Redland City Council invites its community to petition on matters of concern but little respect was shown to hundreds of people petitioning for better consultation about the proposed development of 3,600 apartments on wetlands next to Toondah Harbour.
What was the petition about?
Last October almost 400 people asked the Council to:
- Accept the need for improved community engagement about plans for future use of the land and waters in the Toondah Harbour PDA
- Provide a large weatherproof noticeboard at G.J. Walter Park near the facilities at Shore Street East for the purposes of keeping the community informed about important issues relating to plans for this area
- Allocate at least half of the noticeboard to community groups concerned about plans for development in the PDA including Redlands2030, Koala Action Group, and Birdlife Australia.
The petition was tabled at the General Meeting 23 October 2019 by Councillor Peter Mitchell. He made a nominal comment but gave no explanation of the petition itself (as can be heard on the Council video of the meeting at 53’14”).
Standing Orders require that he be acquainted with the subject matter and when presenting the petition (a) state the nature of the petition; (b) read the petition; (c) move the relevant motion.
In moving the motion he said it had been discussed in the public session of the meeting…ignoring that procedural adjourning of the meeting for the public presentation session and there can be no debate or discussion.
Did Cr Mitchell understand the nature of the petition?
The first point of the petition calls for improved community engagement about the mega Toondah Harbour Priority Development Area. Cr Mitchell obviously didn’t consider there were any policy implications when he recommended the petition be dealt with as an operational nature.
Cr Mitchell failed to read the petition to the meeting and did not mention the clear assertion about the inadequacy of community engagement.
The petition was then referred to the CEO for consideration and response to the Principal Petitioner. Effectively the matter was finished as far as the elected councillors are concerned!
Is such rudimentary treatment of a petition about such an important issue in the public interest?
Did Cr Mitchell understand the nature of the petition AND did he comply with the Standing Orders in presenting the petition?
In terms of Council procedures no other Councillor (nor the professional advisors raised the concerns about the policy question, the public interest (expressed by 400 people) or the Standing Orders.
Delegated decisions mean less accountability
At the Meeting, the public gallery was full and those people witnessed a procedural sidelining of the petition. Many in the gallery left confused and disappointed at the way the petition was dealt with.
The petition suggested ways the Council could make accessible the progress of the PDA. A noticeboard would at least be accessible to people using the foreshores.
Why is improved community engagement needed?
- Visitors and tourists are in the dark. Locals and visitors at Cleveland and heading Stradbroke Island have a poor understanding of the scale, location or processes of the Toondah PDA.
- Council suggested a notice board. A public noticeboard was petitioned because Council officers had previously suggested a noticeboard was needed. They also suggested Redlands2030 ask formally for a noticeboard!. That is why a petition was lodged!
- Extended planning horizon. In May 2013 the PDA development was reported as imminent. The promise was works within 12 or 18 months. That deadline has come and gone and so questions remain.
- Project Creep (some creep!). Consultation in 2013 was based on 800 residential apartments being built mainly on the land. This blew out to 3,600 apartments without any explanation or community engagement.
- Public awareness. In 2014 it was never revealed to the community that the proposed development conflicted with Ramsar wetlands, migratory bird habitat, the SEQ Regional Plan, and the Moreton Bay Marine Park. Why not?
- Council’s conflicted position. Council is an equity partner. How does it reconcile its equity with protecting the public interest?
What was the Council’s response?
The CEO’s consideration of the petition resulted in a letter to the Principal Petitioner which said:
“Council has considered this request and a noticeboard will not be placed in the area for this purpose”.
There was no response to the petition’s call for improved community engagement.
No reasons were given for the Council’s decision and the letter ended by asking the principal petitioner “if you could advise the other petitioners of this response”.
There were about 400 signatures. The petition (and the names and addresses) are in the hands of the Council. Putting the onus of advising “the other petitioners of this response” is an onerous obligation to place on those people facilitating petitions and democratic expression of concerns.
Why doesn’t the Council write to the people who called for better communication and explain why this won’t happen?
Readers can make their own minds up about the way Council fobbed off the views of 400 people, and dismissed the call for improved community engagement about the Toondah Harbour Priority Development Area.
If you are not happy, have a word to your local councillor. Local council elections are just a few weeks away, on 28 March 2020.
Reproduced below is a copy of the Council’s response to the petition:
A new petition for World Wetlands Day 2020
World Wetlands Day 2020 will be celebrated on 2 February 2020 at an event in G.J. Walter Park.
At this event a petition to the Queensland Parliament will be launched calling for a formal Commission of Inquiry into the Toondah Harbour project. Copies of a hard copy petition form will be available for signing.
Redlands2030 – 22 January 2020
Please note: Offensive or off-topic comments will be deleted. If offended by any published comment please email thereporter@redlands2030.net
8 Comments
I for one would love to know the intentions of all candidates re Toondah Harbour before the council elections. It is so important to all lot of residents as to how they will vote.
Dr Tafe is of opinion Cr Peter Mitchell should not be invited to any BBQ meetings at GJ Walter Park because his whole aim is to undermine efforts of the R2030 group, who appears to be part of mayor’s group in not working for the best interests of the Redlands community or environment of Moreton Bay.
I have never met Cr Mitchell but have to agree with Dr Tafe because of a comment made to me by an Aged Care worker during meeting at my home. In reply to my question of “where do you live?” answer was: “Stradbroke Island.” Asked: Who is your councillor? “Reply: Cr Mitchell…he’s a ‘dickhead’ … then giving detailed explanation. This RCC representative didn’t even have the decency to read out a petition in Council signed by hundreds of people relating to the Toondah Harbour PDA that touched on the inadequacy of community engagement. It’s obvious he doesn’t believe it’s necessary. Enough said..
It has been refreshing to hear from two candidates running against Cr Mitchell but haven’t had him knock on my door yet like the other two.
This issue, their views, the way they conducted themselves, and respect shown towards me and my thoughts on this issue certainly had made up my mind whom I’m going to vote for.
One did not preach when I asked about Toondah.
The other did.
One came back with information about another issue we discussed and I really did not expect that and I do appreciate it.
The other was nice, a bit flattering, said they were there to listen, preached, and played the victim all at once.
I’m not sure that one has the capacity to hold the position of a councillor and adequately represent me and our area. With age and less ego may come wisdom and a better capability to be a representative. Certainly very passionate about Toondah, And some other issues, but, and it’s a big BUT, the when you listen past the spiel you can’t help but feel they’re trying to ride Redlands2030 coat-tails to a win. And I don’t see that as an independent candidate.
I’m appalled by the disdain The current council has shown residents about this project.
Thanks to one candidate I have a better idea of where things are up to and who to blame for this debacle. I did not realise it dated back to the Newman State government.
The secrecy around why the current government and council slap a smile on their dials and push ahead is very concerning. What did that rotten bunch of tomatoes and the then and and now mayor sign up to that sees this horrid development moving forward? Will they ever come clean?
This council, like many others, is owned by the property development industry. This vile industry has been involved in so many corruption cases where local councillors have taken money to change zoning and development application outcomes. It’s the Game of Mates in action.
Secret deals with developers is the way to go in RCC. I gave up, as most citizens do, speaking up in Council on behalf of neighbours, environment, wildlife, where development impacts seriously on lives, forcing many moving away from sardine-style units suddenly appearing in what was a quiet, peaceful residential street. My final try many moons ago was to save officially listed koala habitat, but voice cut short, on hearing the word ‘trees’ Cr in charge of proceedings that day stated: “done deal, Amy”.
Petitions mean nothing in the scheme of things in Redland Council. Decades ago sent petition to then Environment Minister Brian Littleproud, LNP, to save our Specially Protected wetland under Koala Coast Policy (do we have one?) Receiving hundreds of signatures, informed an EIS was required before any approval provided. But…EIS waived when Labor elected, zoning changed overnight (names of corrupt Crs suppressed) Labor Environment Minister okayed destruction State & local operatives where today, the Crotona/Coolnwynpin Ck riparian zone taking in Capalaba Central through to Old Cleveland Rd is a disaster zone… a formerly ‘naturally wonderful’ creek area today a ‘no go zone’. Asked to report on a koala after habitat destroyed, alerted carers to top of a tree outside 19 Crotona Rd units, being attacked by crows.
Yes Simon, no protection of parks, in Capalaba anyhow. I helped, working with council parks operators, establish Charles Winter Memorial Park, meant for local families on Mt Cotton Rd behind fence of homes with no backyards, where WWII vet planted trees for wife Betty, I had KAG plant trees, + arranged for seating so parents/carers could watch youngsters at play, but Cr Karen Williams decided otherwise. In dead of night, two trucks planted on perimeter of the park a caravan/demountable with sign ‘Boystown’ causing distress to elderly on the park, over many years, and when vacant for six months, requests for return to Cr Gleeson fell on deaf ears. Seems Mayor Williams has other plans for the park, best known to herself & followers. As we know, parks are not important, as prior to last election, over 2 doz? parks & reserves were earmarked for development?! One a Reserve I helped establish after Bowen St bush destroyed for units. Keith St Reserve… paid for… with new environmental levy by first mayor Eddie Santagiuliana. Thank God signs returned as today this ‘naturally wonderful’ green oasis, is much appreciated by the local community.
To be honest I don’t know why we even bother with Cr Peter Mitchell and he should not be invited to any BBQ meetings at G J Walter Park because his whole aim is to undermine the efforts of Redlands 2030. As for the Mayor, I have made my opinion clear in a post on the Redland City Bulletin face-book site yesterday. These particular councillors are not working in the best interests of the residents or the environment of Moreton Bay. They have their own agenda.
It seems clear to me that many Redlands councilors have little regard for their constituents or the natural environment. Their main topic of interest is elsewhere.
Anything else is pushed roughly away. What is their main interest I wonder?
Could it be covering up secret deals with developers? It certainly is not protecting parks, wildife and open spaces.
A good subject for council debate and to action might be how to stop corruption in local government?
Follow the money!
Is it proposed to ask the candidates for the forthcoming elections to declare their position in regard to the Toondah Harbour proposal?