White water vision for Birkdale adopted by Redland City Council

A white water vision for the Birkdale Community Precinct, adopted by Redland City Council at its August monthly meeting, will be used to guide development of a master plan for site development – despite community feedback preferring a lower impact future for the site.

Other matters considered by the Council at its general meeting on 18 August 2021 (discussed further below) include:

• State Government consultation about the Goompi (Dunwich ) Draft Master Plan
• Development planning for various native title areas on North Stradbroke Island
• A structure plan for south west Victoria Point to facilitate a range of development opportunities including residential lots smaller than 400 square metres
• Incorporating protection of wildlife corridors into the City Plan (but only for urban areas)
• Adding a number of properties to the City Plan’s local heritage register
• Council’s responsibilities for infrastructure in the Weinam Creek Priority Development Area.

Council’s white water vision for Birkdale

Despite an obvious lack of community support for high impact development in the Birkdale Community Precinct, Redland City Council decided at its August monthly meeting to adopt a white water vision for site development.

Cr Paul Bishop requested that councillors delay making a decision due to the possibility that council may purchase adjacent land from Airservices Australia which could allow for some proposed facilities to be located further away from the biting midges close to Tingalpa Creek. This suggestion was not supported by a majority of councillors.

Cr Berridge raised concerns about the cost to implement the proposed vision and drew attention to the lack of community support for the Council’s white water vision.

During discussion about this item at the Council meeting, Mayor Williams reiterated her view that development of an Olympic venue in Redlands was an enabler to future transport infrastructure such as the Eastern Busway and duplication of the train line to Cleveland.

The cost of the Eastern Busway project has been listed as $1.736 billion by the South East Queensland Council of Mayors in various advocacy documents. The same documents show that the cost of duplicating the train line between Manly and Cleveland would cost $180 million.

It would be more than surprising if the State and/or Federal governments would spend about $2 billion on these two items of transport infrastructure to get 8,000 spectators to an Olympics venue at Birkdale for four days in the year 2032.

The Council voted 6/4 to adopt its white water vision for development of the Birkdale Community Precinct.

Crs Karen Williams, Peter Mitchell, Paul Gollè, Mark Edwards, Julie Talty and Tracey Huges voted
FOR the motion. Crs Wendy Boglary, Lance Hewlett, Adelia Berridge and Paul Bishop voted AGAINST the motion. Cr Rowanne McKenzie was absent from the meeting.

You can view Council’s discussion about its white water vision for the Birkdale precinct on the meeting video recording (go to Item 14.3 or start the video recording at 1:44:31.

An old-fashioned paper petition requesting that Council does not approve an Olympic whitewater complex and associated infrastructure, Olympic swimming pool and/or an aquatic adventure precinct anywhere on the Birkdale Community Precinct or adjacent land has been initiated by a local resident. You can download and print a copy, obtain signatures and then return the signed forms to the principal petitioner.

North Stradbroke Island development planning

Redland City Council discussed two items related to development planning for North Stradbroke Island at its meeting on 18 August 2021.

The Council’s position on the Draft Goompi (Dunwich) Master Plan (Item 14.1) was discussed and councillors resolved unanimously to make a submission to the State Government which suggests:

• The need for more clarity about costs and responsibility for delivery of items in the plan
• Further investigation and planning for changes to barge and ferry terminals with particular concerns about concept layout proposed for the Junner Street terminal.
• More information is needed to inform plans for future use of the current mining lease area and sand load out facilities.
• The State Government commit to addressing and delivering the services required by the One Mile community.
• Clarifying the Council’s role in the next steps in the planning process.

The Council also resolved to request the State Government re-establish the Minjerribah Ministerial Forum and that the Mayor and Chief Executive Officer be invited to join.

The Council also discussed the State Government’s Temporary Local Planning Instrument No.2 of 2020 (Quandamooka Land Aspirations Area) (Item 14.2).

The Council resolved unanimously to do what it has been told to do by the State Government, and amend the City Plan as per the State Government’s direction to amend the City Plan to
reflect the State Government’s Temporary Local Planning Instrument No.2 of 2020 (Quandamooka
Land Aspirations Area).

The Council resolved to seek a commitment from the State to provide adequate funding for all Island infrastructure and associated costs for development of these land parcels.

Small lot housing for Victoria Point

The Council decided 9/1 (Cr Julie Talty dissenting) to proceed with public consultation of a local plan for south west Victoria Point which will commence after Council complies with State Government direction to complete concept studies and cost estimates for various local road works affecting Double Jump Road, Bunker Road and Clay Gully Road.

During discussion about this item (14.6) Cr Tracy Huges expressed concerns about reduced lot sizes (less than 400 square metres) and increased building height limits which have been included in the draft local plan for South West Victoria Point.

The resolution adopted by Council includes that it will advise the State Government that the local plan will not be incorporated into the Redland City Plan until the State Government gives a firm commitment to deliver the dual carriage way of Cleveland Redland Bay Road between Magnolia Parade, Victoria Point and Giles Road, Redland Bay.

The Council’s tardiness in planning for development in south west Victoria Point has already resulted in 40% of the area having had development plans approved by the Planning and Environment Court after developers appealed against Council refusals.

In October 2018 Mayor Karen Williams said that a new structure plan for South West Victoria Point was under way “with a target of September 2019 for final approval and incorporation into the Redlands Coast City Plan”.

This plan is now two years overdue and it’s unlikely to be approved within the next 12 months.

City Plan protection of some wildlife corridors

A proposal to enshrine protection of some wildlife corridors into the Redland City Plan was adopted by Council in a 9/1 vote (Cr Julie Talty dissenting).

In 2019 the State Government approved a Council proposal to protect wildlife corridors but councillors subsequently decided to not proceed with the amendments which they had proposed to the state government.

In 2020 the Council restarted the process but its scope was reduced by excluding rural area.

The proposed amendments will now go back to the State Government for review. Then the community may finally be given the opportunity to comment through a consultation process.

Local Heritage protection decision deferred

The Council had the opportunity at its August meeting to add more than 40 properties to Redland City’s local heritage register. But instead the Council decided to put off making a decision.

At present the properties being proposed for local heritage listing are protected from development by the Council’s imposition of a temporary local planning instrument.

Some councillors expressed reservations about the officers’ recommendation that owners of properties to be heritage listed receive a one off payout of $1,000 as compensation for having their properties heritage listed.

Cr Peter Mitchell (Division 2) commented that 100% of representations to him were opposed to proposed heritage listings. Perhaps he should consult more widely.

From the time that Council approves the addition of properties to the City Plan’s local heritage register, the temporary local planning instrument will cease to apply and there will be a period of 12 months in which applications for development (or demolition) of heritage properties can be submitted in accordance with the previous planning scheme.

So the effect of Council delaying its decision is to delay, by at least a month, the opportunity for developers of properties proposed for heritage listing, such as 219 Middle Street Cleveland and 509 Main Road Wellington Point, to submit their development applications to Council.

Council to take on Weinam Creek infrastructure responsibility

One of the confidential reports to Council was about the responsibility for development of infrastructure in the Weinam Creek Priority Development Area (PDA).

The concept of priority development areas was that infrastructure provision could be fast tracked through involvement of the private sector, and having less rigorous planning laws.

While this may have worked in other parts of Queensland, so far in Redlands there has been no private sector infrastructure investment in priority development areas since the Weinam Creek and Toondah Harbour PDA’s were declared more than eight years ago.

The resolution adopted (unanimously) by Council at its August 2021 meeting suggests that Redland City ratepayers can expect to bear the cost of Weinam Creek PDA infrastructure.

The Council decided that:
1. That Council and Redland Investment Corporation enter into a contract with the State generally in accordance with the terms in the Report.
2. That Council commits to funding for the Community Infrastructure Works listed in the Report.
3. That Council partners Redland Investment Corporation to deliver the Community Infrastructure Works in the Weinam Creek Priority Development Area listed in Annexure A of the Report, including:
a. Construction of Hamilton Street, Banana Street and new loop road.
b. Foreshore works including hard and soft landscaping.
c. Linear park connections.
d. Recreational boat ramp.
4. That Council leases the sites at Weinam Street and Moores Road Redland Bay to the community organisations listed in the report, other than by tender or auction and the exception under s236(1)(b)(ii) of the Local Government Regulation 2012 be applied.
5. To delegate power to the Chief Executive Officer to negotiate, make, amend and discharge all documentation to enact the above resolutions.

The Report referred to in the resolution for item 19.3 was confidential. Unless the Council chooses to make this information publicly available, the community will have no understanding of the risks and costs that the Council is taking on in its arrangements with a Council-owned subsidiary company (Redland Investment Corporation) to provide infrastructure under a contract with the State Government.

The Council’s draft master plan for the Weinam Creek PDA is being considered by the State Government and the community can make submissions up until 10 September 2021.

Council meeting on 16 August 2021

Here is a link to the minutes of Redland City Council’s meeting on 18 August 2021.

Here is a link to the video recording of this meeting.

Redlands2030 – 29 August 2021