Environment and Community Fair is back, bigger and better than ever


May 24, 2022

The Redland City Council Environment and Community Fair at IndigiScapes is back bigger and better next month with an ‘all star cast’ of environmental champions set to entertain and educate the community on Saturday June 4.

Redland City Council Mayor Karen Williams said the Environment and Community Fair was one of the highlights on the Redlands Coast events calendar which offered an incredible array of events, activities, fresh food and produce as well as markets, cooking demonstrations, environmental speakers and inspiration for more sustainable living.

“Our Redlands IndigiScapes Centre is an eco-wonder, a unique environmental education centre and it’s the perfect place to host events like our Environment and Community Fair – and there’s no better day or way to celebrate World Environment Day this year than at our Fair,” said Cr Williams.

“Whether you live on the Redlands Coast or if you’re a visitor to the area, you know and appreciate that we are naturally blessed to enjoy such a breathtaking and diverse natural environment and the Fair allows us to celebrate all the natural wonders of the region – plus many that have been created by our talented community at the Food and Eco Markets.

“The range of environmental speakers is incredible from our much-loved Ambassador Ranger Stacey to leading bee expert, Dr Kit Prendergast, garden talks, food fermentation and you can even learn how to rewild native fish, build a backyard pond and make sourdough.

“And it’s also a wonderful opportunity for residents of Redlands Coast to learn more about the many programs that Council runs in the community and environmental space.”

Division 7 Cr Rowanne McKenzie said the Environment and Community Fair continued to grow in popularity, reputation and the quality of entertainment and attractions with each year.

“There’s so much for people to see and do in one day at the Fair and there is plenty on offer to keep the whole family entertained and excited and it’s an event that I know many people in our region look forward to every year,” said Cr McKenzie.

“Along with the eco markets, there will be environment and sustainability-themed speakers and information, free outdoor family activities, incredible live entertainment and delicious food available from the café and food vans.”

There will also be a guided fungi walk at 11.30am with IndigiScapes Environmental Partnerships Senior Officer Maree Manby.

EVENT DETAILS

Environment and Community Fair
When: Saturday 4 June 2022, 9am to 2pm
Where: Redlands IndigiScapes Centre, 17 Runnymede Rd, Capalaba
Free entry.
Additional parking accessible via the Nursery entry or Lyndon Road and Korawal Street.

  • Celebrate World Environment Day
    • Meet Ranger Stacey and local wildlife
    • Engage with environmental and community organisations and speakers including the Bee Babette Dr Kit Prendergast and bush food cooking demonstration with Christopher Jordan
    • Nursery open for native plant sales and advice
    • Learn about Council programs and services
    • Enjoy the Eco Markets, suitcase rummage and rack sale
    • Free outdoor family activities, nature craft, art and face painting
    • Enjoy entertainment and live music
    • IndigiCafe open plus food and coffee vans.

More information: indigiscapes.redland.qld.gov.au

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Birkdale Community Precinct Info Days cancelled due to wet weather


May 24, 2022

The Birkdale Community Precinct Info Days planned for this Friday and Saturday, 27 and 28 May, have been cancelled due to wet weather.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said while it was unfortunate the days could no longer go ahead, you could still have your say on the precinct’s Draft Master Plan via an online survey, as well as touring the precinct virtually.

“All the information about the recently adopted Draft Birkdale Community Precinct (BCP) Master Plan is available on the project’s website at yoursay.redland.qld.gov.au,” Cr Williams said.

“This Plan is a vision of what will become one of the largest community spaces in south-east Queensland and one which will unfold over the next two decades.

“The 62-hectare Birkdale Community Precinct will include Redlands Coast’s first public swimming lagoon as well as the Redlands Whitewater Centre, which will be a host venue during the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“There will also be seven Hubs with the following themes: Cultural, Innovation, Willards Farm (Food), Communications, Entertainment, Recreation and Adventure Sports, and Conservation.

“It is the largest, most exciting and most diverse community precinct ever to be delivered by Council for Redlands Coast.

“On the project’s website you can watch a fly-through video of what it will become as well as go on a virtual tour of the site as it is now.

“You can also download the draft master plan and look at detailed maps of what the Hubs will include.”

Cr Williams said the Draft BCP Master Plan community consultation process started on April 30 and would continue until June 6.

“I encourage you to jump online and complete the survey,” she said.

 HAVE YOUR SAY:

For more information go to: yoursay.redland.qld.gov.au where you can complete the online survey and go into the draw to win one of five $100 gift cards. The website also will have updates as to how you can meet and talk to the Project Team behind this precinct.

 

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Redlands celebrates National Reconciliation Week


May 24, 2022

Redland City Council’s National Reconciliation Week, which starts tomorrow and runs until June 3, will have something for everyone covering culture, the arts and sport, including opportunities to learn about shared histories, cultures and achievements and to explore ways the community can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

Mayor Karen Williams said the week had great significance with a range of celebrations right across the Redlands Coast.

“Reconciliation Week is a special time for locals to recognise and celebrate the great social, cultural and spiritual importance of the Quandamooka People, who have lived in the area for at least 21,000 years,” said Cr Williams.

“In keeping with the theme of this year’s National Reconciliation Week, and the tag #BeBraveMakeChange we are asking everyone to make change as part of the journey of healing, compassion and understanding and to take brave actions to achieve that where they live, work, play and socialise.”

Cr Williams said Council was very proud of its first internal Reconciliation Action Plan, of which the vast majority of its 55 actions have been completed with support from employees and Council’s community partners.

“Council’s Indigenous education program ‘Look, Listen and Understand’, has also been acknowledged as one of the best in the country, winning the Best Diversity and Inclusion Program for 2021 by the Australian Institute of Training and Development Excellence Awards,” Cr Williams said.

A stand out feature of National Reconciliation Week activities will see first class rugby league return to North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah with an exciting Round 10 clash between the BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls and the Central Queensland Capras in the Reconciliation Round of the Hostplus Cup, to be held at Ron Stark Oval on North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah.

The Indigenous recognition match, proudly supported by long-term partners Redland City Council and Deadly Choices, will be held on Sunday 5 June.

Seagulls staff and players will also visit the island in the days leading up to the game to hold rugby league clinics and engage in activities to help promote tourism on the Redlands Coast.

Cr Williams said Council was happy to support Wynnum Manly Seagulls Rugby League Club with $9000 sponsorship for the event, as it offered important social and health benefits for the Redlands Coast community.

“We know our community loves their sport, so we are proud to be bringing this match to Minjerribah,” Cr Williams said.

Division 2 Councillor Peter Mitchell said the match will also boost local tourism and business by showcasing the beautiful backdrop of the island.

“In partnership with Minjerribah’s Yulu-Burri-Ba health clinic and the Deadly Choices initiative, the match will also raise awareness of Quandamooka culture and promote health care access and initiatives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” Cr Mitchell said.

“Council is proud to support this match for the third year with $9000 through round one of the 2021-2022 sponsorship program, which includes $1500 towards Quandamooka Cultural Awareness.”

“Events such as the Hostplus Cup are an example of how community partnerships can make a positive impact on society,” Cr Mitchell said.

“Through health education programs, we can work together to achieve health equality across the community on Minjerribah.”

Other National Reconciliation Week events include Family Sundays at the Gallery,  featuring a workshop with Dylan Sarra where visitors have the opportunity to learn how First Nations people use ochre and cotton tree to tell stories through painting and weaving. The event will be held at Redland Art Gallery on Sunday May 29 and will cater for people of all ages. For more information, visit Council’s What’s On calendar.

Respected and renowned cultural leader and Quandamooka Traditional Owner Matt Burns will delight and educate the young children as he shares the Quandamooka experience through face painting, traditional dance and digeridoo performances. It will be held on May 26 and June 3 at Capalaba Library.

Bookings are essential and can be made here.

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Council seeks exhibitors for Redlands Coast Careers Expo


May 24, 2022

Businesses and organisations will have the chance to inspire the next generation of jobseekers at Redland City Council’s careers expo in June.

Mayor Karen Williams said Council was encouraging local businesses to be part of the free Aspire – Redlands Coast Careers Expo which will be held at PCYC Redlands, Capalaba on Friday 17 June 2022.

“Council is proud to be partnering with Transdev, Redlands PCYC and Redland City Bulletin to deliver this event for the second year,” Cr Williams said.

“In addition to high school students seeking information on training and employment options, this event is also aimed at people wanting to upskill and people wanting to return to work or change careers.

“The expo is intended to be a one-stop-shop for anyone considering their career options, so having the right exhibitors is crucial.

“This year we are planning to have a stronger emphasis on the trades, with everything from skincare and beauty, digital design and vehicle wrapping to plumbing, bakers and pastry chefs, and mechanics.

“I encourage local businesses to take up this excellent opportunity to promote their industry and business in a meaningful way.”

Cr Williams said the careers expo would bring together industries from national, state and local levels, alongside universities and training providers, to expose people of all ages to the many and diverse career opportunities and pathways open to them.

“It will be a launch point to which young people can really seek information on their chosen career pathways or speak to registered training organisations such as Maxima, Novaskill or Yourtown on how to get an apprenticeship or traineeship or be workforce ready as a step in the right direction,” she said.

Businesses and organisations can find more information about the Aspire – Redlands Coast Careers Expo on the Redlands Coast website.

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Council partners with football club on lighting upgrade


May 20, 2022

Local junior footy players will be the winners thanks to funding from Redland City Council to contribute to an upgrade to lighting at the Capalaba Warriors District Junior Rugby League Football Club.

Mayor Karen Williams said Council was pleased to support the club with new LED lighting.

“Local sporting clubs do so much for our community and Council is proud to support them in ensuring they have the facilities they need to play the sport they love,” Cr Williams said.

“This investment will mean Capalaba Warriors can play night games again, which will be very welcome by the players and fans.

“This upgrade includes replacing halogen lights with LED lights, which not only have a longer lifespan but are also much more energy efficient and will help reduce the club’s electricity bills.”

Capalaba Warriors Club president Tanya Bonney said she was very excited the lighting upgrade was going ahead.

“Our coaches will be stoked they will soon be able to have night games again,” she said.

“We had some blown halogen lights earlier this year but we lost even more in the flooding in February and March, when the water was high enough to get into our meter boxes.”

Mrs Bonney said the new LED lights would also save the club a lot of money.

“We are expecting to halve our power bills, which are currently about $2000 a quarter, and replacement costs for the lights should also be a lot less,” she said.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved in helping the club get the money for the project.”

Division 8 Councillor Tracey Huges welcomed the upgrade.

“We expect work to start soon, depending on contractor availability, and every endeavour will be made to ensure the work has minimal disruption to the club,” Cr Huges said.

“I’m very excited about the return of night games, and the opportunities this will provide for this great local sporting club.”

Mayor Karen Williams, Melony Bonney, 13, Cr Tracey Huges and Peter Jarrett at the Warriors’ playing fields

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Wasteful habits add to Redlands waste bill


May 17, 2022

Residents are being urged to be mindful of what they place in their waste, recycling and green waste bins with poor waste and recycling habits contributing to a $3.6 million rise in waste management costs for Redland City Council over the last two years.

Redland City Council Mayor Karen Williams said that with the State Government waste rebate set to reduce over the coming years it was more important than ever for residents to ‘lift the right lid’.

“Placing the wrong material in the wrong bin is not only environmentally irresponsible, it is also costing ratepayers significantly,” Cr Williams said.

“Based on recent waste audits, almost 37% of what we collect from household waste bins is green waste which could easily be recycled through Council’s garden organics ‘green bin’ collection service or at the recycling and waste centres.

“With changes to the State Government’s Waste Levy Rebate set to come into effect in future years, specifically onwards from 2023-2024, everything residents can do to reduce landfill will have a positive impact on Council’s bottom line. The levy is being brought in across the state to reduce waste to landfill.

“The cost of waste management is set to increase with the State waste rebate to start decreasing from July 1, 2023. By 2030/31 it will reduce to 20% which will add more than $10 million in waste levy costs unless households commit to reducing waste to landfill.”

Residents can reduce their waste overnight by more than 60% by doing the following three things:

  1. Get a green waste bin or take their green waste to the recycling and waste centres
  2. Compost their food waste at home via home composting systems
  3. Recycle the right items (lift the right lid)

Redland City Council has recently adopted a new Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan which will put Redlands Coast on the path to becoming a zero waste society by 2050.

Cr Williams said the key focus of the plan is to encourage residents to ‘lift the right lid’ to ensure the right waste was going in the correct bin to reduce how much waste was going to landfill.

“Waste is one of the biggest challenges we face as a city, state and nation and Council’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan is all about reducing our waste footprint by encouraging the community to adopt some simple but important practices.”

Information: Search green waste at redland.qld.gov.au for a wealth of information on waste, recycling and composting, as well as how to sign up to Council’s green waste bin service.

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Council offers RADF Quick Response Grants to help artists develop


May 17, 2022

Redland City Council has opened a quick response grant round to help local artists develop and improve their skills.

Mayor Karen Williams said the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) Quick Response/Professional Development Grants were open to both emerging and established artists.

“Redlands Coast has a vibrant community of artists and arts workers and these grants provide an important opportunity to help them progress their artistic practice,” Cr Williams said.

“Individual artists can apply for up to $2000 in funding and groups up to $4000.

“The grants can be used to offset the costs of attending a workshop or classes, a mentorship or passing on their skills to the community.

“We would like to see as many people as possible apply, but it is important to get in quick as applications are sent to grant assessors as soon as they are received, and will be approved until all funds are allocated.”

RADF Assessment Panel Co-chair Cr Paul Bishop (Division 10) said there was a wide range of projects which could be supported through the Quick Response Grants program.

“Applications can be for concept development such as researching, developing and planning for a new project, or creative development in the form of a new work,” Cr Bishop said.

“Applicants can also seek mentorship with a leading creative to obtain feedback on an existing work or project idea, or to help with career development.

“We look forward to seeing all the ideas from our emerging and established artists to help them to take their careers to the next level.”

Panel Co-chair Cr Lance Hewlett (Division 4) said artists of all ages and disciplines were encouraged to apply for the grants.

“The RADF provides a range of categories which are eligible for funding, including community arts and cultural development, dance, developing regional skills, heritage, multi-arts, music, theatre, visual arts, craft and design, and writing,” Cr Hewlett said.

“Previous grant recipients are also eligible to apply, as long as they can prove they’ve acquitted their previous funds.

“I encourage all artists and groups to consider applying for one of these grants and, if you need any help or just want to chat about your application, contact Council’s RADF Liaison Officer.”

Applications for the 2022 Quick Response Round close at 11.59pm on Friday 10 June.

Further information is available at redland.smartygrants.com.au

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Redland Whitewater Centre ideal for swift-water rescue training


May 13, 2022

Recent torrential rain and flooding across Queensland has shown the benefits of the proposed Redland Whitewater Centre being used for swift-water rescue training.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Council was planning for the whitewater centre, which will be the venue for Canoe Slalom events during the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, to also deliver important emergency services training.

“We have all seen vision of the recent flooding and swift-water rescues in the news and I take my hat off to the brave men and women from our emergency services agencies who are out there helping our community,” Cr Williams said.

“Currently there are limited training facilities in Queensland to hone these swift-water rescue skills, opening the door for the Redland Whitewater Centre to be home to an emergency services and swift-water rescue training program.

“Basing this sort of training at the Redlands Coast venue will not only deliver important emergency services capabilities, it will also provide ongoing economic benefits.”

Cr Williams said Council had already started discussing these possibilities with state emergency services agencies.

“Council is committed to the whitewater venue delivering a lasting legacy for our community, which is why we have been building strategic partnerships to ensure it can also be used for emergency services training,” she said.

“We will also be speaking with national and international emergency services agencies about potential training partnerships, offering economic and tourism opportunities.

“Last year I travelled to Canberra to brief federal departments on these opportunities and I will continue these conversations following the current Federal election.”

The Redland Whitewater Centre will be located on Birkdale Community Precinct at Birkdale.

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Council urges responsible pet ownership


May 13, 2022

Redland City Council is urging pet owners to take responsibility for their pets to ensure animals and people remain safe and live together harmoniously.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said while owning a pet could provide valuable companionship, there were responsibilities to your pet and the community that needed to be considered.

“Council thanks the Redlands Coast community and other users of dog off-leash areas, who, in most cases, do the right thing and manage their dogs responsibly,” Cr Williams said.

“While there was a 21 per cent decrease in dog attacks in 2021 compared to 2020, data shows that dog attacks tend to occur primarily through owners having their dogs off-leash in public places or who fail to contain their dog effectively to their property.

“Council acknowledges that pets play a vital role in the community for companionship, but residents and visitors need to take responsibility for their dogs.

“By ensuring your dog is kept within their fenced yard and on a lead at all times in public places, except when in a designated off-leash area, you can help keep your dog and the community safe.

“Being a responsible dog owner on Redlands Coast means registering and microchipping your dog, walking your dog on a lead, picking up your dog’s droppings when in a public place, and preventing your dog from attacking or frightening people or animals.

“Council also urges dog owners to be mindful of how often their dogs might bark.”

Cr Williams said while all dogs barked, in some cases, excessive barking could become a neighbourhood nuisance.

“As some dog owners may not be aware of the barking issue, Council encourages concerned neighbours to speak with the dog owner in the first instance,” she said.

“Council also has some handy tips on its website to help dog owners manage the issue.

“Responsible pet ownership also extends to keeping other furry family members, like cats, safe.

“Straying cats can get injured or impact native wildlife, so for their safety and your peace of mind, cats must be contained to their property either indoors or within an enclosure, and always remember to register and microchip your cat.”

To learn more about responsible pet ownership on Redlands Coast, visit Council’s website.

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Redlands Coast is inspiration for gallery exhibition


May 13, 2022

The Redlands Coast is at the heart of a special exhibition by Brisbane-based artist Mei Mei Liu at Redland Art Gallery, Capalaba from Monday 23 May.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Impression of Mangroves, which would continue until 12 July, provided a fresh perspective of subject and scenes that many Redlanders would know well.

“Liu took inspiration from our naturally wonderful Redlands Coast, reflecting on her regular visits to Wellington Point (Cullen-Cullen),” Cr Williams said.

“There will also be a special opportunity for art lovers to get an insight into her unique painting style, a hybrid of elements learnt from her training in Chinese painting combined with other western techniques and influences.”

Mei Mei Liu, I can feel the beat 2021, ink and synthetic polymer paint on paper. Courtesy of the artist.

Liu said Redlands Coast had inspired her creativity.

“I tried to integrate my personal feelings into my paintings,” she said.

“I spent a great deal of time along the shoreline of Redlands, especially in Wellington Point. I observed the shapes and colours of the mangrove forest as well as the light and water factors related to it.”

Liu used traditional Chinese painting materials, such as ink on rice paper, combined with acrylic.

“I tried to use free and broad brushstrokes to capture the beauty and vibrant forms of the mangroves,” she said.

Liu will provide an artist demonstration from noon on Thursday 26 May 2022. Bookings are essential, with a light lunch provided.

For more information, visit the RAG website at artgallery.redland.qld.gov.au

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