Previously secret documents about Redland City Council’s decision to lease land next to the animal pound at 240 South Street Thornlands for filming the TV game show ‘Holey Moley’ reveal that the Council’s discussions with the TV production company commenced in October 2019.
Documents, obtained through Right to Information, have been heavily redacted to conceal information which the Council deems should not be released on the grounds that this would be “Contrary to Public Interest”.
The extent of redactions is shown in a 90 second video of the 50 pages (with music). The full document is shown at the end of this story.
The previously secret report, considered by Council at a Special Meeting on 29 July 2020, explained that earthworks would require 15 trees to be removed including six trees that “contained important habitat features”.
Councillors were advised that ‘Holey Moley’ would be filmed on land “formerly used for night soil and animal burial” but this contamination of the land ceased in the late 1990s.
Issues such as the expected economic benefits to Redland City and management of COVID-19 risks are discussed in the confidential officers’ report to Council.
A draft Communications Plan, also obtained through Right to Information, shows that the Council ‘s intent was to promote Holey Moley as “tremendously exciting” and “increase awareness of the benefits”.
Scant attention is paid to the noise disturbance for nearby residents in either the officers’ report or the Communication Plan.
The officers’ report says: “The applicant [Eureka Productions] is developing an event management plan, including a noise management plan, for Council’s consideration. Stakeholder communication, in consultation with Council, is a special condition of the lease.”
The publicly available minutes of the meeting on 29 July 2020 shows that the Council voted 9/2 to lease part of the site for a period of three years but the identity of the other party (Eureka Productions) and the purpose (filming the Holey Moley TV series) were not disclosed.
Councillors were told that a media release to announce the location of the series would be prepared for approval by the Seven Network and that it would be released “on a date designated by the Seven Network in their sole discretion”.
The community was kept in the dark about plans for Holey Moley to be filmed next to the animal pound until Redlands2030 broke the news in a story published on 8 September 2020.
Next day, the Council issued a propaganda release claiming that filming Holey Moley in Thornlands would bring a ‘raft of benefits” worth $20 million to the Redlands.
Three days after Redlands2030’s story was published, residents near the film location received a letter advising that they may experience some “slight inconvenience” due to filming in “your neighbourhood”.
These residents were told that filming would happen from 30 September 2020 to 11 October 2020. Hours of filming were to be from 4:00pm to 4:00am, all through the night.
Holey Moley – winners and losers
The Council’s propaganda release claimed that Holey Moley would be a “massive win” for businesses, residents and the community.
“Production of the first Australian series will generate more than 100 local jobs and see significant local economic benefit, of around $20 million, and through opportunities for the construction and tourism industry sectors, including accommodation providers, to local suppliers, including landscaping, security, catering and more” said Mayor Karen Williams.
Accommodation providers appear to have done rather well out of the Council’s Holey Moley decision: “Alexandra Hills Hotel was booked out by the crew, while two other local accommodation providers also hosted cast and crew members” said Mayor Williams in her November 2020 newsletter.
But noise from filming Holey Moley disturbed many nearby residents.
People living in Thornlands near 240 South Street were the losers from the Council’s decision to allow this property to be used for filming a TV show in front of a loud live audience, at night time.
“They say the eight nights of filming was a nightmare, with residents having to close windows in an effort to reduce impacts”, reported the Redland City Bulletin.
Some affected residents have expressed there outrage in letters to the local newspaper published on 20 November 2020 and 27 November 2020.
A petition to the Council asking that this location not be used for any further filming has been signed by dozens of Thornlands residents.
Holey Moley documents obtained through RTI
Presented below are the Holey Moley officers’ report and Communication Plan provided to Redlands2030 through Right to Information (RTI).
Redlands2030 – 30 November 2020
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