Council is working on re-engineering some aspects of the Stage 1 design for the Minjerribah Panorama Coastal Walk.

Works were paused in June to allow Council to consider engineering solutions to improve the walkway design in response to a nearby landslip following a wet weather event in late March.

The new design includes an additional barrier along a part of the Snapper Street walkway, providing extra safety  measures for users.

Stage 1 of the Coastal Walk project will formalise an existing track on the ocean side of Mooloomba Road, allowing locals and visitors to enjoy a scenic and safe walk between Snapper Street and Frenchmans Stairs.

Council expects work to recommence in coming weeks.

For more information about Stage 1 of the Minjerribah Panorama Coastal Walk, visit yoursay.redland.qld.gov.au

Council’s project for restoring the damaged section of the popular Point Lookout Gorge Walk on North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) is currently out for tender, with tenders due to close on 12 August 2021.

The damaged section, roughly in the middle of the trail, is closed due to erosion following a severe weather event.

You can still enjoy the stunning views and keep a lookout for whales, as the Gorge Walk remains open and great vantage points can still be accessed from each end.

If you are visiting this beautiful destination on Redlands Coast, please keep to the designated trail, and do not attempt to bypass or cut through the closed section of the track as it sits over a steep section of the headland.

A fall could result in serious injury, and sensitive vegetation is also present in the area.

Council will provide information about the reconstruction timeline after the contract is awarded.

Redland City Council is working to recommence the Headland Park upgrade at Point Lookout (Mooloomba) on North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) to ensure additional protection of cultural heritage values.

New time frames for delivery are being finalised based on a redesign; and Council has prioritised this project and aims to start work as quickly as possible.

Council is committed to preserving the values of this important area of cultural heritage while delivering this project to include an exciting play space and improved parking.

The new design will further protect the site’s cultural heritage values, and Council is working collaboratively with Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation.

Redland City Council will advocate for key issues on behalf of the community at the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) annual conference, to be held in Mackay from 25-27 October 2021.

The 125^th annual conference will bring together delegates from all tiers of government, external stakeholders and the media to consider the challenges facing local government and their communities.

Mayor Karen Williams said the motions to be tabled by Redland City Council at the conference were:

• Funding for prevention of domestic and family violence
• Adequate car parking at Queensland railway stations

She said domestic and family violence was exhibited in many forms and took an enormous toll on individuals and communities, with greater funding needed to help combat the issue.

“It is vitally important that we see sufficient funding directed to programs that can assist with the prevention of this crime, and also to education in managing adverse behaviours in perpetrators, both men and women,” Cr Williams said.

“We will also be advocating for the recognition and support of prevention support groups to the same level as victims of domestic violence groups, as well as recognition of associations and programs for perpetrators.

“It is so important that sufficient funding be allocated in these areas along with the assurance that funding to victims will not be reduced.”

Cr Williams said Council would also be advocating for more commuter car parking at Queensland railway stations.

“With south-east Queensland being one of the fastest growing regions in Australia, enormous pressures are being placed on our road network,” she said.

“All areas of the south-east need to be encouraging the use of public transport, but insufficient parking for rail commuters is little incentive for people to use this form of transport.

“Another issue we are seeing is that overflow parking is placing unnecessary burden on what were formerly quiet, neighbourhood streets.

“More funding directed to Queensland railway stations for vehicle parking, even if this means purchasing more land for parking, would encourage a greater number of people to travel by rail and would also help reduce the impacts on nearby residents.”

Mayor Karen Williams and Division 6 Councillor and Deputy Mayor Julie Talty will be Council’s official delegates at the LGAQ Conference, with other Councillors able to attend as observers.

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.

With Willards Farm being a rare and fascinating example of early farming settlement on Redlands Coast, Redland City Council is encouraging the community to consider this agricultural heritage when imagining future uses for Birkdale Community Precinct.

Mayor Karen Williams said Willards Farm was one of the region’s oldest surviving farms and residences.

“The 8,164 square metre property on Old Cleveland Road East at Birkdale was purchased by Council in March 2016,” she said.

“An adjoining 61 hectares was bought by Council in December 2019 after lengthy negotiations with the Commonwealth Government.

“Council effectively saved both properties from potential subdivision and together they now form what we’re currently calling Birkdale Community Precinct.”

Cr Williams said it was likely the homestead, owned initially by James and Margaret Willard, was built in 1876.

“This was when James took out a mortgage on his land,” she said.

“The Willards’ farm originally covered most of this precinct and its commercial origin was in tree clearing.

“It later operated as a dairy farm for many decades; and the original milking sheds and creamery are still standing.

“James Willard conducted a cattle dip (to help protect livestock from ticks) on a part of the site from 1904 and farmers across the area would bring their animals down to be dipped.

“At various stages, the land was used to grow crops such as maize, sweet potatoes and pineapples.”

Council is asking the community for their ideas on possible uses for Birkdale Community Precinct, to help shape a shared multi-generational vision for its future. Could it be home to a water park or an adventure sports precinct with skateboarding and rock climbing facilities? Could the precinct be a hub for interactive history tours, museums or arts venues? Or could it have walking and cycling trails, picnic areas, educational or heritage activities, or some form of paddock-to-plate venture?

Division 10 Councillor Paul Bishop said the importance of the land’s agricultural and rural heritage suggested there was potential to see part of the precinct return to being a working farm.

“It could be used to promote locally grown produce; or as an educational facility around sustainable or regenerative farming practices,” Cr Bishop said.

“We know livestock were used to manage the land for approximately 150 years, so this may provide learning and enterprise opportunities in the future.

“Paddock-to-plate ventures; a home for rural enterprises and ecological innovation; bush food production; perhaps community gardening, permaculture or even farm stays – there are myriad rural-based ideas that would be well suited to this precinct.

“Most importantly, please let Council know: What do you want to see here in future?”

For more information about Council’s community consultation on possible future uses for Birkdale Community Precinct, visit yoursay.redland.qld.gov.au/imagine – see expert urban designers’ ideas, watch the videos, read the fact sheets, take a virtual tour of the precinct, and have your say.

Consultation closes on Tuesday 4 May 2021.

Redland City Council is urging the community to consider Birkdale Community Precinct’s fascinating past when imagining future uses for the land.

Mayor Karen Williams said the land’s past was an important part of the discussion and its heritage values should be considered when imagining how to best use the 62-hectare site.

“With Aboriginal heritage and heritage-listed structures such as Willards Farm and the World War II radio receiving station protected on the site, there will always be physical reminders there of our past,” she said.

“This also provides an opportunity to honour and celebrate those who walked the land before us.

“From Traditional Owners through European settlement in the 1850s, to World War II, we can learn so much from this site – about our history, ourselves and our community.”

Deducing those lessons is Marianne Taylor (also known as The House Detective), an architectural historian highly experienced in heritage strategy and management.

“Our heritage survives as a reminder of our story so far, which is why it is so important to retain it,” Ms Taylor said.

“By sympathetically incorporating existing heritage features into new endeavours like this one, we can pay tribute to our history while also celebrating the next chapter in their story.”

Heritage expert Benjamin Gall, managing director of Australian Heritage Specialists, was part of a team that inspected the Birkdale site early in 2020 and prepared for Council a Conservation Management Plan for the land.

Mr Gall said he was passionate about how the past informed our future.

“I believe the unique and varied heritage values of the site will play a strong part in its success as a community precinct into the future,” he said.

“The key words in heritage practice are identify, protect, enhance and conserve.”

Cr Williams said that after many years of negotiating with the Commonwealth, the land was sold to Council for the purpose of conservation and community use.

“Over the years I met with no fewer than six Federal Government representatives and handed petitions to two Prime Ministers before we finally secured this important land,” she said.

“As a condition of the sale Council is required to protect the land’s important heritage and environmental values, including the two heritage-listed sites – Willards Farm and the World War II radio receiving station.

“These sites add so much to this land and I urge people to think big; there is plenty of land for many exciting projects that would enhance lifestyle, create jobs, boost the local economy and could bring forward important transport infrastructure.”

Division 10 Councillor Paul Bishop described the future of Birkdale Community Precinct as “perhaps the biggest public project in Redland City’s journey”.

“With so much history and ecology still intact on this rare site, this is an important, special parcel of land,” Cr Bishop said.

“We want visitors and locals to share their curiosity and relevant stories about what this place means to our past, present and future.

“This is a legacy site and we invite you to help identify what matters most to current and future generations. Please have your say.”

For more information about Council’s community consultation on possible future uses for Birkdale Community Precinct, visit yoursay.redland.qld.gov.au – see expert urban designers’ ideas, watch the videos, read the fact sheets, take a virtual tour of the precinct, and have your say.

Consultation closes on Tuesday 4 May 2021.

Imagine a place on Redlands Coast where families can enjoy a water park, adventure sports, walking and cycling trails, picnic areas, educational and heritage activities, or even paddock-to-plate experiences all in one location.

Mayor Karen Williams said Redlands Coast had a once-in-a generation opportunity to transform more than 62 hectares of community land at Birkdale into a world-class precinct of local, regional and national significance; and was encouraging the community to have their say.

“The Birkdale Community Precinct includes two properties Council saved from housing – the former Commonwealth land at Birkdale and Willards Farm,” Cr Williams said.

“At almost 10 times the size of The Gabba and its surrounding facilities, the precinct has plenty of space for many exciting projects that would enhance lifestyle, create jobs, boost the local economy and bring forward important transport infrastructure.

“Council is also investigating purchasing other nearby land, which could increase the precinct to almost 100 hectares.

“Council worked hard over many years to secure this land for the community, and now we want the community to help shape the vision for its future.”

Cr Williams said the precinct, which had a 25-year horizon, had significant potential to bring forward important transport infrastructure, as well as an adventure sports and aquatic facility including new pool, water park and Olympic standard whitewater course.

“This is a really exciting opportunity to deliver a precinct that rivals anything currently on Redlands Coast or arguably South East Queensland. Think of Brisbane’s South Bank or the Strand at Townsville – it’s time for Redlands Coast to have somewhere like these well-known recreation areas,” she said.

“Much of the land is former farming land, so there are large cleared areas where we can build some really exciting projects for local families.

“But this is about so much more than a new pool and water park, this precinct also has some really important environmental, cultural and historical significance, which will be protected and celebrated.”

Division 10 Councillor Paul Bishop said one of the many interesting historical aspects of the property is the World War II radio receiving station.

“This heritage-listed receiving station is one of south-east Queensland’s most significant World War II sites that still remains largely intact,” Cr Bishop said.

“Constructed by elite US Army radio signalmen and Australian Post Master General (PMG) officers as the Japanese advanced toward Australia in 1942 and then used for top-secret High Frequency radio telecommunications until 2017, its story has been locked away for years.

“Now this project will give the community the chance to learn about this exciting history and decide how it can be celebrated in the future.

“Council has undertaken extensive environmental and cultural studies of the site and is committed to best practice management of environmental and heritage matters of significance.

“We have management plans in place to protect the precinct’s unique values; and now we have an opportunity to help shape a shared vision for the future of this precinct.”

Cr Williams said that to help get the community thinking and imagining what could be possible at the precinct, five top urban design teams were asked to each develop a theme as visual ideas.

“The themes are Education and Discovery; Agriculture and Rural Tradition; Heritage and History; Environment and Ecology; Adventure and Recreation,” she said.

“The designs these experts came up with are not intended to portray what will ultimately be at the precinct, but to help people imagine what its future uses could be and what is actually possible on the land.

“They are intended as springboards into people’s ideas and imaginings.”

To see the expert designers’ ideas plus videos and other information, and to take a virtual tour of the precinct and have your say, visit the Birkdale Community Precinct page at yoursay.redland.qld.gov.au

The community also can visit the precinct during two community open days on Friday and Saturday, 16-17 April.

Also keep watch for other opportunities to have your say at pop-up stalls across Redlands Coast.

Details for the community open days and pop-ups will be advertised ahead of time and published on the Your Say page.

Community consultation will close on Tuesday 4 May, 2021 after which Council will prepare a draft vision for adoption then proceed to master planning.

Redland City Council has installed signs at Thompson’s Beach, Victoria Point and Coochiemudlo Island’s Main Beach to advise residents and visitors of the presence of Lyngbya (Lyngbya majuscula), a naturally occurring, blue-green algae that can cause skin, eye and respiratory irritations if people come into contact with it.

The presence of Lyngbya is not uncommon for the waters of Moreton Bay, and all Redlands Coast beaches and waterways remain open for recreational use.

The signs are precautionary only to inform people of the presence of the material, which often presents as mats floating on the surface of the water or as washed-up clumps on the beach.

Swimming and wading is not recommended where algae is present; and Council urges residents to be mindful that Lyngbya could also be present at any beach.

Council will continue to monitor all Redlands Coast beaches, and will erect signs if Lyngbya is found elsewhere.

More information is available from the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection