Big Plans for Russell Island

AN artificial reef and lagoon off Russell Island have been touted as a possible future tourist attraction by an island advocacy group.

Secretary and treasurer of the Moreton Bay Combined Island Association (MBCIA), Brian Paddison, proposed the development for Black Swan Bay, on the northern end of the island.

It would see the islands’ collection of abandoned cars used to build the reef, with their engines, tyres and other excess parts stripped in a work for the dole program and sold to offset costs of the project.

“There have been concerns raised about the viability of car bodies, but they won’t rust quickly because they’ll be fully submerged, and they won’t wash away or be dislodged because they’re in a protected bay without strong tides,” Mr Paddison said.

“The water there is also quite shallow, which would make a reef there perfect for amateur divers.”

Mr Paddison’s proposal would also see the mud flats in the basin pumped to reveal the sandy base he believes is only half a metre below the surface, with the vegetation rich mud to be mixed with mulch and used for compost.

“All the swans that gave the bay their name have moved on to other parts of the island because the mud build up is too much, there is sand not far below that can be revealed,” he said.

Mr Paddison said the lagoon and beach, to be formed by the sandy beach and artificial reef, would be complemented by elevated boardwalks.

“I intend to talk to Redlands Tourism soon about looking into securing government funding for a research grant to make sure this is a viable proposition,” Mr Paddison said.

The proposal would be likely to face significant hurdles from the State Government, which declared Black Swan Bay a ‘‘yellow zone’’ last year, prohibiting trawling, dredging, spoil disposal, waste disposal and coastal development.

Talk on birds of Peel Island

from the Bayside Bulletin
THE Friends of Peel Island will host a presentation by Dr Peter Woodall on 'The Birds of Peel Island' at the Redlands IndigiScapes Centre, 17 Runnymede Rd, Capalaba on Monday, April 12, at 7pm.

In the 1990s, while a lecturer at the University of Queensland, Dr Woodall made 23 visits to Peel Island to conduct bird surveys. These visits were initially approved by the Redland Shire Council and Ray Cowie, the caretaker, and later by the EPA.


Dr Woodall has also made some incidental observations on the reptiles, including a photographic record of an unusual black (melanistic) form of the blue-tongued skink, which was published in the Queensland Naturalist.


Dr Woodall's talk will include both the birds that he has recorded and also the observations of former Hansens Disease patient Noel (Laddie) Agnew, who was sent to the island at a young age. Apart from a period of remission in the early1920s, Noel's life was confined to the island, where he died in 1937.


RSVP by April 8 to FOPIA secretary Mette Juel on 3822 3501 or 0437 440 567 or email mette@juels.dk. A gold coin donation would be appreciated.

community grant applications

REDLAND City Council is calling for individuals, and community and not-for-profit organisations to lodge their community grant applications by March 26.

This is the closing date for the second round of the 2009/2010 offers through the council's Community Grants Program, which was adopted last year to make it easier for individuals and groups to access council funding.


Redland City Deputy Mayor Toni Bowler said that last November the council signed off more than $345,000 of community funding support during the first round of allocations under the new arrangements, and an additional $27,374 for five Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) grants.


"Just over $270,000 of community funding will be available through this final round of allocations for 2009/2010, with an additional $72,000 for Regional Arts Development Fund grants."


The RADF grants program is a partnership program with Arts Queensland that supports professional emerging artists and arts practitioners in the Redlands. Previously, RADF grants were administered through the Redland Art Gallery but they have now been consolidated into the Community Grants Program to improve administrative efficiencies.


"Providing grants is a powerful way for us to build strong communities by funding projects, organisations and infrastructure that help the council achieve its strategic priorities in our community. The better our grants program, the better we can do that," Cr Bowler said.


Application kits for round two, and information on grant categories and eligibility criteria are available on the council's website at www.redland. qld.gov.au.


A separate application kit for Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) grants is available at www.arts.qld.gov.


Cr Bowler urged individuals, and community and not-for-profit organisations wanting to secure council funding to start preparing their applications early.


"Council officers will run a number of free information sessions on application writing from February22 until March 11, at various locations throughout the Redlands. Make sure you book early to secure your spot as spaces will be limited," Cr Bowler said.


Information sessions on the writing of applications are being held at:


* Capalaba Place Hall, 14 Noeleen Street, Capalaba, February 23, 2 to 3.30pm.


* Russell Island Recreation Hall, 1 Alison Crescent, Russell Island, March 2, 5.30 to 7pm.


* Cleveland Library Meeting Room, Cnr Middle and Bloomfield Streets, Cleveland, March 4, 5.30 to 7pm.


* Redlands Indigi-Scapes Centre, 17 Runny-mede Road, Capalaba, March 9, 4 to 5.30pm.


* Cleveland Library Meeting Room, Cnr Middle and Bloomfield Streets, Cleveland, March 11, 5.30 to 7pm.


To book your place at an information session, for information on kits and for and application forms, call the Community Grants Team on 3829 8911.

Rise in Sea Pollution Levy to Meet Pacific Adventurer Clean-Up

High Tide mark getting higher
 

Moreton Bay will be a whole lot bigger. but not necessarily better, by the end of this century.

At least that is the considered opinion of the Department of Climate Change in the first pass national assessment of Climate Change Risks to Australia’s Coast.

The Department says in the executive summary of its 178 page document that we have been lulled into thinking that the coast will not change much but says we have living in a relatively stable time(p.6):

"Since 1788 settlements have been built along our coast in expectation that sea level would remain broadly unchanged.

"Significant settlement of low-lying areas has occurred, and structures were designed and built to standards defined by a relatively narrow period of experience.

"Those conditions are now changing. A new climate era driven by global warming will increase risks to settlements, industries, the delivery of services and natural ecosystems within Australia’s coastal zone."read More....

the Morgan Family

 


Hello, I thought this might be the right time to introduce myself and my Family.I am Steve, my wife Jenna,and now three children Asha, Taj and Jada the newest member.
We have lived on Russell Island for the past 9 months and really do love it.We hope to get to know more friends over this way and give all a sounding board through this blog.

Transport Plan Review now under way

Southern Moreton Bay Islands Integrated Local Transport Plan
Review now under way

The need for improved transport infrastructure and services has been a long-standing issue for the Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI) communities.

Last year, Council adopted a broad framework to tackle these and other SMBI issues in partnership with the community and other levels of government – They called it the Bay Island Blueprint. Part of our commitment to address island issues is to review the SMBI Integrated Local Transport Plan . This process is now under way.

An opportunity for online comment will be available in March 2010.

What is an ILTP?

An ILTP:

* provides strategic direction for addressing local transport issues
* requires engagement with relevant government bodies and transport operators to ensure an integrated approach.


We want you to have your say

For the new ILTP to be effective, it will require input and commitments by the state government, transport providers and other key stakeholders to find solutions. It must also take into account the interests and issues of other key stakeholders. We will be asking for your input into the review, to ensure the new plan is based on the most up-to-date information available.

Are Moreton Bay Island schools bad for your kids?

from the Bay Journal
Educationalists have slammed league tables that use the the three Rs scoring of the NAPLAN released on the "My School" website last week.

Even the Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard says she opposes league tables because they are misleading and make the job of principals and teachers harder. In NSW they are illegal. The Sydney Morning Herald is risking a $55,000 fine is publishing a comparison of three schools.

The Teachers Union argument goes that league tables that rank schools are

Misleading: Publicly ranking schools based on students’ results in national tests presents an invalid and misleading picture of school performance.
Inaccurate: The NAPLAN national tests were never designed to be used to compare schools. Experts say the results are not accurate enough to be used this way.
Damaging: Schools where students do not do well in literacy and numeracy tests are likely to be unfairly branded as ‘failing’ schools.
Demoralising: It takes schools many years to throw off the tag of a ‘failing school’ and it is demoralising for students, teachers and parents. It makes it much harder for those schools to improve the performance of their students.
Unnecessary: Politicians don’t need schools to be publicly ranked to know which ones need help and more resources. Parents can already access relevant information on school performance by directly contacting schools.Read More.......