Monthly Archives: July 2020

Young koalas stepping out into the world


July 30, 2020

A new generation of Redlands Coast koalas is stepping out into the world with the annual dispersal of young that precedes koala breeding season each year.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said residents and motorists should be on the lookout for smaller koalas, which were likely to pop up in the most unexpected spots.

“Often mistaken for lost joeys, these young koalas are usually about 18 months old and leaving their mothers’ territories is search of their own,” Cr Williams said.

A youngster recently spotted at Cleveland State School.

“As they make their way in the world, they will travel through bushland, backyards and across roads; exploring the terrain on foot and using all sorts of trees, not just Eucalypts.”

“To help young koalas travel safely, I encourage residents to keep their distance and confine or restrain their dogs at night; and motorists are urged to slow down and be alert for koala movement.”

How you can help young dispersing koalas:
• Let them continue on their way without interference, as your “help” can confuse them and lead to unexpected danger.
• Keep your distance and confine or restrain you dogs at night to allow safe movement.
• Make your backyard more koala friendly by putting a wooden pole or ladder against your fence so they can continue on through and a floating water aid in your pool so they can climb out if they fall in.
• When driving, slow down and be alert to wildlife movement from road sides.
• If you are worried about the health or welfare of any koala phone the Redlands 24-hour Wildlife Rescue Service on 3833 4031.

For more information on our local koalas, including how to spot a sick or injured koala, visit Council’s koala webpage

Wellington Point Reserve northern boat ramp closes for urgent repairs


July 24, 2020

Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads is scheduled to commence maintenance works on the northern boat ramp at Wellington Point Reserve on Monday 27 July 2020.

Works will involve reconstructing the boat ramp and are expected to last until October 2020.
The boat ramp and up to six nearby car trailer unit spaces will be closed for public use during the maintenance period, however, the southern boat ramp will still be accessible to the community during this time.

For more information, please email metropolitanregion@tmr.qld.gov.au or call 3066 4338 during business hours.

Council delivers a helping hand for Redlands Coast businesses and community groups


July 24, 2020

Redlands Coast businesses and community groups have received a $370,000 helping hand to get back on their feet following COVID-19 restrictions.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Council had awarded grants to 16 community groups and 81 businesses as part of its $2 million social and economic package to support residents, businesses and community groups through the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Funding worth $111,594 was made available through grants of up to $10,000 to local community groups to provide support and relief to the Redlands Coast community,” Cr Williams said.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams with Salads Made Fresh owners Jeff McEvoy and Darlene Clemenkowff

Love and Hope Redlands provides healthy and nutritious meals for families and others in need. The group was inundated with requests as the financial impact of job losses hit.

With a grant to buy commercial fridges and freezers, group founder Adriana Kuhn said Love and Hope was now able to put food on the table for more families.

“We can keep more in stock and will be able to help everyone who needs it, when they need it,” Mrs Kuhn said.

U3A Redlands president Debra Barker said dealing with social isolation had been a major challenge, particularly when libraries, community centres and retail venues were forced to close during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The group accessed a grant to expand its use of cloud-based video conferencing to deliver courses such as German language and ukulele lessons to older residents.

“It’s been very important to stay in contact with our members and this grant has also provided us with new ways to bring together groups and those unable to travel,” Mrs Barker said.

“The grant has also been an amazing help for us to keep in contact with members who don’t have internet access or a computer. We were able to use some funds to cover paper and postage costs so we could keep our hardcopy newsletters flowing and keep people informed during the pandemic.”

Assistance for 32 local businesses, worth a total of $31,494, through Council’s COVID-19 Business Support Grant included up to $1,000 for professional advice services such as accounting or human resources.

Innovation grants of up to $5,000, worth a total of $228,055, were awarded to 49 businesses seeking to restructure their operations to ensure viability and continued operations.

The full list of community organisations that received a grant is provided below.

Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce president Rebecca Young praised Council’s swift response and active support for local businesses.

“I’m across what other councils have done and they were nowhere near as supportive of businesses as Redland City Council has been during COVID-19,” she said.

“The Chamber has received very good feedback about the grants. This will help keep the doors open and it has allowed a number of businesses to invest and shape their longer-term futures.”

She said Redlands Coast businesses were resilient and had received strong support from the local community.

“There is some concern that what’s happening in Victoria could happen here,” Ms Young said.

“However, businesses are feeling optimistic and have shown how resilient they are. Grants like these really help.”

Victoria Point’s Salads Made Fresh went above and beyond during COVID-19, teaming up with other local traders including Pattemores Meats at Alexandra Hills, and Banjo’s Bakery at Cleveland, to home deliver food and essential supplies.

As primarily a wholesaler of fresh, pre-prepared salads, owners Jeff McEvoy and Darlene Clemenkowff saw an opportunity to expand their home delivery market.

With assistance through Council’s innovation grant Salads Made Fresh is implementing an end-to-end business automation and inventory management system that will significantly improve efficiency.

“This support puts us in a good position to kickstart something and give us the capability of holding on to the new business we are winning,” Mr McEvoy said.

Community organisation support grant recipients were:
• STAR Community Services
• Running Wild… Youth Conservation Culture Inc.
• Love and Hope Redlands Inc.
• Bay Islands Community Services Inc.
• University of the Third Age (U3A) Redlands District Inc.
• CPL – Choice, Passion, Life
• Donald Simpson Community Centre
• Victoria Point Redland Bay Meals on Wheels Inc.
• Redland Community Centre Inc.
• The Rock Family and Community Support Inc.
• St Vincent de Paul Society Qld
• Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Welfare Association – Redlands Branch (Redlands PCYC)
• Young Life Australia – Redlands Area
• Redlands Fellowship Property Ltd
• Jobs Association Inc.
• Cleveland Uniting Church

Local spend enhanced through Council’s strategic procurement model


July 23, 2020

Redland City Council has sharpened its focus on spending local as part of a new corporate procurement policy, contract manual and strategic contracting plan and procedures adopted this week.

Mayor Karen Williams said the focus on spending local was particularly relevant as Council reached out to support the broader community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Council spends about $140 million per annum on goods and services and the new policy and procedures provide extra opportunities for Redlands Coast businesses.

“Council already increased its local procurement spend by about 4% last quarter.

“Now, with the newly adopted procurement policy and procedures, local supplier preference has been increased from a 10% to a 15% weighting in the evaluation process.

“This is on top of Council’s $3 million COVID recovery package, which included $370,000 to local community groups and businesses to help them respond to the COVID pandemic.”

Councillor Williams said the new systems also allowed for continuous innovation and improvement, with the capacity for multiyear contracts allowing for bulk-buying rates and flexibility around the end date of contracts.

Mayor urges action on island utilities infrastructure


July 22, 2020

Redland City Council is urging the State Government to urgently repair a circuit breaker feeding power to Redlands Coast islands and investigate alternative power options to ensure power supply in the future.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams tabled a Mayoral Minute at today’s Council meeting highlighting the vulnerability of the islands after they lost power last week.

“A faulty circuit breaker resulted in the islands losing power and Council has been told it could take up to six months to repair the problem,” Cr Williams said.

“Having limited power redundancy in the lead up to fire and storm season is concerning so we are urging the State Government to move quickly to remedy the situation.

“While Energy Queensland moved quickly to return power to the islands, a fault on the remaining power supply line to the islands resulted in power again being lost the following day, with no back-up supply due to strong winds making it difficult to transport generators on barges.

“This event highlights the vulnerability of our islands, which have a higher proportion of aged residents, making access to power and water even more important.”

Cr Williams said the recent power outage followed the loss of water to a number of local islands for several days in 2018 after an Seqwater main ruptured.

“For most residents losing water or power is inconvenient, but for our isolated island communities it can be dangerous,” she said.

“They can’t just head down to the shops to get bottled water and batteries, and transporting generators or water trucks can be difficult if the weather isn’t favourable.

“That’s why we are also urging the State Government to work with Council to investigate alternative water and power supply options in the longer term.

“The more redundancies that can be put in place, the more confident the community can be, which is important given the higher than average aged population living in these communities.”

 

Planned burn in Coolnwynpin Nature Refuge


July 20, 2020

Redland City Council’s Parks and Conservation crews and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services are intending to undertake a hazard reduction burn in a section of bushland within the Coolnwynpin Nature Refuge from Monday 20 July 2020, weather permitting.

The location of the burn area is 2–6 Coolnwynpin Way, Capalaba – highlighted in yellow on the map below.

Council appreciates that planned burns may cause some inconvenience, and all attempts will be made to limit any smoke hazards from the work.

Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and people affected by smoke should stay inside and keep doors and windows closed.

Planned burns help keep the Redlands Coast community safe by reducing fire danger; they also provide conditions essential for the regeneration of native plants.

For information about Council’s planned burns program, visit redland.qld.gov.au/PlannedBurns or contact Council on 3829 8999.

 

 

Live performance returns to the Redland Performing Arts Centre stage


July 17, 2020

Redland Performing Arts Centre (RPAC) will bring live entertainment back to the stage as the centre re-opens with the easing of COVID-19 Stage 3 Restrictions.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said RPAC would make a welcome return with excellent entertainment opportunities again on offer.

“Patrons from Redlands Coast and further afield can rest assured that a comprehensive industry-specific COVID plan is now in place at RPAC,” Cr Williams said.

“This has been a challenging time for the entertainment industry, so it will be great to see performers back doing to what they do best – entertaining our community.

“As COVID-19 Stage 3 Restrictions limit audience numbers, RPAC will return with a combination of live-streamed and smaller audience attended events.

Mayor Williams said the first performances would be part of a new RPAC Live concert series, delivered in partnership with Creative Arts Alliance and East Coast Originals and showcases some of the exceptional music talent of Redlands Coast.

“The series will start with a free live-streamed opening concert featuring the exquisite sounds of local First Nations artists Uncle Josh Walker, Lil Nix and Sachém on Saturday 25 July.

“Subsequent concerts – on 8, 15 and 29 August – will also be live-streamed for free, as well as welcoming small audiences in the Concert Hall.

“If you are a local musician and you are looking for the opportunity to perform, then the line-up for the final two RPAC Live concerts are also still being finalised, so visit the RPAC website www.rpac.com.au for links to the expression of interest form.

Cr Williams said that in addition to showcasing our fabulous local talent, RPAC would feature some of our favourite artists with a mixture of live audience and live-stream delivery during the coming months.

“Sharon Rowntree is sure to delight with her diva-licious show Dusty and the Divas, while Fat Musicals will take a satirical look at musical theatre,” she said.

“The Black Square Quartet will offer outstanding chamber music and acrobatic prowess will be on show in By a Thread.

“Young children will love the adventures of Wilbur the Optical Whale and The Gruffalo’s Child.

“I look forward to the wonderful variety coming back to RPAC over the next few months and encourage all live performance lovers to visit the RPAC website for all the details.

“Whether you watch a live-streamed show from home or book to see one of your favourite artists live on stage, I am sure you will once-again enjoy the magic of live performances at RPAC,” she said.

Visit the RPAC website www.rpac.com.au to find:
• all show details
• information on expressing your interest to perform in the RPAC Live concert series (local artists only)
• the COVID-safe industry plan RPAC will be following.

Council seeks Redlands Coast arts practitioners for volunteer grant assessment panel


July 17, 2020

Redland City Council is calling for local art enthusiasts to be part of its Arts Queensland Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) volunteer assessment panel.

Mayor Karen Williams said Council was seeking Expressions of Interest from local artists, arts and cultural workers, members of cultural groups, local organisations or associations and people active within the arts community who would like to be part of the panel.

“Being on Council’s RADF volunteer assessment panel is a great opportunity for those who are active within the Redlands Coast arts community to provide mentoring and assistance to other local artists,” she said.

“We have a vibrant arts sector on Redlands Coast and this is an opportunity to ensure that vibrancy continues into the future.

“The panel will be co-chaired by Councillor Paul Bishop and Councillor Lance Hewlett and an additional six members will be appointed to the panel for two years with an option to extend for a further two years.”

Division 10 Councillor Paul Bishop said the arts industry had been especially hard hit during the COVID-19 crisis, and this was one avenue through which local artists could support other Redlands Coast artists and residents through recovery.

“Being a volunteer panel member requires attendance at a training induction and participation in assessment meetings, all of which will be done online while COVID-19 social distancing measures are in place,” he said.

“This is critical time for the arts to continue to thrive on Redlands Coast.

“Council is looking for exemplary arts leaders to be part of this important initiative.”

Division 4 Councillor Lance Hewlett said panel members could still apply for a grant themselves but would not be able to assess that round.

“Council has been administrating Arts Queensland RADF grants for many years, helping professional and emerging local artists from all fields further their development while fostering high quality arts experiences across Redlands Coast,” Cr Hewlett said.

For further information about the expressions of interest process, visit redland.qld.gov.au/RADF

The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Redland City Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

Council to trial car-sharing at Redland Bay Marina car park


July 6, 2020

Redland City Council will soon be seeking community feedback on a car-share trial that will be held at the Redland Bay Marina car park from Monday 3 August 2020 to Friday 5 February 2021.

The trial will provide Southern Moreton Bay Island residents with access to short-term, mainland car hire.

Mayor Karen Williams said the six-month trial was ideal for those SMBI residents who only infrequently used a mainland car.

“The trial will offer residents access to a mainland car without associated ownership costs,” she said.

“We know there are island residents who only need access to a vehicle on the mainland for short periods and car-sharing is a handy alternative to maintaining a vehicle at the marina car park.

“Parking near the ferry terminal is in high demand and, while work is underway to provide more parking facilities in the area, car-sharing is convenient for short trips without needing to own a private vehicle, and also frees up parking space.”

Division 5 Councillor Mark Edwards said the popularity of car-sharing was increasing across Australia.

“Council has been working towards facilitating a car-share trial at the marina since last year,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the trial, which was scheduled to start earlier this year, was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but Council has continued to work to find a solution that would deliver this trial for the island community.

“Under the trial, four parking spaces between the Coast Guard building and the marina will be set aside for car-share vehicles.

“Residents can book a vehicle online and pick it up when they arrive at the marina, and then return the car without parking hassles.

“We’ll be seeking public feedback on the trial; and this will help Council decide what to do after it ends.”

For more information about the trial, visit yoursay.redland.qld.gov.au

Council seeks to partner with State for job-creating projects


July 3, 2020

Redland City Council is hoping to partner with the State Government to deliver more than $7 million of job creating projects thanks to two State grants.

Mayor Karen Williams said the one-off State grants came after years of lobbying for State funding in recognition of the regional challenges faced by parts of Redlands Coast.

“The COVID Works for Queensland and Unite and Recover Community Stimulus Package grant programs gave Council officers the chance to look at our capital plan and see what projects could be prioritised or brought forward to deliver jobs and economic return for Redlands Coast,” Cr Williams said.

“While this one-off funding isn’t the permanent regional funding I have been advocating for, it is a good start and, on behalf of the community, I thank Minister Hinchliffe for making this funding available and I look forward to working with him to ensure it delivers for Redlands Coast.

“While the grants had very tight timeframes and strict criteria, Council officers worked with their State counterparts to find projects that will deliver local jobs and boost the local economy.”

Acting Redland City Council CEO John Oberhardt said Council officers had put forward a range of infrastructure projects under the two grants.

“These projects include infrastructure such as green sealing island roads and an important coastal pedestrian link on North Stradbroke Island to drive tourism opportunities,” Mr Oberhardt said.

“We have also applied for recreation projects such as maintenance on our Cleveland Aquatic Centre and a mountain biking and recreational trail in the south of the city we have been working on for a number of years.

“Officers also identified the installation of internet fibre in key areas of the city as a worthy project due to its potential to deliver better connectivity and business opportunities.”

Cr Williams said she would continue to work with Minister Hinchliffe to ensure this funding was not a one-off.

“While we welcome this one-off funding to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we need the State Government to make this funding permanent like it is for other areas of the State,” Cr Williams said.

“This would allow Council to plan our projects knowing this funding was available, giving us greater confidence so we can deliver the projects and associated jobs sooner.”