Monthly Archives: June 2012

Wildlife service needs volunteer rescue


June 28, 2012

Redlands 24 hr Wildlife Rescue is calling for volunteers to help run this important local service.

The service provides rescue to our sick, injured and orphaned wildlife as well as comfort and advice to distressed people who find unwell native animals.

Volunteers are desperately needed for the two programs running under this service. The Redland Wildlife Care Network provides wildlife advice, links to wildlife carers and operates from 8am to 5pm each day, and the Redlands Afterhours Wildlife Ambulance operates from 5pm to 8am and rescues animals overnight.

Volunteering some hours one week in every 5-6 weeks could make a huge difference to the welfare of local native wildlife.

Volunteers ensure injured animals receive the best chance to make it back to their homes in the Redlands bush and urban areas – and the only pre-requisites to helping are living in the Redlands and caring about native wildlife.

A great success story for the Redlands 24 hr Wildlife Rescue Service is the recent saving of three koala lives in a single rescue.

Redlands Afterhours Wildlife Ambulance volunteers, Steph Ridley and David Dumsday received a call to rescue a koala with cystitis and conjunctivitis.

After catching the sick Koala, Steph and David realised she also had milk in her pouch, which meant herbaby was close by.

The baby was found at the top of a nearby tree, rescued with the help of some tree climbers, and reunited with its mum at Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.

In a surprise twist, an ultrasound also revealed the mother koala was pregnant with her next joey.
After treatment, mum, baby and new baby were released back into their original home range, healthy and well.

By joining the Redlands 24hr Wildlife Rescue you will learn more about wildlife care, save the lives of many iconic native animals and make many new friendships.

If you’d like to join this fantastic local wildlife service, please call IndigiScapes on 38248611 or email lisa.bailey@redland.qld.gov.au

Celebrate Christmas in July at IndigiScapes


June 27, 2012

We may not be trimming the tree just yet, but you can still get festive with IndigiScapes’ inaugural Christmas in July celebration this year. Book now for this cosy night of winter fun on Friday 20 July from 7pm.

Traditional Christmas fare will accompany a delicious Indigi-style treat at this community dinner. The three courses will include homemade pumpkin soup, honey baked ham and seasoned chicken quarters served with roast vegetables and a special IndigiCake dessert. The evening will also feature carols by a live performer.

Don’t forget to bring along your wrapped gift (to the value of $5) for a Secret Santa game.

Christmas in July has a history dating back to the 1892 French Opera Werther and is now widely celebrated in both southern and northern hemispheres. Join us as we create our own special IndigiScapes tradition.

What: Christmas in July Community Dinner
When: Friday 20 July, 7pm
Where: Redlands IndigiScapes Centre, 17 Runnymede Road, Capalaba
Cost: $35 per person and BYO alcohol

Booking are essential and close 17 July. Payment is required at the time of booking.
For more information, phone IndigiScapes on 3824 8611.

Community embraces parkland walk and talk days


June 26, 2012

Redland City Council’s Walk and Talk days, held 16-17 June, were a resounding success. Over 100 residents took part and gave vital feedback, both verbally and by completing over one hundred neighbourhood surveys and eight walkability surveys.

The Walk and Talk days were a community engagement activity for Open Space Strategy, the City’s open space planning blueprint for the next 14 years.

As part of the event, people were invited to checkpoints at Cleveland, Alexandra Hills, Victoria Point and Wellington Point to give their views on our parklands and open spaces, and the strategy recommendations. They could then go for a walk with council officers, complete a Heart Foundation walking checklist and have a chat.

There was also a children’s activity station, where kids could draw what they loved about local parks.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the Walk and Talk days were a great example of Council seeking new ways to speak to residents.

“This project highlights Council’s commitment to listening to residents and finding different ways to gather information about our community’s needs and expectations.

“The Walk and Talk Days are a culmination of four months of community engagement on this project, and their success is a clear indication of how deeply people care about our neighbourhood parklands and open spaces.”

The Walk and Talk days were co-funded with the Local Government Association of Queensland, after Redland City Council successfully applied for a grant.

This project is one of only five to receive funding in Queensland, and will be used as a Healthy Communities demonstration project for local councils throughout the state.

Community engagement on the open space strategy is due to close on 30 June. Mayor Karen Williams extended her thanks to all those who have provided feedback.

“Whether you have commented on the strategy, completed a walkability checklist or shared your views at a Walk and Talk day, your feedback is valued and will be taken into consideration when the strategy is finalised for Council approval,” the Mayor said.

Council’s free “winning grants” workshops a winner!


June 20, 2012

Two “winning grants” workshops facilitated by Redland City Council in May have proven very popular and successful, with 125 people from local organisations attending and many providing overwhelmingly positive feedback.

The free GrantReady workshops, provided by Council, with sponsorship from Bendigo Bank Victoria Point Branch, were designed to help local organisations to source, qualify and win grants from a variety of sources to meet their funding needs.

Mayor Karen Williams said the GrantReady workshops provided great benefit to the local economy by giving local groups the know-how to access funds available from sources other than Council.

The attendees, who took home a free workbook and a ‘grants made simple’ toolkit (CD) that includes templates for budgets and letter of support, agreed.

Stephanie Eaton, who attended on behalf of Redland Bay State School P&C, said she could now see where she’d gone wrong with previous grants application.

“The presenters provided a valuable insight into the mind of a grant administrator, great examples and practical ideas on how to write better submissions. Now I can approach the task from a different angle, one that has a much greater likelihood of success,” Ms Eaton said.

The next round of Community Grants offered by Council (Round 1 for 2012/13) will open on 23 July and close on 31 August 2012.

Free Grant Application Writing Workshops will be held between 19 July and 2 August 2012, for eligible individuals and organisations who wish to apply for Council funding. Information on dates and venues are available on the Grants and Sponsorship webpage: www.redland.qld.gov.au/CommunitySupport/Grants.

Bookings are essential. To book, contact the Grants Team on 3829 8911.

Dwell at Redland Art Gallery, Capalaba


June 20, 2012

The latest exhibition at Redland Art Gallery, Capalaba gives adults and children the opportunity to explore the suburban environment through art.

Dwell, showcasing Sue Beyer’s latest series of work, investigates the effect spaces and suburban settings have on an individual’s emotions and behaviour. Her pieces also consider how we use space in an urban context.

Dwell can be viewed at Redland Art Gallery, Capalaba from 21 June to 18 July 2012.

To coincide with this exhibition, Sue Beyer will run a series of free school holiday workshops for children aged 5 – 12 years old. The workshops encourage children to think differently about the places and spaces they experience every day, and make new discoveries.

Children’s workshops: Mapping Your World with Sue Beyer
Tuesday 3 July and Wednesday 4 July 2012
Session times: 10 – 11.15am, 11.30am – 12.45pm, 1.45 – 3pm
Capalaba Artspace
Capalaba Place, Noeleen Street, Capalaba

Participants should wear old clothes and enclosed shoes. All materials provided.

Bookings for children’s workshops are essential as places are strictly limited to 12 children per session. To reserve a place telephone (07) 3829 8484 or email gallery@redland.qld.gov.au

Please note that parents/guardians must remain with children for the duration of the workshop.

Redland Art Gallery, Capalaba is located at Capalaba Place, Noeleen Street, Capalaba and opens Monday, Tuesday and Friday 8.30am – 5pm, Wednesday 9am – 5pm, Thursday 8.30am – 7.30pm and Saturday 9am – 4pm. Admission free.

For more information on exhibitions, contact 3829 8899 or visit www.redland.qld.gov.au.

Let the kids be “wild things” or go to a “Twisted Tea Party” this school holidays


June 15, 2012

Redland City Council will run a variety of free and low cost activities for children and teens during the June – July school holidays. There will be something for everyone, from skateboarding and art workshops, to a Wild Things Day Out and a Twisted Tea Party.

Fun in the Parks
The ever popular Fun in the Parks will provide four free mornings of fun, from 9 to 11am, for four to 14-year-olds. With mixed games and activities, a climbing wall and jumping castles; all you need to do is turn up and register your child on the day.

Fun in the Parks dates and locations:
Tuesday 26 June: Mount Cotton Community Park, Bayview Village, Valley Way
Thursday 28 June: GJ Walter Park, Shore Street East, Cleveland
Tuesday 3 July: Keith Surridge Park, Windmere Road, Alexandra Hills
Thursday 5 July: Macleay Island, Cnr High Central & South Sea Terrace (opp Community Centre)

Skateboarding workshops
Ten to 16-year-olds can book in for one of six free skateboarding workshops with the crew from Skatebiz. There will be prizes and giveaways.

For the dates and locations of skateboard workshops, visit www.redland.qld.gov.au or www.facebook.com/RedlandsYouth. To book, phone 3829 8233 or email kara.mansley@redland.qld.gov.au. Bookings are essential.

IndigiScapes activities
Redlands IndigiScapes Centre will offer environmental activities suitable for families and children of various ages. Some of the tantalizing titles include Earth Explorer, Creatures of the Dark, and Marvelous Marine Mammals.

Visit www.indigiscapes.com.au for the full details of these activities, which will all be held at IndigiScapes, Runnymede Road, Capalaba. Bookings are essential and can be made at Council’s Cleveland or Capalaba Customer Service Centre or by phoning IndigiScapes on 3824 8611. Children under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

Art for kids
As part of her exhibition, Dwell, showing at Redland Art Gallery, Capalaba; artist Sue Beyer will host her “Mapping your World” workshops for children aged five to twelve.

The workshops encourage children to make new discoveries and to think differently about the places and spaces they experience every day. They will run on 3 and 4 July. For full details, visit www.redland.qld.gov.au and to book, phone3829 8484 or email gallery@redland.qld.gov.au.

Parents/guardians must remain with children for the duration of the workshop.

Library fun
Redland Libraries will offer a number of fun activities in Cleveland, Capalaba and Victoria Point branches.
Wild Things Day Out is suitable for ages six years and under and 3D Design Craft is for children ages eight years and older. No bookings are required for either.

Twisted Tea Party is for ages eight years and older and bookings are essential (phone 3843 8031).
Full details of holiday activities in the library can be viewed at www.redland.qld.gov.au.

Walk, talk and shape the future of Redlands parks and open spaces


June 12, 2012

Redland City Council is asking every-one to contribute to the finalisation of the Redland Open Space Strategy by attending a ‘Walk and Talk’ day this weekend.

The Redland Open Space Strategy will form the ‘blueprint’ for neighbourhood parks and open spaces for the next 14 years, and attending one of our special ‘Walk and Talk’ days is the latest way for you to provide feedback.

Invite your friends and family, head to a local ‘Walk and Talk’ meeting point and share your ideas on the Redlands’ open spaces! You can join Council officers for a guided walk or follow your own favourite trail and provide feedback via a Heart Foundation walking checklist. Have a free coffee and chat about your ideas for local parks, while the kids enjoy the free art activity table.

You can also sign up to join a Heart Foundation walking group to go for regular walks with friendly people in your area.

Visit one of the following Redland City Council ‘Walk and Talk’ checkpoints to join in and have your say.
Saturday 16 June: 9am – 12noon, Alexandra Hills Shopping Centre (inside the shopping centre) 1pm – 4pm, Wellington Point Village, Main Street (footpath outside shops)

Sunday 17 June: 9am – 12 noon, Cleveland Library Square, Cleveland 1pm – 4pm, Pelicans Nest Shopping Centre, Colburn Avenue (near post office)

Other ways of getting involved include viewing and commenting on the strategy online, joining a focus group or completing a walkability checklist for your area. The strategy can also be viewed at Council Libraries and Customer Service Centers.

To learn more about Redland Open Space Strategy and plans for your neighbourhood park, go to www.redland.qld.gov.au/openspace or telephone 3829 8707.

Research reveals locals are key to Redlands tourism growth


June 5, 2012

New research has shown that of the one million visitors who enjoy the Redlands each year, 325,000 of them stayed for a night or more with family and friends, making local residents our unofficial tour guides.

The independent market research also showed that in the past 12 months, almost 50% of visitors who stayed one night or more in the Redlands stayed with family and/or friends, with the other 50% staying in paid accommodation.

On average, local households hosted visitors from outside the Redlands around three times a year, with these visitors staying for around one week. Nearly 60% of these local hosts preferred to eat locally and see our local attractions.

This comes as no surprise to Redland City Council Mayor, Karen Williams, who said that the Redlands is not just another leafy outer suburb of Brisbane.

“The Redlands is distinctively different with our beautiful bay islands and the world-famous North Stradbroke Island at our doorstep.

“There is so much untapped potential in the Redlands and I believe we are the jewel in the crown of the greater Brisbane area. Visitors who come here go away with fond memories of the warm welcome and strong community spirit as well as the natural beauty and adventure opportunities in the area,” she added.

“Our strengths have seen good growth in our tourism industry – directly and indirectly visitors spend around $508 million dollars a year in the Redlands and support 6,903 jobs.

“Now I would like to see the Redlands stand out in the Moreton Bay and Islands tourist area and for our tourism industry to grow exponentially. Our own residents are passionate ambassadors of all we have to offer in the Redlands,” Mayor Williams said.

In the market research, locals indicated they had a strong interest in having greater opportunities for themselves and their visitors to tap into different experiences in the Redlands.

Eighty percent of locals would like to see a major event being held in the Redlands and 78% would like to see more dining options and activities around the waterfront areas. A further 64% of locals said they wanted to see a holiday or caravan park on the mainland.

Council is using the results of the survey to help support tourism in the area, inform residents of the many local attractions, events and experiences, and to assist local tourism operators in taking advantage of this sizeable, and often invisible, sector of the local tourism market.

Council urges patience from waste transfer station users


June 2, 2012

At its first General Council Meeting, the new Redland City Council voted to abolish domestic gate fees at Redland waste transfer stations.

From 1 July 2012, Redland residents will be able to dispose of their domestic waste free of charge.
Mayor Karen Williams said she was acting on clear feedback that this was what the community wanted, and that there was bound to be a great response to the freeing up of this service.

“To help the transfer stations run smoothly in busier times, I encourage residents to sort their loads before leaving home and to have their proof of residency ready,” Cr Williams added.

  • When visiting your local waste transfer station, remember to:
  • bring along proof of residency (e.g. drivers license or recent rates or utilities bill)
  • sort your load to save time at the transfer station
  • refrain from scavenging in restricted areas, such as the scrap metal area
  • be patient and follow directions from gatehouse and site attendants. They are there to help you dispose or your waste and recyclables in a safe and orderly manner.
  • continue to recycle to keep our waste disposal and carbon tax costs down

The Mayor said recycling and waste minimisation was still vitally important to keep our waste disposal costs down and to reduce the impact of the Carbon Tax.

“Council pays transport, disposal fees and Carbon Tax to send waste to landfill, and this cost is recouped through ratepayer fees and charges. By sorting our waste and recycling correctly at home, we can all help keep costs to a minimum, and maximise resource recovery,” the Mayor said.

Non-residential and commercial fees will still apply at waste transfer stations and will be determined when Council adopts its 2012/13 budget.