A suggestion that disgraced mayor Karen Williams find out if she has community support by contesting a by-election and concerns about the proposed Birkdale whitewater facility are discussed in letters to Redlands2030.
Does community support disgraced mayor?
Karen Williams insists on remaining in the Mayoral Office in the wake of her drunk-driving accident.
The Mayor tells us she is staying on to do the job she was elected to do, and that she is working to regain the trust of the community.
The community on the other hand is baying for her resignation, with little to indicate that returning to trust is possible or even desired.
The net result is a dreadful stand-off. Morale within the Council and throughout the Redlands is plummeting. Community pride is taking a beating with a disgraced leader at the helm.
The business of the day is being side-tracked and the future remains uncertain as we all stall in this most egregious state of affairs.
The way out, however, is simple. If the Mayor genuinely believes she has the backing of the community to remain in Office, she should resign and then contest the Mayoral by-election that will follow.
If Ms Williams wins, she can return to the Mayoral Office with dignity and confidence.
If she does not, the people of the Redlands will get a fresh start under new leadership.
Over to you, Madam Mayor.
Lavinia Wood
Spokesperson
Community Alliance for Responsible Planning (CARP) Redlands Inc
Originally to RCB, published with the permission of the author.
Whitewater fiasco will cost ratepayers
Most residents of Redland City are only just now finding out the details of the Birkdale Whitewater fiasco.
We, the ratepayers, were nominated by the Mayor (and Council) to pay for the proposal and keep paying afterwards for its ongoing maintenance. This was when it was only going to be used by a few dozen Olympians, for a small number of events for its designed purpose. Thereafter, we are told it will be used for white water rescue training, a few people for entertainment and maybe the odd “Southern Hemisphere event”.
Meanwhile, Penrith runs at a loss!
It seems the justification is all pie in the sky. The reality seems more that the ratepayers would have it to fund maintenance and running costs forever. This sort of thinking demonstrates that it is no wonder our rates have to go up and are still the highest in the region.
In addition, the Olympic Committee was instructed to only build the thing if it was desired and needed by the community.
Moreover, any similar facility (Penrith or even NZ) could be used instead under the International Olympic Committee guidelines.
Other far larger communities and councils ran a mile but did our “Redlands Council?”
No!
The natural environment, koalas, quiet enjoyment and the raft of preferences expressed by the community were given short shrift. But that’s nothing new, is it?
Cheers, from a tormented fellow ratepayer
P.M.
Cleveland
Keep Birkdale lands for koalas
I wrote to the Queensland Premier and asked her to nominate the existing Olympic Whitewater Stadium in Penrith, New South Wales as the designated site for Whitewater 2032 Olympic venue.
I urge her to take this action because:
- Redland City Council’s own community consultation processes have shown that the Whitewater Stadium is not wanted in the Redlands. Given the evolution of the project to date, it appears that hosting an Olympic venue is of more importance to the Council than to the people of the Redlands. Furthermore, I am greatly concerned that Council has not disclosed to the community the economic, environmental and social impacts of building an Olympic Whitewater Stadium on the Birkdale land.
- Allocating a fraction of the capital investment of a new Olympic Stadium to upgrade the Penrith facility would achieve significant savings for all levels of government – money that could be better spent elsewhere.
- The unnecessary construction of a new Whitewater Stadium is contrary to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) policy of using existing facilities; accordingly, the existing Olympic 2000 facilities in Penrith, New South Wales should be used.
- The proposed site for the Whitewater Stadium is surrounded by Core Koala Habitat (Queensland Government mapping). This is also in direct conflict with IOC policy which states where new permanent venues need to be constructed, the Hosts, the Host NOC and the OCOG shall ensure they are not located in or adjacent to statutory nature, cultural protected areas or World Heritage sites.
- Further, the unnecessary construction of a new Whitewater Stadium will be detrimental to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games’ capacity to meet contractual obligations to operate as ‘climate positive’.
- The Redlands community has long battled to protect the extensive natural, Indigenous cultural, and European heritage of the Birkdale site, including Willards Farm and the US Army-built World War II Radio Receiving Station.
I believe these values should take precedence over an Olympic venue and that the Birkdale land should become the ‘Redlands Wild Koala Refuge & Cultural Heritage Precinct’, a destination thatj will bring domestic and international tourists to the Redlands before, during and long after the 2032 Olympic Games.
I then advised the Premier that she will have the 2032 Olympic Games, but asked will she still have koalas. I reminded her that the iconic koalas are invaluable.
I then asked her to do the right thing because history will judge us all at this pivotal time for koalas, and the world is watching.
Koala lives matter!
M.P.
Italy
More Letters To Redlands2030
If you have a view on these or any other matters, send your letter to: theeditor@redlands2030.net
Recent letters include:
The Mayor’s Crash, Council Prayers And Toondah Media Coverage
Native Title, nature based tourism and the election for Bowman
Toondah Benefits The Few But Costs The Many
Redlands2030 – 29 August 2022
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