from the Bayside Bulletin
BY JENNA DAROCZY
29 Apr, 2010
Future decisions made by Redland City Council are to reflect the goals and ideals embodied in the Redlands 2030 Community Plan, formally adopted by the council at Wednesday's general meeting.
After a year of community consultation and the formation of a community reference group (CRG), the document has eight ''vision outcomes'': Healthy natural environment; Green living; Embracing the Bay; Quandamooka Country; Wise planning and design; Supportive vibrant economy; Strong and connected communities; and Inclusive and ethical governance.
Councillor Debra Henry (Div 3) made a series of small changes, emphasising the need for sustainable population growth and affordable housing.
"This is a wonderful document that will sit above all the council's other documents and inform them, including priorities in our budget and the council's direction," Cr Henry said.
CRG members Karolyn Campbell and Genevieve Gall expressed their appreciation at the council meeting, with Ms Gall saying: "It's truly historic for the council to accept a community document to guide their decisisons, and we just hope that you run with it in every way possible."
But councillors Karen Williams (Div 9), Helen Murray (Div 10) and John Burns (Div 4) voted against adopting the plan, saying it was "unrealistic".
"I'm concerned there wasn't robust discussion of how we are going to fund these great ideas," Cr Williams said.
"I think it's a wonderful vision, it's Utopia and I'd like to live in this vision, but if I support it, am I living in reality?" Cr Murray said.
Mayor Melva Hobson missed the meeting as she was at an LGAQ conference, but welcomed the directional document for council decisions, saying it is "the blueprint for what our community wants the Redlands to be like in 20 years".
The State Government now requires all councils to develop a community plan.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Population pressure increases on the Bay
from the Bay Journal
It's not news: the population around Moreton Bay is growing fast. In this opinion piece, long time environmental activist and now Secretary to the Queensland Conservation Council questions the strong arm tactics of state governments to accelerate this growth. An academic paper with a long trail of references to back up what is Simon is saying, it is not easy to read. But the problem is real for the Bay as so many of the stories in the BayJournal attest. Growth has not been good: despite the best efforts, the condition of the water continues to deteriorate, the millions spent on reorganising the commercial fishing has been only partially successful, local Councils are complaining of unrealistic population targets and destruction of what made the Bay attractive in the first place. It is not a pretty picture. Simon words, even if you don't agree, are worth mulling--editor
Simon Baltais
The new urbanism being considered by the State Government appears dependent on an authoritarian undemocratic planning system.
The Australian government’s inability to stabilise human population means they are striving to move people into High-density settlements which will not only have disastrous social effects but undermine democracy. See attached - pg 28 – 34 and below notes.
We have seen increasing human population in South East Queensland fanning spot fires of angst into raging fires of resentment towards rampant urbanisation in both expansion (greenfield) and high rise forms.
While increasing numbers of communities are rising up to defend their patch they are and will continue to find it increasingly difficult to do so while State Governments continue to remove public rights from town planning processes.
In Queensland it started with the Integrated Planning Act 1997 (IPA) now Sustainability Planning Act 2009 (SPA) which introduced Code Assessment, which effectively removed community rights to question and challenge any development considered under this Planning assessment process.
The Queensland Government then in 2007 introduced the Urban Development Land Authority which removes the planning assessment process from Local Government and removes all community appeal rights to challenge development.
Initially five Urban Land Developments (ULD) were planned (Bowen Hills, Northshore Hamilton, Woolloongabba, Fitzgibbon and Mackay [1]) but with encouragement for more from the development industry have we seen the start of a new wave of ULDs? The Gladstone [2] ULD announced on the 31st March 2010 may perhaps be the first of many.
In 2010 NSW is rushing through legislation to create a development authority with powers to compulsorily acquire and re-zone privately owned land for re-sale to developers. Pragmatists say it’s necessary if one is to move residential products quickly to market, as one needs to find ways to circumnavigate the tedious and time consuming aspects associated with current legal and democratic rights of individuals and communities.
While on face value ULDs seem useful and Government spin doctors certainly make it seem that way, what are the facts? The Premier on the 26th March twittered that the Fitzgibbon ULD had delivered 40ha of greenspace. [3] What she failed to say is Fitzgibbon resulted in a loss of 135 hectares of publically owned open space and bushland; this represents a huge loss of publicly owned greenspace.[4] The ULDs may be good for new residents but what about the loss of amenity and greenspace for current residents?
While our politicians talk about the need for better community engagement, in reality they have since 1997 worked towards incrementally introducing a suite of legislation to sanitise community engagement to one of benevolent notification. The SEQ Regional Plan is a point in case as the community was only ever presented with one option, a pro growth option and nothing else.
By all means make a science based submission to a development application made under Code Assessment or the ULDA in Queensland but the decision will be anything but science based and is already made so really why bother?
The truth of the matter is Australian governments have simply picked the wrong problem and come up with wrong answers.
The problem is over population. A failure to address over population means democracy surrounding Town Planning will slowly but surely be dismantled to aid in the retro-fitting of humans into high rise towers or highly densified centres. This is a situation created by our politicians supported by developers and too often ignored by the media.
It's not news: the population around Moreton Bay is growing fast. In this opinion piece, long time environmental activist and now Secretary to the Queensland Conservation Council questions the strong arm tactics of state governments to accelerate this growth. An academic paper with a long trail of references to back up what is Simon is saying, it is not easy to read. But the problem is real for the Bay as so many of the stories in the BayJournal attest. Growth has not been good: despite the best efforts, the condition of the water continues to deteriorate, the millions spent on reorganising the commercial fishing has been only partially successful, local Councils are complaining of unrealistic population targets and destruction of what made the Bay attractive in the first place. It is not a pretty picture. Simon words, even if you don't agree, are worth mulling--editor
Simon Baltais
The new urbanism being considered by the State Government appears dependent on an authoritarian undemocratic planning system.
The Australian government’s inability to stabilise human population means they are striving to move people into High-density settlements which will not only have disastrous social effects but undermine democracy. See attached - pg 28 – 34 and below notes.
We have seen increasing human population in South East Queensland fanning spot fires of angst into raging fires of resentment towards rampant urbanisation in both expansion (greenfield) and high rise forms.
While increasing numbers of communities are rising up to defend their patch they are and will continue to find it increasingly difficult to do so while State Governments continue to remove public rights from town planning processes.
In Queensland it started with the Integrated Planning Act 1997 (IPA) now Sustainability Planning Act 2009 (SPA) which introduced Code Assessment, which effectively removed community rights to question and challenge any development considered under this Planning assessment process.
The Queensland Government then in 2007 introduced the Urban Development Land Authority which removes the planning assessment process from Local Government and removes all community appeal rights to challenge development.
Initially five Urban Land Developments (ULD) were planned (Bowen Hills, Northshore Hamilton, Woolloongabba, Fitzgibbon and Mackay [1]) but with encouragement for more from the development industry have we seen the start of a new wave of ULDs? The Gladstone [2] ULD announced on the 31st March 2010 may perhaps be the first of many.
In 2010 NSW is rushing through legislation to create a development authority with powers to compulsorily acquire and re-zone privately owned land for re-sale to developers. Pragmatists say it’s necessary if one is to move residential products quickly to market, as one needs to find ways to circumnavigate the tedious and time consuming aspects associated with current legal and democratic rights of individuals and communities.
While on face value ULDs seem useful and Government spin doctors certainly make it seem that way, what are the facts? The Premier on the 26th March twittered that the Fitzgibbon ULD had delivered 40ha of greenspace. [3] What she failed to say is Fitzgibbon resulted in a loss of 135 hectares of publically owned open space and bushland; this represents a huge loss of publicly owned greenspace.[4] The ULDs may be good for new residents but what about the loss of amenity and greenspace for current residents?
While our politicians talk about the need for better community engagement, in reality they have since 1997 worked towards incrementally introducing a suite of legislation to sanitise community engagement to one of benevolent notification. The SEQ Regional Plan is a point in case as the community was only ever presented with one option, a pro growth option and nothing else.
By all means make a science based submission to a development application made under Code Assessment or the ULDA in Queensland but the decision will be anything but science based and is already made so really why bother?
The truth of the matter is Australian governments have simply picked the wrong problem and come up with wrong answers.
The problem is over population. A failure to address over population means democracy surrounding Town Planning will slowly but surely be dismantled to aid in the retro-fitting of humans into high rise towers or highly densified centres. This is a situation created by our politicians supported by developers and too often ignored by the media.
Get your hands dirty for koalas on North Straddie
NORTH Stradbroke Island residents are invited to get their hands dirty planting koala trees to enhance a bushland corridor that provides safe koala movement and refuge in Dunwich.
Redland City Council Bushcare officers will host a koala community morning and planting from 10am to noon on Saturday, May 8.
Volunteers are asked to meet at the corner of Mitchell Crescent and Mallon Street, Dunwich. Planting equipment will be provided but remember to wear sun-safe clothing, closed-in shoes and to bring your own water.
For their efforts, volunteers will enjoy a free sausage sizzle.
There will be giveaways, koala displays hosted by Bushcare, Australian Koala Foundation, Redlands Wildlife officers and local wildlife groups and experts on hand to talk about Straddie's koalas.
Straddie's koalas are the only known naturally occurring island koala population. They are genetically the same as those found on the Gold Coast and Lismore, but different from the rest of South East Queensland.
The island population is estimated at around 1000 and although disease is less common, they still need protection from the threats of dog attacks, being hit by vehicles on roads and habitat loss.
The aim is to plant about 100 plants, including larger koala food trees, which will eventually grow to become food, homes and travel routes for local wildlife.
For more information, contact Bushcare officer Boyd Essex on 3824 8611
Redland City Council Bushcare officers will host a koala community morning and planting from 10am to noon on Saturday, May 8.
Volunteers are asked to meet at the corner of Mitchell Crescent and Mallon Street, Dunwich. Planting equipment will be provided but remember to wear sun-safe clothing, closed-in shoes and to bring your own water.
For their efforts, volunteers will enjoy a free sausage sizzle.
There will be giveaways, koala displays hosted by Bushcare, Australian Koala Foundation, Redlands Wildlife officers and local wildlife groups and experts on hand to talk about Straddie's koalas.
Straddie's koalas are the only known naturally occurring island koala population. They are genetically the same as those found on the Gold Coast and Lismore, but different from the rest of South East Queensland.
The island population is estimated at around 1000 and although disease is less common, they still need protection from the threats of dog attacks, being hit by vehicles on roads and habitat loss.
The aim is to plant about 100 plants, including larger koala food trees, which will eventually grow to become food, homes and travel routes for local wildlife.
For more information, contact Bushcare officer Boyd Essex on 3824 8611
Energex work starts on Russell Island
ENERGEX takes to the water in southern Bay
The southern Moreton Bay area will be a hub of activity from 27 April as ENERGEX prepares to refurbish two electricity towers in Main Channel just off Russell Island.
The towers, located between Rocky Point at Russell Island and Woongoolba near Cabbage Tree Point, will be abrasively blasted from a platform of barges before being repainted.
ENERGEX will also have screens mounted on barges to catch the paint being removed from the 30-year-old towers and minimise the amount of debris landing in the water.
Weather permitting the refurbishment works are planned to take around four weeks with no power interruptions expected during this time.
ENERGEX says work will significantly increase the lifespan of the structures as well as ensuring a safe and reliable power supply for the residents and businesses of Russell, Macleay, Karragarra and Lamb Islands.
Work on the towers will be carried out seven days a week between 6.00am and 7.00pm.
ENERGEX thanks residents of the southern Bay Islands in advance for their patience while this necessary maintenance project is underway.
The southern Moreton Bay area will be a hub of activity from 27 April as ENERGEX prepares to refurbish two electricity towers in Main Channel just off Russell Island.
The towers, located between Rocky Point at Russell Island and Woongoolba near Cabbage Tree Point, will be abrasively blasted from a platform of barges before being repainted.
ENERGEX will also have screens mounted on barges to catch the paint being removed from the 30-year-old towers and minimise the amount of debris landing in the water.
Weather permitting the refurbishment works are planned to take around four weeks with no power interruptions expected during this time.
ENERGEX says work will significantly increase the lifespan of the structures as well as ensuring a safe and reliable power supply for the residents and businesses of Russell, Macleay, Karragarra and Lamb Islands.
Work on the towers will be carried out seven days a week between 6.00am and 7.00pm.
ENERGEX thanks residents of the southern Bay Islands in advance for their patience while this necessary maintenance project is underway.
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