Should Redlands merge with Brisbane?

Letters published this week include Toondah EIS work in G.J. Walter Park, the recent Redland City Council elections and a suggestion that Redlands be merged with Brisbane City Council to deliver our ratepayers better value for money.

---

I have noticed lately that some preliminary geological investigative work appears to have been undertaken at G.J. Walter Park which I assume is linked to the proposed development of Toondah Harbour.

It concerns me greatly that this development, while still unapproved and the subject of an incomplete federal government EIS process, seems to be moving forward regardless. How can this sort of activity be allowed without the tacit approval of our local council? And why would it be allowed without the merits of the development proposal being validated on environmental grounds which are dubious at best?

It seems that Walker Corporation, having ingratiated themselves to all levels of government, are proceeding on a wink and a nod. The recent publication on the front page of our local paper of a very misleading artist’s impression of the foreshore that neglected to show the obscene cluster of ten high-rise unit blocks on reclaimed land in the bay, makes me feel as though the project is proceeding on an assumptive basis which must be opposed vigorously.

We have seen recently the Federal government’s inability to deal with bush fires and the recovery with the people affected still waiting for relief funds, and contrastingly we have seen the sports rorts affair where money was used in a profligate manner often to those who did not need it and here we are again witnessing governmental malfeasance that seems to me to be quite brazen.

Given the lack of balanced media in this country due to the dominance of the Murdoch press and conservative, pro-business voices, is there any hope that the facts might become known to the people of the Redlands before this seemingly rubber-stamped project proceeds? Facts like 3,600 people living on what is now Ramsar wetlands, facts like how will the Council fund the ongoing infrastructure maintenance once the developers have left with their profits, facts like what will happen to the ecology of the bay once acid-sulfate blooms have destroyed the grass beds used by our endangered dugongs and killed off our turtles, prawns and fish stocks…..not to mention the shorebirds who rely so heavily on these feeding grounds for the survival of their species.

I have been heartened somewhat to see the numbers of people attending rallies held at G.J. Walter Park and admire the work Redlands2030 does against the odds. I sincerely hope the real truth of this ill-conceived development is known before it is too late.

TC
Cleveland (A resident of over 25 years)

---

Laming’s interference in Council not wanted

I have just been reading the front page of the Redland City Bulletin and I am disgusted that they gave Andrew Laming a page to rant about party politics in local government. I do agree with Mr Laming that Local Council should not be about party politics.  But despite what he said during the election he has delivered a Council seriously linked to his LNP. He alone made it that way.

This article came only a few weeks after the dreadful front page showing the artist’s impressions of the huge Toondah development without any comment about the selected aspects, which did not show one high rise building and no comment from any of the well-informed critics!  Was the combination of the two articles really just a coincidence or something much worse?

In my view, he needs to be ousted out of public life for good. He must have a lot of money otherwise how does he get back in.

At local government elections, as I remember he always causes trouble. Why does he poke his bib in!

Local Council is SUPPOSED to be for every one in that area. When he shows favoritism and is partisan support for Karen Williams and other of his favoured Liberals then it isn’t a fair council because that is the way that they are swayed instead of representing everybody in their Division. Shocking.

It really upsets me to hear what he does. Yet you the local paper put him on the front of “our” local paper where he downgrades and attacks the ALP, Greens and the community group Redlands2030.

I have asked (through a letter to the editor) the Redland City Bulletin WHY do they do that? Are they under the thumb of the pro-Toondah crowd????  As yet I have had no response!

DK
Ormiston

---

Local Council election was a jaundiced affair

I welcomed the end of the local Council election if for no other reason than it was a jaundiced affair failing to really engage the community.  That is not the fault of the candidates but the local media and local organisations failed to provide proper forums for the candidates to present their positions to the voters.  I may have missed some forums but as I recall there was a Chamber of Commerce forum where candidates got a few minutes each to speak and the Redlands2030 events that some candidates didn’t appear.  that was it!

The Redland City Bulletin failed to deliver an opportunity for the community to see the options together and that was disappointing.

Without a public forum, it was hard for ordinary folks to make a comparison between the Redlands mayoral candidates.  It was even worse at the divisional level where some candidates popped up with little time to spare before the actual election.

I’ve heard that on the Sunshine Coast there were about 30 election events if so that is an impressive number compared to the effort in Redlands.  How did they do it?

Surely Redlands can do better and in the next 4 years some ground rules for proper and independent election forums can be agreed to before the next election is upon us!

Some Councils are run like a semi-secret group, when in fact they should truly reflect the feelings of the Ratepayers.

JP
Alexandra Hills

 

---

Merge Redlands with Brisbane

A friend of mine, a pensioner living alone, but living in Brisbane City, was shocked when I told him my rates had increased by $100.

How can Redland City Council justify such a grossly excessive increase?

My brother in Holland Park has a lovely park end of street one end with playground equipment suitable for all age groups, there is nothing like it in my neck of the woods. He also enjoys a short walk up the street to catch the bus, its a short ride into the heart of the city.  He has minimal costs plus close to major hospitals, major attractions etc.  His rate notice arrived too, and he is up for an extra $15 in rates!  How can that be?

I been thinking and wouldn’t Redlands ratepayers be better off if our Council was amalgamated with Brisbane City.  While it sort of feels good to have our own little pond I wonder if we really get value?

At this time of the year, when the rates come out,  I ask myself the same question and each year the answer gets louder and louder.  NO!

 

AG
Capalaba

---

More letters to Redlands2030

Toondah plans, Covid-19 and empty buses

Toondah artists impressions outrage residents

Toondah a risk to Australia’s reputation

 

Redlands2030 – 21 April 2020