After an extended trial road closure and community consultation period, Redland City Council has decided to permanently close Bligh Street at Wellington Point’s Geoff Skinner Wetland Reserve.

Mayor Karen Williams said that, as a unique foreshore conservation area, Geoff Skinner Wetland Reserve was originally purchased for its high environmental value.

“The trail closure of Bligh Street allowed Council to investigate the impact that restricting vehicle access would have on recreational users and the environment, and the month-long community consultation period late last year provided valuable feedback from the public,” Cr Williams said.

“Thank you to everyone who participated.

“Your input, and the evidence collected during the trial closure, have shown it provided clear benefits to both the wetland environment and the broader community.

“The permanent road closure will ensure the wetland’s environmental values are protected and will continue to improve, supporting the reserve’s primary purpose.”

Division 1 Councillor Wendy Boglary said strong community response during the community consultation period (November and December 2020) showed clear support for the reserves environment values.

“A couple of plantings have been undertaken during the trial road closure with more koalas and bird species now being spotted in the area,” she said.

“A number of those surveyed also pointed to the benefits of the road closure through reduced antisocial behaviour in the area, including hooning and rubbish dumping.”

“The permanent road closure will see less litter and pollutants making their way into Hilliards Creek, less dust created from road traffic and reduced edge effects impacting the creek and wetlands.”

Cr Williams said the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Road confirmed the site was not, and would not be, a designated boat ramp.

“We are fortunate to have other suitable boat ramps across Redlands Coast,” she said.

“Council continues to invest and partner with the Queensland Government in the delivery of boat ramps and recreational paddle craft access points for the community.”

For more information visit Council’s Geoff Skinner Wetland Reserve YourSay webpage.

Redland City Council is handing out worm farms to 100 of the residents who signed up for a green waste bin this May.

Mayor Karen Williams said the worm farm competition, along with no bin establishment fee, had proven a great incentive for residents to order a green waste bin so their garden waste could be collected separately through Council’s fortnightly kerbside collection.

IndigiScapes staff have been handing out worm farms to winners of Council’s green waste bin competition.

“We were aiming for 500 green waste bin orders in May, and ended up with 524, which we estimate will result in the recovery of an extra 171 tonnes of green waste each year,” Cr Williams said.

“Green waste bins are an important part of Council’s kerbside collection service as they provide residents with an easy way to separate garden waste – such as garden prunings, grass clipping, weeds and small branches – from general waste and recyclables.

Worm farms are good for food scraps that can’t be put in your household green waste bin.

“Currently, about a third of the material put into kerbside general waste bins could be diverted to household green waste bins, the contents of which are composted and turned into soil and landscaping products.

“But when this material stays in general waste bins, it ends up in landfill, which is costly and bad for the environment.

“Nor does green waste belong in your yellow-lid bin, where it will end up contaminating your recycling.”

Cr Williams said the three bin-system catered to all different household sizes and needs, with residents being able to upsize their recycling bin, and order multiple recycling and green waste bins.

“Keen gardeners can order multiple green waste bins and larger families may opt for a second recycling bin,” she said.

“The system is flexible for the convenience of households and to maximise resource recovery.”

Council’s three-bin system

General household waste bins are collected kerbside on a weekly basis, have a red lid (or a dark green one for older bins) and are for non-recyclable items. While we’d prefer to see garden waste composted, put in a green waste bin or taken to a recycling and waste centre, it is still permitted in your general waste bin.

Every household has a yellow-lid recycling bin with household collection being fortnightly. Just five material types can be recycled kerbside – paper, cardboard, glass jars and bottles, aluminium and steel cans and firm plastic containers and bottles. Contaminants to keep out of your yellow-lid bin include soft plastics, bubble wrap, food scraps, polystyrene and textiles. Most importantly, don’t place recycling into a kitchen tidy bag or garbage bag.

Green waste bins are available to mainland residents and are optional so you need to order yours’ from Council, after which an annual fee for collection will appear on your rates. They have a lime green lid and are collected kerbside on the alternative fortnight to your recycling bin. They are for garden organics only, so kitchen scraps need to go either in your general waste bin or preferably your compost or worm farm at home.

Winners of the worm farms have been notified via email or will receive a letter in the mail and they can pick up their worm farms from IndigiScapes native nursery before 31 July.

If you’re unsure about what household bin an item belongs in, check Council’s online A-Z of waste recycling or you can pick up a copy of the A-Z of waste and recycling at Council’s mainland customer service centres.

The wheels on the driverless bus will soon stop going round and round at Raby Bay as the Redlands Coast Smart Mobility Trial draws to a close.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the RACQ Smart Shuttle would travel its last circuit along Masthead Drive on 26 June.

“So far 1,339 passengers have taken a free ride, with the EasyMile vehicle travelling more than 3,000 kilometres since November last year,” Cr Williams said.

“I encourage all Redlands Coast residents and visitors to the area to hop on board for their last chance to taste the future of public transport.

“The first stop is an easy 350 metre walk from Cleveland railway station, with a 1.9 kilometre loop connecting the Raby Bay Harbour precinct to Raby Bay Foreshore Park along Masthead Drive. “

Mayor Karen Williams and Division 2 Cr Peter Mitchell at the Raby Bay trial launch in November 2020

Division 2 Councillor Peter Mitchell thanked Raby Bay residents for their patience while the trial has been underway.

“It is an exciting new chapter for transport with Redland City Council once again partnering with RACQ for phase two of the smart mobility trial,” Cr Mitchell said.

“Locating the second phase at Raby Bay enabled the driverless technology to be tested in a more complex live-traffic environment than that of tiny Karragarra Island, where phase one of the trail was conducted.”

Councillor Williams said Redlands Coast faced a number of transport challenges; and by partnering with RACQ in these trials, Council had demonstrated its commitment to finding innovative ways to help our residents overcome these challenges.

“The valuable insights gained will help guide Council’s policy development and advocacy efforts with relation to transport within the city and linking to our region,” she said.

“We are happy to have played our part and wish RACQ well as their Smart Shuttle leaves Redlands Coast to continue its journey on other Queensland roads.”

RACQ Head of Public Policy Susan Furze thanked Mayor Williams and the Redland City Council team for its partnership in integrating the driverless technology on local roads.

“Our vision is for all Queenslanders to have access to safe, affordable and sustainable transport options, so to have the opportunity to test new technologies like this in a live-traffic environment goes a long way in helping us realise future possibilities,” Ms Furze said.

“We will now be looking closely at the learnings and feedback from the trials at both Raby Bay and Karragarra Island to help us better understand and develop how driverless transport options could help serve communities in the future.”

For more information on the Redlands Coast Smart Mobility Trial, visit yoursay.redland.qld.gov.au.

The Redlands Coast Smart Mobility trial is a joint initiative between the RACQ and Redland City Council, which will trial the use of the RACQ Smart Shuttle at Raby Bay, Cleveland.

Redland City Council is continuing its push to secure the best planning outcomes for a new emerging community in Victoria Point while navigating a complex planning and appeal system.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Council was committed to delivering a well-planned and co-ordinated approach to the development of this significant future growth area.

“This includes Council representing the community in recent Court appeals on planning interests in the area, including the area around Clay Gully.

“Council’s approach is outlined in the draft South West Victoria Point Local Plan (draft local plan) it submitted to State Government in November 2019 for State Interest Review and which is yet to receive Ministerial approval for us to then go on to public consultation.”

The local plan area is approximately 175 hectares and is situated between Bunker Road and Brendan Way in the north, Clay Gully Road and Cleveland-Redland Bay Road in the east, Double Jump Road in the south and Little Eprapah Creek in the west.

“The planning commitment for this area is for a well-planned urban community, integrating all necessary components of the built and natural environments in an orderly, and coordinated land use pattern,” Cr Williams said.

“Council’s planning process undertaken for the area has been a key contributor to these efforts.

“Since 2015, Council has received a number of properly made development applications over sites within the local plan area.

“In early 2018, Council resolved to defer its decision on development applications in the area until the structure plan was in place and the Government gave a clear commitment to funding the vital infrastructure required for the area’s future growth.

“As no decision was made on these deferred development applications within the statutory timeframe, seven of the applicants subsequently lodged an appeal in the Planning and Environment Court arguing for their own plans for the area.

“With the support of the Draft Structure Plan and experts, Council has represented the community’s interests through the appeal proceedings to ensure a co-ordinated approach to development.

“Even though approximately 40 per cent of the local plan area is captured by the three Court judgements that have been handed down in recent months, Council will continue to fight on behalf of the community for better outcomes as there is still much to gain by having an adopted local plan.

“Local area planning ensures a co-ordinated approach to the area’s development is undertaken to achieve the desired vision for the area.

“It will help ensure environmental values and corridors are protected and that infrastructure networks are co-ordinated and effectively delivered within the area.

“On completion of the State Interest Review and Ministerial approval to proceed to public consultation, the draft local plan will be publicly notified on our Redlands Coast Your Say website.”

“In the meantime, Council will continue to represent the community during the appeals that are ongoing but confidentiality provisions mean Council is unable to comment further on those matters still before the courts.”

Following Court judgment on one of the settled appeals, Council has approved an operational works development permit for earthworks to begin in the Clay Gully area.  Council understands that these works will commence very shortly.

More information on the South West Victoria Point local plan is available on the Redlands Coast Your Say page (link).

The Southern Moreton Bay Islands ferry terminals upgrade project has entered the construction phase, with the State Government and Redland City Council announcing a $20 million contract for stage one of the works.

Member for Redlands Kim Richards said marine construction company The Jetty Specialist had been awarded the contract to build and install new ferry terminals on the four islands.

“This is good news for the SMBI communities on Russell, Macleay, Karragarra, and Lamb Islands with the all-important pre-site works set to start,” Ms Richards said.

“When the project is completed, ferry customers will benefit from increased seating, drinking fountains, more waiting areas with better weather protection, and improved security with lighting and 24-hour video recording.

“It will also deliver wider jetties and gangways for improved accessibility.”

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said awarding the tender was a significant project milestone for Redlands Coast creating local jobs and bringing delivery of the new terminals a step closer to fruition.

“This is one of the largest – and possibly the most important – marine infrastructure projects we have seen for the Southern Moreton Bay Islands which will deliver for the community the much-needed ferry terminal upgrades they have been calling for,” Cr Williams said.

“Islanders will finally have modern ferry terminal facilities built for purpose which will serve them for years to come.

“I am particularly pleased that a local company will be part of the contract, with Thornlands-based Aluminium Marine responsible for building significant fit-out work for the ferry terminal pontoons.

“Council and the State Government have worked together to fund and plan this project and islanders played an important role in telling us what they wanted. I know how excited they are now the project has reached this important stage.

“Today’s great news means we are one step closer to helping residents move around our beautiful Redlands Coast faster and safer.”

Division 5 Councillor Mark Edwards said he was thankful for the community’s contribution that has helped bring the project to this exciting phase.

“As the project enters its final phase, I would like to thank the community for their invaluable input and support over the years to help deliver the long-awaited ferry terminals,” Cr Edwards said.

The Jetty Specialist is a Queensland family-owned company based on the Sunshine Coast that has delivered marine facilities throughout the state and in the Redlands area.

The Jetty Specialist General Manager of Operations, Dane Morris said the company was proud to be awarded the contract for the SMBI Ferry Terminal Upgrades.

“This is important infrastructure for the Southern Moreton Bay Islands and will benefit the region and support the manufacturing industry in South-East Queensland,” Mr Morris said.

“Our company is looking forward to delivering this high-quality marine infrastructure project in our beautiful backyard.”

Due to the scale of the project with four new terminals, the contract has been split into two packages.

Package one involves sourcing materials and building important components such as pontoons, headstocks, and deck slabs for the fixed jetties and the pontoon piles.

There will also be a new floating walkway for the Macleay Island boat ramp and redesign and construction of existing ferry pontoons for recreational boating and fishing.

The remaining onsite construction of the ferry terminals and all the landside works will be combined into the second contract, due to be awarded late this year.

It is likely works will occur on more than one island at a time.

Locals and visitors will also benefit, with gangways and pontoons repurposed for recreational use.

The project will support an average of 45 direct jobs over the life of the works.

Southern Moreton Bay Islands ferry terminals upgrade project is a jointly-funded $37 million project, with the Queensland Government contributing $22 million and Redland City Council contributing $15 million.

For further information, visit yoursay.redland.qld.gov.au/upgrade-of-smbi-ferry-terminals

For more information on public transport, including changes to ferry terminals and services during construction, visit the TransLink website www.translink.com.au(External link) or phone 13 12 30.