Toondah Harbour – the illustrated history

Plans for construction of 3,600 apartments on environmentally significant Ramsar wetlands next to Toondah Harbour have been progressed slowly over many years with support from Redland City Council, State Governments (both LNP and Labor) and the Federal Coalition Government.

The project is opposed by many people in the local community especially residents living in Cleveland and North Stradbroke Island.

Conservation organisations such as Birdlife Australia, the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Koala Action Group are strongly opposed to the proposed destruction of wetlands for residential development at Toondah Harbour.

Toondah Harbour has increasingly become a subject of national media attention.

To help people understand the long history of plans for development in this area and some key issues, Redlands2030 has prepared a comprehensive illustrated timeline.

1930s to 1960s “everything in its favor”

Cleveland had everything in its favor for a boat harbour said Josiah Francis the long serving Federal MP for Moreton, according to a story published by the Courier Mail on 24 July 1937.

“The site so far indicated is a stretch of water between Cassim Island and the mainland near Cleveland Central. Ordinance maps refer to the locality as Toondar Harbour” said the Courier Mail.

Cleveland Shire Chairman G.J. Walter said the suggested site had natural approach channels, was extremely sheltered, and was near existing arterial roads.

Thirty years later, EGW Wood (who was both Redland Shire Chairman and a member of State Parliament) spoke about his local council’s plans for Toondah Harbour, and the state Government’s unwillingness to fund works.

“The Treasurer has been very helpful in the development of Toondah Harbour. That will be the gateway to Stradbroke Island until the time comes when a bridge will link Stradbroke Island with the mainland. Stradbroke Island’s beaches will then become the closest surfing beaches to Brisbane. Until that time comes the jumping-off place will be the sheltered Toondah Harbour, at Cleveland. I press for greater development in this area. At present most of the capital that is provided is private capital, and the Department of Harbours and Marine is not spending a great deal of public money on it. Plans have been drawn up for the establishment of this harbour, but I find it very difficult to understand why a greater number of boat harbours are not constructed in the sheltered waters of Moreton Bay. It is much safer to go boating in the protected waters from Cleveland-Redland Bay to the Logan River than it is in the open waters near St. Helena Island. Consequently, the Redland Shire has been making great efforts to establish this boating harbour.” (Qld Hansard 1968 22 Oct p. 848).

1970s Toondah Harbour ferry terminal built

In 1972 a barge terminal was established by Strdbroke Ferries at the location now known as Toondah Harbour. This investment was made particularly to service the sand mining industry on North Stradbroke Island. Prior to 1972, barges operated between Dunwich and Redland Bay as discussed by Stradbroke Ferries.

The vehicular ferry Moongalba, which commenced operations between Toondah Harbour and North Stradbroke Island in 1974, featured in this 1970s postcard promoting Cleveland.

1980s – Raby Bay canal estate

During the 1980s Cleveland experienced significant development including a large canal estate in Raby Bay. The project was first mooted in the 1960s. In 1968 the State Government “called tenders for the reclamation of 500 acres of Raby Bay foreshore for residential, business, tourist and other commercial purposes.” according to Redland City Council’s on-line history of Cleveland. Cabinet gave the approval for the project to proceed in 1980 and construction commenced in 1983.

Environmental impacts of the Raby Bay canal estate project included destruction of wetlands used by thousands of migratory shorebirds.

The transformation of Raby Bay from wetlands to a canal estate is shown in a video prepared by Redlands2030 using publicly available Queensland Government aerial photographs.

1980s Toondah canal estate planned and canned

In 1983 the State Government invited expressions of interest in development land and waters in the Toondah Harbour area.

The State Government decided on 26 April 1988 to award an investigation lease over 312 hectares to the Brisbane Shores consortium led by Hooker Corporation.

A huge community backlash, led by a community group called Save Toondah’s Invaluable Resources (STIR), resulted on the State Government having second thoughts about plans for canal estate development in this area.

In response to a petition signed by more than 12,000 people, the Government formally decided in January 1989 to stop the project.

The history of the 1980s plans for residential development at Toondah Harbour, including copies of once confidential Cabinet papers, is told in a separate story published by Redlands2030:

1980s Toondah project cabinet papers

1990s – Moreton Bay Ramsar site listed

After a long period of rule by the National Party, Queensland elected the Goss Labor Government in late 1989.

Newly elected Labor MP for Cleveland Darryl Briskey spoke passionately about protecting the environment during his maiden speech to Parliament in May 1990.

“I turn now to the beautiful environment of Redlands. Its protection is high on my list of priorities.Moreton Bay must be protected not only for our enjoyment but also for future generations. Protection of our bay environment was rightly one of the major issues in the election campaign. Electors saw a previous member and a previous Government allow development after development along the shores of Moreton Bay. The past three years have evidenced the people of Redlands exerting their power in opposing overdevelopment of the bay. The beauty of the bay, which is the very reason for the rapid population growth, has been destroyed at a frightening rate. The previous member and his Government supported a large canal development at Toondah harbour. That development would have reclaimed land about 2 kilometres out into the bay. Only after 12 000 signatures were collected on a petition was the development halted. I was proud to be part of a group which organised that petition. I congratulate STIR—Secure Toondah’s Invaluable Resources—for its work. That multimillion-dollar plan was opposed by conservationists, fishermen and local residents. I am proud to say that the Honourable Wayne Goss and our Federal member for Bowman, the Honourable Con Sciacca, also opposed it.” (Qld Hansard 1990 8 May p. 1050).

The Goss government proposed that much of Moreton Bay be given environmental protection as a Ramsar site.

With Federal Government support, the Moreton Bay Ramsar site was formally listed on 23 October 1993.

Parties who sign on to the Ramsar convention agree to “formulate and implement their planning so as to promote the conservation of the wetlands included in the List, and as far as possible the wise use of wetlands in their territory.”

2000s – Development planning in Redlands

Elected in 2004, the pro-development Seccombe Council adopted a new planning scheme in 2006 which facilitated rapid growth of residential development in the Redlands.

In November 2007, the Seccombe Council secretively discussed plans for development next to Toondah Harbour including a 400 berth marina, up to 1,000 apartments, a lagoon and boardwalk.

The Council did not make the community aware of this planning but leaked details were published by the Brisbane Times.

A few months later Redlanders elected a new Council, led by Mayor Melva Hobson, with a majority of councillors committed to a more environmentally sustainable approach to development.

The Hobson Council finalised negotiations with the Federal Government to purchase two sites near Toondah Harbour previously used by CSIRO. Mayor Hobson said that the land, purchased for $6.9 million, would be used for redevelopment of the ferry terminal “without disadvantaging the community”.

2012 – Pro-development government and council

In March 2012 Queensland elected an LNP state government with a huge majority. In local council elections a few weeks later, Redlands elected a pro-development council led by Mayor Karen Williams.

With pro-development politicians in office at both State and Council levels of government, plans were made to get development happening at Toondah Harbour.

By the end of 2012, the LNP’s Economic Development Act had been passed by State Parliament. This legislation allowed normal state planning laws to be circumvented for any Priority Development Area (PDA) declared by the Minister.

During parliamentary debate, Labor strongly opposed the LNP’s Economic Development Act. Labor’s Jackie Trad vehemently criticsed the LNP’s Economic Development Bill, describing it as an outrageous abuse of power serving the white shoe brigade.

2013 – Toondah declared a priority development area

In 2013 Redland City Council asked the State Government to declare priority development areas (PDAs) at Toondah Harbour and Weinam Creek. A summary of Council’s discussions with the state government about nomination of these sites as PDAs was endorsed by Council at it’s general meeting on 1 May 2013 (Late Item 15.1.1 RCC Priority Development Area Application). This report notes that the cost of planning studies for the Toondah and Weinam Creek PDAs would have to be worn by the Council.

A few days later the Council promoted opportunities for “mixed-use and medium density residential development development” at Toondah Harbour and Weinam Creek in a brochure “Redlands – Open for Business and Investment”.

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney announced that Toondah would be declared a PDA at a “sold-out breakfast for business and investors” on 16 May 2013. The following comments by Mr Seeney were reported by the Redland City Bulletin:

Declaring this a Priority Development Area allows the harbour to be taken out of the existing planning process so a plan can be drawn up for the area in isolation. This allows the state to overcome a whole range of complexities that has made it difficult for previous governments who have looked at it since 1966. The timeframe won’t be very long as the issues here are well known and we should be able to complete designs within six months and then move forward to the physical development side within 12 or 18 months That may be optimistic, but I like to set the bar high and I don’t think the planning should take longer than 18 months.

The Toondah Harbour and Weinam Creek PDAs were formally declared by the Government on 21 June 2013.

Over the next six months various consultants engaged by the Council worked on preparation of draft development schemes for the Toondah Harbour and Weinam Creek PDAs.

In August 2013, Council staff did some community engagement to find out what the community might have in mind for development in the PDAs.

The Council’s Toondah Harbour Community Engagement Report showed that people were interested in a range of improvements but there was little community support for high rise development in this area. The community was aware of the need to protect biodiversity including koalas, mangroves, seagrass beds, migratory birds, turtles and dugongs.

2014 – Community shocked by Toondah plans

Very early in 2014, when many people were still enjoying their summer holidays, the State Government and Redland City Council initiated public consultation about draft development schemes for the Toondah Harbour and Weinam Creek PDAs. The consultation period ran from 10 January to 24 February 2014.

The only information made available for scrutiny was a Draft Development Scheme. Various technical reports, funded by ratepayers, were not published by the council on its website during the consultation period.

Face to face community engagement activities were limited in number and duration to a total of about six hours during the consultation period. The sessions were poorly organised and it became apparent that the documents put forward for consultation contained a major error, as discussed in this report by the Redland City Bulletin. Amazingly, the Council won an award from the Planning Institute of Australia for its Toondah PDA consultation.

At a council meeting on 12 February 2014, a resolution was passed unanimously asking the State Government to allow more time for consultation. The Government did not extend the consultation period.

Professional review of the PDA plan by a group of architects, engineers and planners working pro bono found that the development scheme proposed by the Council and State Government was ill-conceived and “an unacceptable long-term risk for ratepayers”.

Australian Institute of Architects Queensland Chapter president Shane Thompson, who convened the planning workshop heavily criticised the proposed Toondah PDA plans saying: “This dreadful and grandiose PDA scheme is something of the type we would normally only expect of some lunatic despotic government in the Third World”.

At a community rally in G.J. Walter Park on 23 February, hundreds of people expressed their opposition to the proposed development plan which included a road through G.J.Walter Park, an 800 berth marina and buildings up to 15 stories. The rally was covered by Channel Seven News.

Community opposition to the proposed scale of development at Toondah Harbour was evidenced with a petition to Queensland Parliament signed by 1,211 people. This petition, tabled on 4 March 2014, called for the State Government and Redland City Council to withdraw the proposed fast track development and to review the long-term enhancement of the area in a considered and careful manner including:

• limitations on high rise to be consistent with the existing adjacent area
• an embargo on any loss of the existing area of GJ Walter Park and
• preservation of the historic and unique marine environment of Moreton Bay which is well documented

The Toondah Harbour PDA was discussed by council in a general meeting on 19 March. A motion by then local councillor Craig Ogilvie calling for the development scheme to be re-done in a way that better takes into account the natural environment and other factors was lost 4/7. Councillors supporting this motion were Craig Ogilvie, Wendy Boglary, Paul Bishop and Murray Elliot.

Councillors then voted 10/1 (Cr Ogilvie dissenting) to endorse a report on the Toondah Harbour PDA development scheme and the recently completed community consultation. Councillors imposed two specific changes, that the building height limit be reduced from 15 storeys to 10 storeys and thatG.J. Walter Park remain as open space.

In 2014 Council’s promotion of its Toondah Harbour plans featured artist’s impressions such as this one, with plenty of wide open empty space in the foreground and a few mulit-storey buildings in the background.

On 30 April 2014, several weeks after public consultation was finished, the Council made its technical studies publicly available. These reports, which can still be accessed from the Council’s website, include:

• Market Assessment and Development Strategy by Jones Lang LaSalle
• Traffic Masterplan Report by Cardno
• Water and sewer servicing report by Cardno
• Stormwater Infrastructure plan by Engeny Water Management
• Draft Structure Plan Report by Deike Richards
• Expert advice in ecology etc by BAAM ecological consultants
  

The Structure Plan report, by consultant Deicke Richards, included “indicative illustrative perspectives” of the envisaged development, shown below.

The BAAM ecology report mapped Matters of National Environmental Significance which had not been explained to the community during the PDA consultation process.

The State Government released its final version of the Toondah Harbour development scheme in May 2014. Changes from the draft scheme were to reduce allowable building heights from 15 to 10 storeys and halve the number of marina berths from 800 to 400. The road through G.J. Walter Park (koala habitat) was deleted.

The State Government published a report on submissions it received about the Toondah and Weinam Creek draft development schemes. The submissions report gave no indication as to how much community opposition had been expressed. Comments supporting the proposed development schemes were accepted and comments opposing the schemes were ignored.

2014 Walker Group selected as ‘preferred developer

On 23 June 2014, developers were invited to express interest in the Toondah and Weinam Creek development opportunities. The advertisement said 6.8 hectares of land were available, about 10% of the area in the PDA.

A short marketing video published by Ray White on 23 June 2014 said these sites benefited from a number of important advantages for a development:

• a streamlined development approval process
• increased planning certainty under the priority development area legislation
• highly flexible commercial terms
• rare waterfront locations
• strong regional growth

Redland City Council announced that eight expressions of interest were lodged by the closing date (28 July 2014).

Walker Group was selected as the preferred developer for both PDAs. This was endorsed by Council (unanimously ) on 3 September 2014 and publicly announced at the Grand View Hotel on 18 September 2014.

Walker Group Chairman Lang Walker said at this time that development at Toondah Harbour might involve about 1,000 dwellings. Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said he hoped that site work would commence within months. Walker Group said they were pleased that community consultation had already been dealt with.

It seems that no one involved in fast-tracking the Toondah Harbour development opportunity understood that much of this area (about 40 hectares) was part of the Moreton Bay Ramsar site protected by Federal environment laws.

2015 – Labor Government elected

Elections on 31 January 2015 resulted in the Labor party forming a minority government led by Anastacia Palaszczuk.

The Toondah Harbour project became the responsibility of Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning as well as Trade and Transport.

Given Labor’s strident criticism of the Economic Development Act when in Opposition, many in the community expected that the new government would unwind the LNP’s priority development areas at Toondah Harbour and Weinam Creek.

But in June 2015 Jackie Trad visited Toondah Harbour and announced that the Labor Government would “move forward with the exciting project”.

The Government’s media release said that detailed design of the project could be available as early as mid 2016. Construction is set to start in 2017 reported the Redland City Bulletin.

Both Jackie Trad and Capalaba MP Don Brown emphasised the project’s potential to create local jobs. “Local State Member for Capalaba Don Brown has been a strong advocate for the Toondah Harbour revitalisation project to support the local economy and deliver jobs.” said the Government’s media release.

The focus on job creation was linked to the Government’s plans to end sand mining on North Stradbroke Island. The Bulletin’s report included the following:

Ms Trad said the overhaul would create 1000 construction jobs and make up for job losses on North Stradbroke Island after sand mining ended in 2019. “This is a fantastic opportunity for the local community and the communities in the bay islands,” she said. “As job opportunities arise here at Toondah Harbour, people residing in those communities can come and access jobs on the mainland.”

2015 Walker Group’s first EPBC referral

In late November 2015 the community got its first look at Walker Group’s plans for development at Toondah Harbour when the project was referred to the Federal government for assessment as a controlled action under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. The EPBC referral number is 2015/7712. Links to all of the documents included in Walker Group’s 2015 EPBC referral are included in a post by Redlands2030 published on 6 December 2015: Environmental impact assessment of Toondah Harbour development plans

The master plan released by Walker Group in November 2015 said that the project would include “up to 3,600 dwellings with a diverse range of architecturally designed housing types from detached houses to townhouses and apartments”.

Walker Group’s 2015 Plan showed that the proposed development would extend well beyond the boundaries of the Priority Development Area, encroaching on Cassim Island.

A 3D flyover simulation of Walker Group’s proposed Toondah Harbour project was produced by Redlands2030 to better inform the community. This simulation was published on You Tube on 14 December 2015.

2015 Walker Group wants agreements finalised

Agreements about development at Toondah Harbour between Walker group, the Council and the State Government were discussed at a Council meeting on 16 & 21 December 2015. Council voted 6/4 to delegate to the CEO authority to sign two agreements: the Infrastructure Agreement and the Development Agreement. Councillors dissenting were Craig Ogilvie, Wendy Boglary, Paul Bishop and Lance Hewlett.

The Council resolution included a commitment to use infrastructure charges to construct a multi-deck car park with a minimum of 500 public car parking spaces.

In a Redland City Council news release on 23 December 2015 Mayor Karen Williams said;

“By finalising this Infrastructure Agreement Council has secured community infrastructure for generations of Redlanders while at the same time providing the Walker Group with the confidence to take the project forward,” Cr Williams said.

“Walkers needed the certainty provided by such agreements and without the agreements they may have walked away from the project, so this decision is absolutely critical to this project becoming a reality.”

Local Council elections were scheduled for 19 March 2016 and the Council would be unable to make major decisions once the pre-election caretaker period started, in February 2016.

2016 Another petition to State Parliament

Community anger about Walker Group’s proposed Toondah Harbour mega-development was expressed in another petition to State parliament. The petition, signed by 1,373 people, called on the State to withdraw the Toondah Harbour Priority Development Area and start again through a full and proper community consultation process.

• based on community vision and values
• focused on upgrading the ferry terminal facilities

2016 Council elections change the balance of power

Local council elections in March 2016 resulted in Karen Williams being re-elected as Mayor but with a significantly reduced majority. The ‘Williams Team’ team failed to secure a clear majority, ending up with only five of the 11 council positions.

Federal bureaucrats not keen on Walker Group’s plan

When a project is referred to the federal government under the EPBC Act the key questions to be resolved is: does the proposed action impact materially on a matter of national environmental significance? If this is the case then the Minister for the Environment can decide that the project should be declared a controlled action and prescribe an appropriate method of environmental assessment. But the Minister also has the option to immediately refuse approval of a project by declaring it “clearly unacceptable”.

It should have been obvious to Redland City Council and the Queensland Government that plans for development on the mudflats next to Toondah Harbour would impact on Matters of National Environmental Significance. Much of this area had been designated as Ramsar protected wetlands in 1993. The area was known to be habitat for migratory shorebirds including Bar-tailed godwits and Eastern curlews. In 2015 the Federal Government changed the conservation status of the Eastern curlew from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered. The area was also known to be habitat for koalas which the Federal Government listed as Vulnerable (in Queensland and NSW) in 2012.

Over the course of 2016 it became apparent that Walker Group’s 2015 EPBC referral was struggling. The Department of the Environment issued public notices on many occasions that the time for making a decision had been extended. Redlands2030 reported that by August 2016 there had been five extensions of time. The Courier Mail reported on 16 August 2016 that Walker Corporation’s boss Lang Walker is “fuming at the roadblocks the Federal Government has thrown up in the way of his $1.4 billion Toondah Harbour project”.

An ABC News story published in late 2018 reveals that the officers in Department of the Environment advised Walker Group that the proposed Toondah project was likely to be declared “clearly unacceptable”. Walker Group responded vigorously with a range of lobbying activities and legal threats. For more details read the transcript of The bird and the businessman by Steve Cannane, published by ABC on 9 November 2018.

2016 Federal election and political donations

The Federal election on 3 July 2016 was narrowly won by the Liberal National Party Coalition. Andrew Laming (LNP) won the Redlands based seat of Bowman for a fifth term.

A few weeks prior to the Federal election Walker Group donated $200,000 to the Federal Liberal Party. This was not publicly known at the time because Federal laws about reporting political donations don’t require timely disclosure.

Labor also gets donations from Walker Group

In September 2016 Redlands2030 reported on Walker Group’s donations to the Queensland Labor Party. During the period from March 2016 to June 2016 Labor received $28,000 from various Walker Group entities.

In December 2016 the Brisbane Times published an opinion piece by Richard Carew: Toondah Harbour plan raises donations questions

2016 Media coverage about Toondah and its birdlife

In late 2016 concerns about the proposed development’s impact on threatened migratory birds gained media attention.

SBS News aired a story by Stephan Armbruster in early December 2016: Pressure on environment minister to save migratory birds from major development

Brisbane Times published a story by Tony Moore on 5 December 2016: Rare Russian bird puts brakes on $1.3 billion Moreton Bay project

2017 Walker Group’s donations in the news

When the Federal donation disclosure returns became available, in February 2017, the Brisbane Times published a story by Tony Moore on 1 February 2017 : Cleveland harbour developer’s political donations revealed by AEC. A similar story by Josh Robertson was published on 1 February 2017 by the Guardian: Queensland developers gave tens of thousands to parties, disclosures reveal.

2017 EPBC referral number 2

Walker Group withdrew its 2015 EPBC referral on 4 May 2017. A week later, the public was invited to comment on a new referral, EPBC 2017/7939. Documents forming part of Walker Group’s second EPBC referral can be accessed from this story published by Redlands2030 on 13 May 2017: Toondah Project environmental assessment

Changes from the 2015 referral were minimal. The proposed project works still extended beyond the PDA boundaries.

Walker Group’s second Toondah Harbour EPBC referral attracted significant community opposition during the public consultation phase.

In response to its request for comments about Walker Group’s second (2017) referral the Federal Government received 1,419 submissions with just eight submissions supporting Walker Group.

Among Walker Group’s few supporters was Redland City Mayor Karen Williams. In her letter to Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg in March 2017 (shown below) Mayor Williams claimed: “There is broad support for the project across our city, with around 80% indicating they wanted to see Toondah Harbour redeveloped.” The basis for this alleged support was not detailed in the Mayor’s letter. An on-line poll conducted by the Redland City Bulletin later in 2017 found that 85% of respondents wanted the Toondah PDA to be abandoned.

Redlands2030 published a selection of submissions about Walker Group’s 2017 EPBC referral, for example:

• Toondah is clearly unacceptable says Birdlife
• Ramsar Secretariat warns on Toondah impacts
• AMCS says Marine Park is too valuable to risk
• Property Council advocates for Toondah project
• Straddie Chamber supports Toondah project
• Toondah project gets support from Grand View

The Ramsar Secretariat’s submission was particularly important, reminding the Federal Government that it had an obligation to promote the conservation of the Moreton Bay Ramsar Site and to consider its international responsibilities for the conservation, management and wise use of the migratory shorebirds at the site. The Government was told: “If the proposed development is approved and involves reclamation or development into the boundary of the Ramsar Site such that the boundary has to be restricted, then the Government is required to show that this need was due to ‘urgent national interest’ “.

The Department of the Environment recommended to then minister Josh Frydenberg that Walker Group’s second EPBC referral be declared “clearly unacceptable”. On 8 June 2017 the Minister decided to not approve this recommendation. The Minister then approved an alternative recommendation that the project be declared a controlled action.

The community only became aware that the Minister had not acted in accordance with departmental advice in November 2018, through Steve Cannane’s story published by ABC: The bird and the businessman

While the project had been declared a controlled action meaning that it required environmental assessment by the Federal Government, no decision was made as to which method of environmental assessment would be used. The Toondah Harbour project was still in limbo.

2017 Right to information – Toondah agreements

On 4 July 2017 Redlands2030 lodged a Right to Information with Redland City Council requesting copies of its agreements with Walker Group about development in the Toondah Harbour PDA. The Council refused access to the Toondah Development Agreement but the Toondah Infrastructure Agreement was made publicly available.

Redlands2030 reviewed the Toondah Infrastructure Agreement and on 22 November 2017 published an assessment in the story: Toondah infrastructure agreement – Cui bono?

Much of the infrastructure supposed to be delivered under the Infrastructure Agreement is for roadworks, water and sewerage to service Walker Group’s planned 3,600 new apartments. These investments are needed to support private sector investment in a mega apartment project and won’t benefit existing Cleveland residents and Stradbroke ferry passengers.

Council’s refusal to provide a copy of the Toondah Development Agreement was referred for consideration by Queensland’s Office of the Information Commissioner. A decision on this would not be made until late 2018.

2017 Petition to Council about Toondah Harbour

On 23 November 2017 a petition signed by more than 1,200 Redland City residents was presented to Redland City Council requesting that Council withdraw its support for Walker Group’s proposed Toondah Harbour residential development.

Labor wins Queensland election in November 2017

At the state elections on 25 November 2017 Labor won 48 seats giving it a clear majority of the new parliament’s 93 seats.

The policies Labor took to the State election as expressed in the party’s State Platform 2017 included these commitments to protect marine parks and wetlands:

• Labor will protect Ramsar-listed and other wetlands across Queensland by ensuring that nearby development does not cause adverse impacts to wetlands ecological and hydrological values. (5.48)
• Labor will ensure coastal development is managed sustainably, for current and future generations, by considering the social and environmental impacts in addition to the economic benefits. (5.83)
• Labor will sustainably manage the coastal and marine zone for current and future generations by reviewing, strengthening and integrating coastal and marine management legislation, and integrating coastal management and marine planning and development assessment. (5.84)
• Labor will protect coastal and marine zones by prohibiting large-scale reclamation within marine parks and wetlands. Reclamation outside marine parks and wetlands must meet strict environmental standards. (5.87)

2018 Walker Group submits 3rd EPBC referral

Walker Group’s third EPBC referral for development at Toondah Harbour was advertised for public comment in a notice dated 5 June 2018. Links to the various documents are included in a post published by Redlands2030 on 8 June 2018.

The Department of the Environment issued notices on 23 July advising that this version of the project had been declared a controlled action and assessment would be done with the developer preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

2018 media coverage of Toondah

Media interest in the Toondah proposal increased through 2018:

• Developer criticised for plan to dredge Queensland wetland and build 3,600 homes, Ben Smee, The Guardian, 12 June 2018
• Moreton Bay development risk assessment sparks major environmental concerns, Laura Gartry, ABC 26 September 2018
• Focus: Development at Toondah Harbour – Y/N? ABC Radio Focus with Emma Griffiths 9 October 2018
• The bird and the businessman: A billionaire developer’s plan to build on a protected wetland, Steve Cannane, ABC Background Briefing, 9 December 2018
• Experts warned of ‘permanent damage’ from $1.3b Cleveland harbour project Tony Moore, Brisbane Times, 7 December 2018

Right to information decision on Toondah agreement

On 18 November 2018 the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) released its decision about public access to the Toondah agreements. The OIC determined that most of the information should be made available to Redlands2030. The OIC’s decision included the following comments:

• I consider it vital for there to be accountability and transparency in decisions that are made by government which involve the development and sale of public land and protected waters.
• In circumstances where Walker [Group] has made large donations to each political party … this significantly furthers the requirement for transparency and accountability in decisions made by government…

Within the statutory timeframe, appeals against OIC’s decision were lodged by the State Government and Walker Group. The appeal case is now being heard by the Queensland Civil and Administration Tribunal.

Federal Labor policy on wetlands and Toondah Harbour

At it’s national conference in Adelaide in December 2018 the Labor Party passed a resolution to the National Platform about Ramsar wetlands, which said:

That this conference:-

• Restates Labor’s support for the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, to which Australia is a Signatory, and notes Toondah Harbour is a Ramsar-listed wetland
• Recognises the importance of Ramsar listed sites to migratory wading birds
• Acknowledges that migratory wading bird numbers are is steep decline, principally due to loss of tidal roosting and feeding sites along their migratory routes from North East Asia to Australia
• Commits to protecting Australia’s intertidal habitat on which these birds depend, with special consideration of Ramsar listed sites
• Commits to protecting Australia’s intertidal habitat on which these birds depend, with special consideration of Ramsar listed sites

2019 Senate committee visits Toondah Harbour

A senate committee inquiring into Australia’s faunal extinction crisis visited Toondah Harbour on 31 January 2019.

The Committee’s Toondah Harbour site visit was followed by a public hearing in Brisbane on 1 February. Groups providing evidence included Redlands2030 discussing Toondah Harbour.

Toondah Harbour was discussed in the Committee’s Interim Report tabled on 3 April 2019. The report said: “Many submitters pointed to the assessment of the Toondah Harbour development as a significant example of the use of ministerial discretion resulting in detrimental outcomes for the environment.”

2019 State Government response to letter campaign

In late 2018 and early 2019, more than a thousand people supported a Redlands2030 campaign by writing letters to Queensland Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk. Letter writers received the following reply:

2019 Federal Government sets EIS guidelines

After the Federal Government decided on 23 July 2018 that Walker Group’s third EPBC referral would be a controlled action, with assessment by an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Redlands2030 requested that the Department of the Environment consult with the community about the guidelines for preparation of the EIS.

Draft guidelines were advertised for comment on 6 February 2019. Final guidelines were issued in a notice dated 3 April 2019. The review process resulted in a several changes tightening up the guidelines.

Preparing a draft EIS is likely to take at least a year. The community would then be given an opportunity to review and comment on the document.

Walker Group attempts community consultation

In early 2019 Walker Group scheduled two community consultation activities, one in Cleveland on 22 February 2019 and one in Dunwich on 2 March 2019.

The Redland City Bulletin published this story about the Cleveland event: Walker Corporation lashes out at lobby group Redlands2030 after Toondah Harbour meeting

The Bulletin also published a story about the Dunwich event: Protest at Walker Corporation’s Toondah Harbour talks at Dunwich

What next?

If you have any questions or comments send them to thereporter@redlands2030.net

Redlands2030 – 8 April 2019