Following the success of the Redlands Coast Smart Mobility Trial on Karragarra Island, Redland City Council has again partnered with RACQ for a second phase of the trial, to be held at Raby Bay, Cleveland.

The trial’s first phase saw the RACQ Smart Shuttle in use on the island from November 2019 to May 2020 in Queensland’s first long-term, on-road trial of the autonomous vehicle technology.

The small, driverless bus has a maximum speed of 20km/h, sophisticated sensors for navigation, and detection lasers to identify obstacles within 40 metres before stopping safely or slowing as needed.

Mayor Karen Williams said Karragarra Island had been the perfect site for the Queensland-first test of how an autonomous vehicle would perform in a live traffic environment.

“As a city of islands with rural and urban communities, we know Redlands Coast faces a number of transport challenges; and by partnering with RACQ in these trials, Council has demonstrated its commitment to finding innovative ways to help our residents overcome these challenges,” she said.

“Over the course of the island trial, more than 850 passengers experienced the potential of autonomous vehicle technology, with the bus travelling more than 1400 kilometres.

“At all times, it was staffed by a human operator who could take control if necessary.

“Now the technology will soon be trialled in the Raby Bay area of Cleveland and we are delighted to again be partnering with RACQ for the trial’s second phase, with the commencement date to be advised but we anticipate it starting in late November.”

Cr Williams said the trial would connect Raby Bay Harbour with Raby Bay Foreshore Park – two popular destinations not currently serviced by public transport.

“The harbour is just a short walk from existing bus and train services, and this trial area will test the driverless technology in a more complex traffic environment while allowing us to see and assess how it works in an integrated transport network,” she said.

“These ground-breaking trials on Redlands Coast will also be used to investigate other applications for the autonomous vehicle and to lobby for greater adoption of innovative transport across the State.”

Division 2 Councillor Peter Mitchell said he was pleased to know the trial would be operating in Cleveland.

“This trial will add to the invaluable data Council has already collected from the trial on Karragarra Island,” he said.

“This is as much about research as it is about transport, with it to provide information on practical uses of the technology, not only on Redlands Coast but also across Queensland and even nationwide.”

RACQ Head of Public Policy Rebecca Michael said the shuttle was an opportunity for Raby Bay locals to test the future of public transport.

“Autonomous vehicles will change the way we move in the future and we’re very excited that the Redlands Coast community gets to be front and centre of this ground-breaking trial and gets to test out the innovative technology now,” Dr Michael said.

“Once the trial begins, members of the community will be able to ride the shuttle for free and we’ll gather feedback on their experience and thoughts on the technology, so we can ensure current and future trials positively impact Queenslander lives.”

More information about phase two of the Redlands Coast Smart Mobility Trial can be found on Council’s Your Say website.

Redland City Council has established self-service sandbagging stations across the city as heavy rainfall continues to develop.

The sandbagging stations will be open at the following times and locations:

Cleveland

• South Street Depot – from 7am – 6pm on Wednesday 28 October and Thursday 29 October. From 7am to 12pm on Friday 30 October. Closed on the weekend (weather permitting). Council staff will be onsite to assist. Sand, bags and shovels will be supplied.

North Stradbroke Island

• Outside the Council Depot on Mitchell Crescent, Dunwich – open all hours. Sand and bags supplied; please take your own shovel.

Russell Island

• Outside the Council Depot on Cambridge Road – open all hours. Sand and bags supplied; please take your own shovel.

Macleay Island

• Outside the Council Depot on Scarborough Terrace – open all hours. Sand and bags supplied; please take your own shovel.

Residents are permitted a maximum of six sand bags per household.

Please note: enclosed shoes must be worn.

Council reminds residents to check gutters are clear and to secure loose items around the home.

For the latest advice and emergency warnings:

• Tune in to 612ABC
• Bay FM 100.3
• Monitor Council’s Disaster Dashboard
• Follow Redland City Council on Facebookand Twitter

The Redland State Emergency Service has picked up 10 regional and two state awards at ceremonies held during Queensland SES Week.

Mayor Karen Williams said the results reflected the outstanding efforts of all 150 volunteers in keeping residents safe during times of disaster.

“We are very lucky to have one of the hardest working, community minded SES teams in Queensland here on the Redlands,” she said.

“The Redland SES Unit responded to more than 270 jobs during the past 12 months.

“This included helping with land searches for missing people, agency assistance with fires including public safety management, and police support with COVID-19 border security.

“I am sure the community will join with me in congratulating the Redland SES Unit for their training, dedication and willingness to help, all of which has led to these exceptional results.”

Deputy Mayor Julie Talty said to take home 10 regional awards from a record 16 nominations was an extraordinary result and included Unit or Group of the Year, Operational Response of the Year, Trainer of the Year and seven individual awards.

The state awards were for Trainer of the Year and a highly commended for Operational Response of the Year.

“Many of us don’t think about how much hard work goes into training for the SES, until we need them,” Cr Talty said.

“Our SES is about people helping people and I also pay tribute to the families they leave behind to rush out and respond to a community in distress.”

Regional Awards collected by Redland SES Unit are:

• Regional Unit/Group of the Year Redland Bay SES Group for exceptional engagement, operational readiness and innovation, leading to outstanding operational results within the Brisbane region.
• Operational Response of the Year jointly shared by Redland City, Brisbane City and Moreton Bay SES Units for extraordinary diligence and professional service during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Trainer of the Year Ian Bacon, Cleveland SES Group for distinguished service to the SES through outstanding professional leadership, commitment and dedication to planning, training delivery, and members’ skills development.

Assistant Commissioner John Cawcutt, Trainer of the Year Ian Bacon, and Acting Assistant Commissioner Brian Cox.

Individual Awards were won by the following Redland SES team members for special contribution to the service:

• Alex Johnson, Redland Bay SES Group:  For distinguished service through leadership, dedicated service to the community, and continually developing the knowledge and skill level of fellow members.
• Alexandra Baines, Cleveland SES Group: For distinguished service through exceptional leadership and commitment to the Redland City SES Unit through training, administration and skills development of members.
• Noel ‘Geoffrey’ Le Noel, Cleveland SES Group: For distinguished service through his outstanding dedication, compassion, and his commitment to educating members within the Cleveland SES Group and Redland City SES Unit.
• Mitch Brushe, Cleveland SES Group: For distinguished service through outstanding professional leadership within the Cleveland SES Group, and continued dedication to the Redland City SES Unit and its community.
• Blake Tomlinson, Cleveland SES Group: For distinguished service through outstanding professionalism, dedication and generosity to Cleveland SES Group and the Redland Community, and deploying to assist communities recover after devastating events.
• Joel Muraca, Redland Bay SES Group: For distinguished service by maintaining operational readiness and providing support to other members of the Redland City SES Unit.
• Kiara Muraca, Redland Bay SES Group: For distinguished service through continued growth as a leader supporting members and operations.

The two state awards were for:

• Joyce Scorey Shield-Trainer of the Year: Ian Bacon, Cleveland SES Group
• Assistant Commissioner’s Shield-Highly Commended for Operational Response of the Year jointly shared by Redland City, Brisbane City and Moreton Bay SES.

The awards provide an opportunity to thank all SES volunteers and honour length of service and exceptional performance throughout the year.

QFES Assistant Commissioner John Cawcutt, local SES controller Clare Barker, Redland Bay Group leader Daniel Tuckwood and Deputy group leader Alex Johnson and QFES Acting Assistant Commissioner Brian Cox.

Redland City Council will fly the Redlands Coast flag at next week’s Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) conference to advocate for a number of key projects and initiatives on behalf of the community.

Mayor Karen Williams said in addition to a number of resolutions Council was putting to the conference she would also be speaking with fellow Queensland Mayors about key projects included in Council’s 2020 State Election Advocacy Plan.

“Key amongst our state election advocacy priorities are better transport infrastructure and clearer planning laws and I will be looking to discuss these opportunities at next week’s conference with my fellow Mayors and State MPs in attendance,” she said.

“We have also asked candidates in the seats of Capalaba, Redlands, Oodgeroo and Springwood to provide comment on their level of support for each project and initiative included in our advocacy plan so we can let the community know where they stand.

“So far the responses have been slow coming back so Council has again reminded candidates that we will be making their responses public so the community is across their priorities ahead of the election.”

Cr Williams said among the items to be raised by Council at the annual conference was the need for clearer planning framework.

“We will again be advocating for a State Government planning system that is easier for the community to understand and meets their expectations,” she said.

“Council has long argued that the State’s current, performance-based planning system allows too much flexibility in how the overall outcomes of relevant codes are achieved, creating uncertainty within the community.

“To provide the certainty the community seeks, and in response to concerns about small lot sizes, Council previously tried to cap minimum lot sizes through the 2018 city plan, but were advised by the State Government that we couldn’t under the current planning regime.

“Residents need some surety of what may be built in their neighbourhoods and we are calling on the State Government to provide clearer planning framework.”

Cr Williams said Council would also present a case to the LGAQ Conference for better recognition of, and financial support for, regional challenges.

“We are a city of islands and have one of the largest, un-bridged island populations in the country,” she said.

“In recognition of our island communities’ unique social, economic and isolation issues compared with the rest of the city, we have long advocated for our islands to be considered regional under State Government funding allocations.

“Despite the rates of unemployment and disability being higher than on the mainland, along with transport challenges similar to those of other regional areas, our islands are excluded from the State Government’s regional funding programs designed to support regional Local Government Areas.”

Other items to be tabled at the LGAQ’s 124th annual conference on the Gold Coast from October 19-21, 2020 are:
• Local Governments’ Powers to Conduct Elections
• Regulated Dog Management Review
• More Respectful Debate in Parliament
• Asset Sustainability Ratio

Cr Williams and Division 7 Councillor Rowanne McKenzie will be Council’s official delegates at the LGAQ Conference, which will bring together delegates from all tiers of government, external stakeholders and the media to consider the challenges facing local governments and their communities.

Other Councillors will be able to attend as observers.

To read Council’s 2020 State Election Advocacy Plan, visit Council’s website.

Almost $20,000 was raised for State School chaplaincy programs across Redlands Coast at the annual Redland City Mayoral Prayer Breakfast.

Held at the Alexandra Hills Hotel Conference Centre, today’s event brought the amount raised in the past six years to more than $120,000.

Due to COVID-safe requirements, a reduced gathering of 96 people attended the breakfast, which in the past has attracted almost 300 people.

Attendees included school chaplains, church and school leaders, government representatives, business people and community members, who enjoyed a talk by guest speaker Andy Gourley from Red Frogs Australia and founder of the Red Frog chaplaincy program, which helps safeguard teenagers at schoolies events and festivals.

Mayor Karen Williams said this year’s fundraising was an excellent result given the reduced numbers of people able to attend.

“This has been a year like no other and anxieties have been heightened for many across our community, including our young people, highlighting the importance of programs such as school chaplaincy.

“Our school chaplains provide vital spiritual and emotional support not only to students, but also to local families and school staff across Redlands Coast, and it is important that they are there when someone needs to reach out for support.”

Cr Williams thanked all those who supported the event, especially the individual contribution of Albert Benfer.

“Albert has been a generous supporter of this cause and I sincerely thank him, as well as the many other caring people who have sponsored and supported our fundraising effort in this challenging year.

“I hope this year’s result will allow more Redlands Coast schools to benefit from the chaplaincy program, which already supports more than 14,500 students.”

Cr Williams said this year’s event included the inaugural Pastor Glen Gray Award, which recognises an outstanding school chaplain.

“This award is special for two reasons: first, it recognises a local chaplain doing great things in our community, but it also bears the name of dear friend Pastor Gray, who has been instrumental in organising this event and doing so much great work in our community,” Cr Williams said.

“This year’s award went to Grant Lea for the amazing work he has done supporting students at Dunwich State School and The Sycamore School.”

Sponsors and supporters included:

Diamond sponsor

• Lee’s Environmental

Gold Sponsor

• Renaissance Retirement Living

Silver sponsor

• Certified Roofing

Bronze sponsors

• Alex Gow Funerals
• Scripture Union Queensland

Event supporters

• CPC Productions
• McGuires Alexandra Hills Hotel
• Corporate Stage Solutions

Redlands Coast continues to prove itself to be a film friendly location as YR Production Pty Ltd took to Capalaba this week to film selected scenes for the new NBC Universal television series Young Rock.

It was the first filming location in Queensland for the US series, which tells the story of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s formative years.

Cr Williams said this was yet another example of the attraction Redlands Coast held for film makers.

“The night-time scenes took place  outside the Wicked Brew Café, Dollery Road, Capalaba and on Loraine Street, Capalaba, where the production team put in a temporary bus stop for the shoot,” she said.

“This new production, Young Rock, adds to our already impressive list of big name productions filmed here.

“Not only is it exciting to know our naturally wonderful city will be showcased on screens around the world but the boost to the local economy is also welcome.

“As we focus on recovering from the impacts of COVID-19, international productions such as this help support our economy through film crews and actors using our local businesses and services.”

Division 9 Councillor Adelia Berridge said much work had been done to promote Queensland and Redlands Coast as ideal choices for film locations.

“It’s great to see Redlands Coast, and this time Capalaba, continue to be a preferred location for so many producers of film and television,” she said.

“Having productions such as this come to Redlands Coast only increases our global reputation as a natural choice for film and television.”

This production has also received support from the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland.

Redland City Council will consult individual property owners and the broader community on a proposal to add a number of properties to the city’s Local Heritage Register following the identification of European heritage significance.

Mayor Karen Williams said the consultation with property owners until 4 December 2020 was an essential step towards including the properties in the local register.

“Council has looked at hundreds of properties and we are now seeking community feedback on 47 of these properties that include many wonderful examples of our built settlement history dating back over 140 years,” Cr Williams said.

“This is all about identifying and protecting our local heritage and Council wants to hear from property owners and the general public about this proposal.

“These properties have all been independently assessed as important physical reminders of our European settlement history and essential parts of the story of Redlands Coast.

“In many cases, their built history is just part of the longer European settlement stories going back even decades earlier.

“The survival of these properties in private ownership is a testament to generations of owners who have recognised their value and maintained them since.

“The Queensland Heritage Act requires Council to maintain a local heritage register under Schedule 7 of our City Plan, with any changes also requiring planning scheme amendment.

“Until now our local register has mainly listed Council and State-owned sites.

“Council’s proposal to now add these privately owned properties to the local heritage register will require a major amendment to the Redland City Plan.

“The decision to move forward with the recommended listing and amendment recognises the need to work with individual property owners to support their property interests while ensuring continued preservation.

“This includes options for future support through the provision of expert heritage and planning advice and property maintenance support.

“Any future recommendations for support for heritage property owners are expected to follow from the public consultation with individual owners and the community.

“These are likely to be carried forward for consideration and funding in Council’s 2021-2022 budget deliberations.”

To make a formal submission and for background on the properties and the proposals, visit Council’s Your Say Redlands Coast website from 12 October, 2020.

Cleveland Aquatic Centre will begin re-opening to the public from  Wednesday 14 October 2020, with the 25-metre outdoor pool, indoor pool and children’s play pool to open for use.

Work is continuing on the centre’s 50-metre pool.

The partial re-opening from next Wednesday follows the successful testing of completed plumbing and electrical works, replacement of the indoor and 25-metre pool filter mediums, as well as refurbishment of the children’s play pool, centre kiosk and centre-wide painting, decking, tiling and landscaping.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said while work continued on the 50-metre pool and its major filter replacement, patrons would see a huge difference already at the revitalised centre.

“This work has created local employment and generated economic recovery when our city needed it most, including using mainly local contractors and materials,” she said.

“We are looking forward to a formal re-opening when the remaining works on the 50-metre pool are completed, including the arrival of the new filter from the manufacturers.

‘In the meantime, I would like to thank contractors and Council project staff who have toiled hard to ensure the centre was able to re-open in October as promised and in time for warmer weather.”

Division 2 Councillor Peter Mitchell said the partial re-opening to the public would be welcomed for many users who have waited patiently, first with COVID-19 closure and then major renewal and repair works.

“In the coming weeks, centre patrons will hopefully see work progress on the fenced 50-metre pool, with the installation of the new pool filter behind the pool pump house.

“Until then, work will continue on some remaining 50-metre pool painting, jointing and tiling repairs.

“Council and centre operator Belgravia Leisure are anticipating the completion of the remaining 50-metre pool work by the end of the year and are excited to welcome patrons back in the meantime.

“It will be well worth taking the necessary time to complete these upgrades and improvements properly, and I thank the public, especially regular patrons, for their patience.”

Council acknowledges the State Government’s COVID Works for Queensland Funding contribution of $830,000 towards this project.