Redlands Corporate Plan gets a serve

The Redland City’s Corporate Plan drew unfavourable reviews in a letter as being a poor example of corporate speak. Perhaps that was the intent all along in breaking the link to the much-lauded Redlands 2030 Community Plan…not to be confused with the publishers of this page Redlands2030 Inc. The values derived from the community in the Community Plan are well rounded and well supported but sadly under threat. Even though one Councillor maintains she is about protecting community values she has been publicly silent about the Councils move.

Other letter authors note the new city project backed by the Walker Corporation at Maroochydore and the overload of community consultation launched by RCC of late.

Send your letter to theeditor@redlands2030.net

Corporate plan is corporate-speak

I read with great concern about the Council’s move to abolish the Redlands 2030 Community Plan, focusing efforts instead now on a Corporate Plan. This diversion from a plan in which the community was a key stakeholder (along with business and other organisations) to a corporate focused plan disenfranchises the very community members who not only contributed towards the Community Plan, but whose genuine commitment to the long term future of the Redlands is unquestioned.

It is the community’s vision for the future, the quality of life and the natural environment of the Redlands which should and must play the key determinant of policy and planning for the future. Planning which is driven by corporate self-interest does not deliver the quality of life that residents want now or into the future for their children.

It is undeniable that the overwhelming tide of public opinion now identifies closely with the need to preserve the inherent qualities of the area including the natural environment (flora and fauna) which has provided the type of Redlands that makes it what it is. Furthermore, this same growing number and proportion of the population understands the connection between protecting the natural environment of the Redlands (home to an amazing array of native wildlife) and the quality of life they are able to enjoy.

The continued destruction of natural habitat and the resulting massive impact upon native species cannot be allowed to continue, and residents are consistently voicing their concerns to Council (and indeed other levels of Government) before it is too late. The unconscionable an indefensible plan surrounding Toondah Harbour is a stark case in point. 

The Redlands 2030 Community Plan must not be cast aside – to do so would undermine the community’s stake and voice in the future and subvert the democratic process and the Council’s accountability to the community in favour of corporate interests. 

I therefore call upon the elected Council representatives to commit to the following amendments to the draft Corporate Plan:

1.       to acknowledge and reflect the Redlands 2030 Community Plan (as per previous practice)

2.       retain the Community Plan’s Visions and Goals viz. 

• Healthy Natural Environment 
• Green Living 
• Embracing the Bay 
• Quandamooka Country 
• Wise planning and design 
• Supportive and vibrant economy 
• Strong and connected communities 
• inclusive and ethical governance

3.       Remove all references to the year 2041 and beyond, as the draft Corporate Plan is intended to be a five year document 

4.       (as per previous Corporate Plans) – include Performance Indicators which are transparent and meaningful. This is a fundamental necessity to allow Council’s performance to be measured against the goals and visions of the Community Plan, which naturally is a key tenet of Council’s responsibility to be accountable to the community (and indeed to itself). 

5.       ‘Catalyst Projects’ to be removed from the draft Corporate Plan. As many of the listed projects provide little to no detail and have not gone through a formal community consultation process, they are out of place in this document and hence should not be included. The community cannot be reasonably expected to endorse and/or make comment on such projects through this draft Corporate Plan consultation process.  

I firmly believe in the necessity of transparency, accountability, community enfranchisement and a genuine/unyielding commitment to environmental preservation/biodiversity to successfully demonstrate good governance which by definition, is not compromised by commercial interests or the unchallenged presumption that economic growth and more urban development are vital and warrant the costs to our environment, biodiversity and the quality of life for all. I sincerely hope that you will take due account of our community’s very real concerns about the plan to discard the Community Plan and indeed the concerns about the quality of life in the Redlands which the Council has a responsibility to steward. 

Regards,

LF
Cleveland

Walkers launch another billion dollar project

I hope people are looking at what the Walker Corporation has signed up for on the Sunshine Coast!!!!! It is a $2.5 Billion development or another mega Toondah Harbour like development at Maroochydore. Some might say it is a copy cat like development.

Already the mantra of jobs, jobs, jobs has been stolen from the Toondah song book!

I think this information is important so that locals know what is happening but also so we and they can share notes about the developer’s tactics, methods, propaganda, lobbying, representations, PR, spin and so much more.

What do people think, do we need a grand alliance (something like The Sunshine Coast /Redlands coast community alliance?

BF
Sunshine Coast

Calls for a “fair go” on consultation

Redland City Council needs to revise its approach to community consultation….fast. The dumping of a swag of matters onto an unsuspecting community in the wake of the State election isn’t the way to consult with the community.

I expect many of the people who might respond to the formal consultation are the same people who support the democratic process and work for candidates at elections. To expect these same “activists” to then flick onto the Councils ideas like a new corporate plan, dog laws, commercialising parks, heritage planning, the future of Southern Thornlands is showing no respect and certainly no understanding of the community.

Perhaps, Councillors could facilitate town hall style meetings? Councillors might need to speak up for the community? Councillors should be making calls not just on substance but the process to used to achieve meaningfully consultation? Perhaps Councillors need to make it happen rather than relying on a tick to another check list?

Councils own scorecard shows it is performing badly…with consultation like the last month it is no wonder!

NJ
Cleveland

More Letters To Redlands2030

State Election Blues, Roadside Action And Bye-Bye Jackie Trad

Pandemics, Climate Change And Opposition To Toondah

Toondah’s jobs, failed planning laws & COVID-19

Make Toondah An Election Issue In Spite Of Obfuscation By ALP & LNP

Redlands2030 – 22 November 2020