A statement by Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mulherin that Redland City Council was responsible for infrastructure on State Government land at One Mile on North Stradbroke Island was an error, Mayor Karen Williams said today.

Cr Williams this afternoon advised Mr Mulherin of his error that appeared in his letter to Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) dated 28 January 2015.

“Unfortunately Mr Mulherin’s letter shows a lack of understanding about the One Mile area.

“One Mile is State Government land and has been for many, many years. It is part of the 2011 Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) that the former ALP state government signed with the Quandamooka people – a very important agreement.

“To write a letter only days from an election advising that the residents of Redland City would bear the cost of this infrastructure, which could cost hundreds of millions of dollars, is unacceptable.

“Our Council simply could not afford to pay that and nor has it ever been expected to – it is State Government land and this responsibility should not be passed to local ratepayers.”

“I spoke to Mr Mulherin and I look forward to him correcting this on the record.”

A number of Quandamooka families reside at One Mile on State Government land that does not have basic public infrastructure including running water, sewage, roads, stormwater or electricity.

It is an issue Cr Williams has been lobbying the State Government about since becoming Mayor in 2012.