracy, we will continue to be manipulated by our own governments.

There is obviously an urgent need for the science of good government to be taught in universities and a reasonable understanding of the actual process of Government taught in high schools. As Terry S pointed out, in Sweden the politician is just another worker and is paid accordingly. It’s time the politicians in this country were treated accordingly. 

As Americans were desperately crying out for change at their last election, that’s what they got with Trump! As in this country, many of the people have no understanding of “good government and good Democracy” and until it is very clearly and precisely spelled out so that people can fully comprehend it, many vote for change instead of progress.

Governments have demonstrated, quite clearly that they have no commitment to progress and it is growth and economics as before.

Only progress can come from a major shift and awakening in the people.

As the old saying goes,”If you do what you always did then you will get what you always got!”

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DB
Alexandra Hills 

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Losing what was good about Redlands

It has been over the years deeply distressing to me as resident of Capalaba living near Coolnwynpin Creek corridor. This is where we had koalas often seen by local people on an evening stroll along the pathway, now off limits to all of us as our ‘specially protected wetland site under Koala Coast Policy’.

Then on Moreton Bay Road we suddenly had high concrete walls planted on the riparian zone wiping out forever all habitat for local koalas that also used trees in TAFE grounds, Alex Hills.

I recall when Japanese exchange students stood mesmerized at seeing koalas in trees in the grounds, they loved them…and tourists love seeing them in the wild. While we, who should protect habitat, mercilessly have destroyed their homes as fast as possible to house new human inhabitants throughout Redlands.

When building boom began in late 1980s flat bed trucks picked up squashed koalas …along Finucane Road. I witnessed that, along with Council volunteers picking up dead/dying koalas on roadsides in a brightly green painted van in the early mornings. Survivors from road hits, dog attacks, were driven to Moggill Hospital for euthanisation, or care and rehabilitation. The lucky few were returned to Redlands. Most did not recover.

I have lost count of how often government politicians requested mapping of koala habitat, only to see them all disappear.

It is good to hear too, Lord Mayor Schrinner will be planting native trees in parks and bushland reserves. If only Redland Council along with State government operatives thought along those lines. If they did we would have a happier community with pleasant, green surroundings that helps alleviate depression and anxiety, along creek banks that lead to parks and bushland reserves.

Legal protection of habitat means that no developer, no matter how deep the pockets, can ever seek approval to destroy designated areas preserved for wildlife.

While the Redlands2030 group have counted some 20-30 koalas remaining in Cleveland Toondah Harbour surrounds. Will they, can they, be afforded protection into the future?

AG
Capalaba

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If you have something to say to our community, email your letter to:

theeditor@redlands2030.net

Letters published by Redlands2030 – 17 June 2019