Sealink’s ‘Seabreeze’ and Straddie Flyer’s ‘Legacy’ entering Toondah Harbour
Walker Group’s plans to develop 3,600 apartments on wetlands next to Toondah Harbour are supported by less than 10% of folk using Toondah Harbour ferry services according to a recent Toondah survey.
The survey, carried out by Redlands2030 volunteers, obtained information from people traveling between Toondah Harbour and North Stradbroke Island (Straddie).
Toondah survey questions
Ferry passengers were asked three Yes/No questions:
- Are you aware of plans for a major residential development next to this ferry terminal?
- Did you know that the proposal is for 3,600 apartments built on new land in wetlands next to the ferry terminal?
- Do you support this proposal?
Copies of Walker Group’s Final EIS Master Plan were available to show the scale of the proposed development.
Respondents were asked to advise their residential post code so that we could find out if there were any differences in support levels, depending on where people live.
Survey results for project support
| Place of Residence | Number of People Surveyed | Number Supporting Toondah Proposal | Number Opposing Toondah Proposal |
| Cleveland | 65 | 1 | 64 |
| Straddie | 110 | 2 | 108 |
| Other Redlands | 51 | 10 | 41 |
| Total Redlands | 226 | 13 | 213 |
| Outside Redlands | 159 | 14 | 145 |
| Total Responses | 385 | 27 | 358 |
| Did Not Respond | 20 | ||
| Total Surveyed | 405 |
Results as percentage of respondents
| Place of Residence | % Supporting Toondah Proposal | % Opposing Toondah Proposal | |
| Cleveland | 1.5% | 98.5% | |
| Straddie | 1.8% | 98.2% | |
| Other Redlands | 19.6% | 80.4% | |
| Total Redlands | 5.8% | 94.2% | |
| Outside Redlands | 8.8% | 91.2% | |
| Total Responses | 7.0% | 93.0% |
Awareness of Toondah proposal
Of the 393 people who responded to questions about project awareness, 269 (68.4%) said they were aware of plans for a major residential development next to the Toondah Harbour ferry terminal.
But only 223 people (56.7%) were aware that the proposal involved constructing 3,600 apartments on new land in areas that are currently tidal waters in a Marine Park.
Toondah survey method
The survey was conducted by Redlands2030 volunteers during the mornings of Friday 15 December 2023 and Saturday 16 December 2023.
People were approached by Redlands2030 volunteers and asked if they would respond to a short survey about Toondah Harbour.
People surveyed were users of a water taxi or vehicular ferry service departing from or arriving at the Toondah Harbour Ferry Terminal.
Passengers of both the Sealink and the Stradbroke Flyer operations were surveyed.
Of the people surveyed, approximately 63% were using the Stradbroke Flyer water taxi service and 37% were using Sealink services which include both water taxi and vehicular ferry services.
We approached 405 people to participate in the survey with response rates shown below:
| Number Approached | Number responded | Response Rate | |
| Project Awareness | 405 | 385 | 97.0% |
| Project Support | 405 | 393 | 95.1% |
Toondah survey conclusions
This was a quick and simple survey which aimed to explore community sentiment to Walker Group’s Toondah proposal in its final form, as submitted for consideration by Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek.
In response to our questions, an overwhelming majority of Toondah Harbour ferry service passengers gave a resounding thumbs down to Walker Group’s plans to construct 3,600 apartments on Marine Park wetlands.
The fact that a significant percentage of survey respondents were unaware of plans for residential development next to the Toondah Harbour ferry terminal reflects poorly on consultation to date by the project proponent, Redland City Council and the Queensland Government.
We focused on folk using ferry services at Toondah Harbour because we figured that this segment of the population were familiar with the location and current purpose of Toondah Harbour.
Previous experience indicates that if we were to survey people elsewhere e.g. at public places in Cleveland CBD or Capalaba, there would be a significant percentage of potential respondents who had never heard of Toondah Harbour.
Another Toondah survey?
If anyone has concerns or doubts about the way in which this survey was carried out, you are welcome to join us for a repeat exercise in the New Year. If you want to do this, contact Redlands2030 by sending an email to thereporter@redlands2030.net
Redlands2030 – 22 December 2023
Please note: Offensive or off-topic comments will be deleted. If offended by any published comment please email thereporter@redlands2030.net
2 Comments
Plenty being said about the wetllands but not enough being said about the impact on infrastructure OR LACK OF to cope with the influx of people and traffic from trades whilst under contruction and the eventual residents – during which time there will be ongoing construction of more highrise residential appartments in surrounding streets adding further to future congestion. There are only two roads in/out of Cleveland area. Much transport will have to use Shore St east taking it through the central shopping area, a route already showing overload. At least have read nothing to the contrary. There was some sort of study done around the Wharf st area deeming current conditions to be adequate.
These results show the locals that know the site are opposed…overwhelmingly, the the mega development. To date Walkers have maintained that 60% of people living in Cleveland support the building of apartments in the waters of Moreton Bay…these results give me hope that the people of Cleveland (and Straddie) have thought about the issue and made up their minds based on the common good and community values.
Perhaps local politicians and all councillors should consider their position. Those who claim a mandate based on
community values” should be embarrassed to be so far out of step with the community!!!