Monthly Archives: March 2015

IndigiScapes Good Gardening Expo to delight green thumbs


March 31, 2015

 Redland IndigiScapes Centre is hosting the highly popular Good Gardening Expo in partnership with Redland Organic Growers on Saturday 11 April 2015.

Redland City Council’s environmental spokesperson Cr Lance Hewlett said the expo was a great free school holidays event that promoted growing organic food, native gardening and recycling green waste.

“Redland Organic Growers and Council’s IndigiScapes Centre have created a program with the perfect mix of educational presentations and entertainment,” Cr Hewlett said.

“There’s a host of experts and workshops to help people get the garden they’ve always wanted, along with kids activities, food stalls and free live music.

“If you’ve ever dreamed of having your own backyard chickens or stingless native bee hive, make sure you make it to IndigiScapes.”

Spread over the Organic and Formal Garden outdoor stages and the Tallowwood indoor stage, presentations include:

  • Growing your own organic food
  • Successful composting
  • No dig gardening
  • Growing fruit trees in Redlands
  • Mineral and microbe management
  • Growing edible flowers
  • Keeping backyard chooks
  • Bee keeping
  • Floating wetland gardens
  • Weaving with weeds

The Good Gardening Expo will run from 9am – 3pm Saturday 11 April 2015 at Redland IndigiScapes Centre, 17 Runnymede Road, Capalaba.

To find out more about the Good Gardening Expo call 3824 8611 or visit the IndigiScapes website at www.indigiscapes.com.au and download a copy of the day’s program of events.

Council offers Easter excitement these school holidays


March 27, 2015

Chocolate isn’t all kids have to look forward to this Easter, as Redland City Council once again offers a full line-up of fun school holiday activities.

Council is hosting a number of free activities to keep kids and parents entertained this school break, with a mix of arts, crafts and technology workshops.

Kids can get their tech-fix with a great range of events at the Redland Libraries, including ‘getting started with electronics’, ‘make your own video game from scratch’ and film-making workshops.

These are listed on the Redland Libraries calendar of events, which also includes many craft activities offered at Capalaba, Victoria Point and Cleveland libraries over the two-week break.

Redland Art Gallery is offering drop-in arts sessions through ‘Kids on Tour- Jemima Wyman Pattern Bandits’ an activity developed by the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art’s Children’s Art Centre.

These drop-in sessions will be from 10am – 2pm at Point Lookout Hall (Wednesday 8 April 2015), Redland Art Gallery Cleveland (Sunday 12 April 2015) and Redland Art Gallery Capalaba (Wednesday 15 April 2015).

The Kids on Tour Pattern Bandits drop-in sessions look at how patterns influence our lives and give children the opportunity to create their own using a range of mediums, including multimedia.

Most activities do not require bookings, except for some Redland Libraries tech workshops that have strictly limited numbers.

For details on school holiday events in Redlands, including times, dates, age limits and booking details, visit Redland City Council’s ‘What’s On’ calendar on its website.

 

Reports provide independent analysis of Toondah Harbour PDA proposal


March 25, 2015

Two expert reviews have provided an independent analysis of the Walker Corporation’s proposal to revitalise Toondah Harbour.
 
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the detail of the reviews was confidential at this stage due to the commercial nature of the Walker proposal, which was yet to receive final approval.

“These reviews were commissioned by Council as part of our due diligence process to ensure the Priority Development Area (PDA) proposal was sound on engineering and financial grounds,” she said.
 
“It means the community can be confident the proposal to upgrade Toondah Harbour has been analysed by independent experts, as well as Council and State Government specialists, to ensure it measures up.

“Contingent on approval by the new State Government, the Walker Corporation can then advance to the next stage – preparing a Development Management Agreement and seeking associated approvals.

“This will include assessment against legislation including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, which will include three separate opportunities for public consultation.

“The notification processes included in these approvals will see further details of the proposal made available to the community for feedback.  These opportunities will be communicated at the appropriate time and the community will be encouraged to be part of these important processes.”
 
Council’s infrastructure spokesperson Cr Paul Gleeson said the independent reviews also assessed potential risks to Council and the State Government and recommended ways to avoid these risks.
 
“The first review was conducted by consultant Aurecon and looked at the engineering elements of the proposal to see that it was achievable, while a second review looked at the proposal’s finances and was conducted by BDO Australia,” Cr Gleeson said.
 
“As with any business proposal, the detail remains commercial in confidence at this time, but the community can be confident these independent reviews have provided invaluable information for Council to benchmark the Walker Corporation proposal against.
 
“The community can also be confident that further community feedback will be sought as part of the next stages.”

Today’s decision was only in relation to the Walker Corporation’s Toondah Harbour Proposal. Work is continuing on a separate proposal at Redland Bay’s Weinam Creek Priority Development Area.

Have your say on Council’s draft Corporate Plan


March 25, 2015

Residents are encouraged to be part of Council’s strategic direction by having their say on the new draft Corporate Plan, which was adopted by Council for public consultation at today’s General Meeting.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the draft Corporate Plan 2015-2020 would be open for public consultation from Friday 27 March until Friday 24 April.

“This important plan outlines Council’s strategic direction for the next five years, so it is important the community is involved in its development,” she said.

“The Corporate Plan is more than an internal corporate document; it builds on the Redlands 2030 Community Plan, aligning Council’s corporate objectives with the aspirations of the community.

“This plan is essentially the recipe that guides how Council prioritises and delivers its services, programs and facilities to the community

Cr Williams said the draft Corporate Plan 2015-2020 retained the eight existing outcomes from the community plan;

  • 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.

“These eight outcomes were identified as priorities by residents and provide a benchmark to ensure Council continues to meet the needs of the community,” she said.

“The draft plan was prepared following consultation with the community including a community survey and meetings with representatives from 13 environmental and community groups.

“The next step is for the community to now provide feedback on the draft plan, which will then be updated and formally adopted by Council.”

The draft Corporate Plan 2015-2020 will be available on Council’s website from this Friday or in Council libraries and customer service centres.

Residents advised not to swim in lagoon at Cylinder Beach


March 24, 2015

Redland City Council is advising residents that swimming in the fresh water lagoon at Cylinder Beach, North Stradbroke Island is not recommended after routine sampling revealed elevated levels of Enterococci.

The sampling is part of routine water testing, which occasionally reveals elevated levels of Enterococci bacteria.  Council has installed signs at the lagoon advising residents that swimming is not recommended and further monitoring will be undertaken.

Council also conducts regular monitoring on the open sea-water at Cylinder Beach with results showing the samples are within the Healthy Waterways Healthy Waterplay guidelines.

Snapshot – 25 March 2015


March 24, 2015

Free school holiday activities

Redland Art Gallery invites children and families to participate in Kids on Tour Jemima Wyman Pattern Bandits, an exciting holiday program of projects and activities developed by the artist and the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art’s Children’s Art Centre. Drop-in sessions 10am-2pm. No bookings required.

Venues and dates:

  • North Stradbroke Island
    Wednesday 8 April 2015
    Point Lookout Community Hall
    East Coast Road, Point Lookout
  • Cleveland
    Sunday 12 April 2015
    Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland
    Cnr of Middle and Bloomfield Streets, Cleveland
  • Capalaba
    Wednesday 15 April 2015
    Redland Art Gallery, Capalaba
    Capalaba Place, Noeleen Street, Capalaba

 

Easter holiday closures

Unless otherwise indicated below, normal operating hours apply:

  • Council offices, Redland Libraries and Redland Performing Arts Centre will be closed from Good Friday 3 April, reopening Tuesday 7 April.
  • Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland:
    Closed Good Friday 3 April, Easter Saturday 4 April and Easter Monday 6 April. Open Easter Sunday 5 April.
  • Redland Art Gallery, Capalaba:
    Closed Good Friday 3 April, reopening Tuesday 7 April.
  • IndigiScapes Centre and Visitor information Centre:
    Closed Good Friday 3 April. Open Easter Saturday 4 April and Easter Sunday 5 April (as usual) and Easter Monday 6 April (with limited staff and service).
  • Animal Shelter: Open only 9am to 12pm on Good Friday 3 April, Easter Saturday 4 April and Easter Monday 6 April.
  • All waste transfer stations: Closed Good Friday 3 April. Kerbside bin collections will continue as normal.
  • RecycleWorld (open every Thursday and Saturday): Closed Easter Saturday 4 April, reopening
    Thursday 9 April.For more information, contact Council on 3829 8999

 

Tunes and Tapas at RPAC

Enjoy free live music and a great selection of tapas and drinks at Redland Performing Arts centre’s Tapas Friday series.

  • When: Friday 27 March, 5 – 7pm
  • Where: RPAC Piazza, 2-16 Middle Street, Cleveland (parking available on site)For more information on upcoming RPAC events, visit www.rpac.com.au

 

Only working smoke alarms save lives …

Redland Home Assist Secure clients are reminded that your smoke alarm battery may need replacing. If it has been 12 months or more since your smoke alarm battery was changed and you require assistance to fit a replacement, please call us.

Fire Services recommend that you replace your smoke alarm after ten years. A year of manufacture date is displayed on all smoke alarms.

For more information phone Redland Home Assist Secure on 3383 3030.

 

Open meetings

  • General meeting: Wednesday 25 March, 9.30am
  • General meeting: Wednesday 22 April, 9.30am

Council calls on residents to celebrate our creeks


March 20, 2015

Redland City Council is calling on everyone to celebrate our local waterways as part of Connect to your Creek Week from Saturday 21 March to Sunday 29 March.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the Council-supported Healthy Waterways initiative would shine the spotlight on the great work being undertaken to protect and enhance local waterways.

“We are fortunate to have rich diversity in our local waterways, including creeks, wetlands, estuaries and Moreton Bay itself,” Cr Williams said.

“Our waterways are vital to the health of local ecosystems and Connect to your Creek Week is a great opportunity for residents to learn about the importance of our waterways, while getting out and having some fun at the same time.

“Council will be running a number of activities to help residents learn more about our waterways and the simple things that can be done to ensure they stay healthy and clean.”

Council’s environmental spokesperson Cr Lance Hewlett encouraged residents to explore their local patch of water during the week or visit IndigiScapes to learn about local aquatic flora and fauna.

“Even if you can’t make it to one of our special activities, you can visit IndigiScapes at any time and learn more about the grassroots programs and community partnerships working to make real and practical improvements to our local waterways,” Cr Hewlett said.

“A great example of this is the Waterways Extension Program which has 85 private properties signed-up and has seen 15,000 riparian plants planted in the last two years alone.”

Activities Council will host during Connect to your Creek Week include a:
• Fish, frog and bug talk
• Guided bicycle tour of Hilliards Creek
• Eprapah Creek Excursion
• Stand up paddle boarding in Moreton Bay
• Bushwalk and clean up morning

 All events are free unless otherwise indicated.  Places for some events are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. 

You can find more information or book by visiting indigiscapes.redland.qld.gov.au or calling 3824 4611.

Residents urged to support Vanuatu cyclone relief appeal


March 20, 2015

Redlanders are known for their generosity and Council is asking everyone to dig deep to help our pacific neighbours in Vanuatu as they recover from Tropical Cyclone Pam.

Residents can help by supporting a Local Government Association of Queensland relief appeal that has been launched on behalf of the state’s 77 local councils.

The appeal is asking for Queenslanders to dig deep into their pockets to help Vanuatu recover from what was one of the worst storms in recent history in the Pacific.

LGAQ President Margaret de Wit said Queenslanders and Pacific Islanders enjoyed strong bonds, with Islanders contributing significantly to the building of the state’s primary industries.

Queenslanders also knew very well the devastation that major cyclones could wreak on communities, business and families, she said.

“I stress that the best form of help we can give at the moment is cash donations,’’ she said.

“The people of Vanuatu need as much help as we can give them to get back on their feet as quickly as possible,’’ she said.

Visit the Queensland Local Government Vanuatu cyclone relief appeal website for further information.