Redlands2030

Investigation of development in Mount Cotton will be discussed by Redland City Council at its monthly meeting which starts at 9:30am today.

Some Mt Cotton locals/ families/ businesses do not want an investigation into rezoning. They tell us that this would have a terribly negative impact on the beautiful Mt Cotton area. These residents plan to attend the meeting and would welcome support from others in the Redlands community.

The Council will also be discussing a proposal from Council officers that would see the Straddie Flyer Gold Cat directed to use the same Dunwich ferry terminal that SeaLink uses, after it has been upgraded, instead of continuing to use the One Mile ferry terminal.

Members of the public can observe the meeting from the public gallery in the Council Chamber in Bloomfield Street Cleveland but only a dozen seats are available so get there early.

Watch the meeting livestreamed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHK-3Ll292A

Redlands2030 preview: https://redlands2030.net/mount-cotton-investigation-area-and-dunwich-ferry-terminal-upgrade-to-be-discussed-by-redland-city-council/

Meeting agenda:https://redland.infocouncil.biz/Open/2026/06/CO_20260617_AGN_2426_AT.PDF

At a packed Redlands Town Hall meeting last night more than 80 people heard that Cleveland Bowls Club will be known as Club Raby Bay going forwards with a new menu and new management by Carina Leagues Club following yesterday's settlement.

Then we had Una Sandeman, Debbie Pointing and Kristie Lockhart discussing the tragic loss of some koala habitat at Ormiston College, recently.

Steve MacDonald spoke about State Government plans for upgrading the Dunwich ferry terminal, and Chris Walker previewed the agenda for Redland City Council's meeting on Wednesday.

At the next Redlands Town Hall meeting on Monday 20 July we will discuss the Redland City Council's increase in rates and charges for 2026/27.

Redlands, Ormiston College, and the loss of koala habitat are in the news again.

Are Australia's environment laws still 'broken'? The clearing of koala habitat at a Brisbane school has enraged advocates and raised questions about the federal government's sweeping changes to national environment laws.

A motion from Cr Rowanne McKenzie proposing that a Mount Cotton investigation area be considered by the State Government for inclusion in the SEQ urban footprint will be discussed at Redland City Council’s meeting on Wednesday.

Could this lead to Mount Cotton Road becoming the new route for a second motorway between the Gold Coast and Brisbane, similar to the Koala Motorway proposed but then cancelled by the Goss Government in the 1990s?

Councillors will also discuss plans for upgrading the Dunwich ferry terminal with officers proposing that the Stradbroke Flyer be directed to use the upgraded facilities at Junner street instead of the One Mile facilities.

And there are six confidential items listed for discussion.

Read our meeting preview on the Redlands2030 website.

Mount Cotton investigation area and Dunwich ferry terminal upgrade to be discussed by Redland City Council A motion from Cr Rowanne McKenzie proposing that a Mount Cotton investigation area be considered by the State Government for inclusion in the SEQ urban footprin

An officers' report to be considered at the Council meeting on Wednesday proposes that Redland City Council make a submission to the State Government about proposed plans for upgrading the Dunwich ferry terminal which are out for public consultation until 21 June 2026.

The draft submission put forward by officers says that all ferry services to North Stradbroke island should be consolidated at a single terminal, the upgraded facility at Junner Street, and that "the Stradbroke Flyer must be instructed to vacate the One Mile ferry terminal and move to the upgraded Dunwich ferry terminal upon opening".

Redlands2030 understands that the Stradbroke Flyer business wants to continue using the One Mile Ferry terminal which is better protected in some weather conditions than the Junner Street facility currently used only by SeaLink.

The Straddie Flyer business is strongly supported by island folk who greatly value having two competing ferry operators, and are quite happy with the One Mile terminal.

Should Council be advocating for a single Dunwich ferry terminal? Or should Council be supporting local residents and a local family run business?

You can find the officers' report in the Council meeting agenda, item 14.3:https://redland.infocouncil.biz/Open/2026/06/CO_20260617_AGN_2426_AT.PDF

And you can have your say (only until 21 June) about the State Government's plans to upgrade the Dunwich ferry terminal here: https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/dunwich-gumpi-ferry-terminal-upgrade

LETTER TO THE EDITOR - Brisbane: an unattractive city
Over the past quarter century, Brisbane has rapidly transformed into an increasingly congested and, in many areas, unattractive city. This has not happened by accident. It reflects the growing influence of a powerful development lobby, combined with a willingness from governments at all levels to prioritise short-term gain over long-term community value.

In this equation, heritage has been the major casualty.

Character homes, historic streetscapes and culturally significant places are steadily being erased or diluted under ever-weaker protections. Each concession may appear minor in isolation, but collectively they are reshaping the city into something far less distinctive and far less liveable. Worse still, it is rare that the heritage and history of these places is even properly recorded for future reference before they are lost.

Heritage laws are not about preventing progress—they are about ensuring that growth respects identity, history and community memory. When those protections are weakened, what is lost cannot be replaced.

A city that disregards its past risks becoming generic and diminished—socially, culturally and economically.

If we continue down this path, we will not just lose buildings—we will lose what made Brisbane, Brisbane.

R.H.
Sunnybank Hills

More letters: https://redlands2030.net/koala-conservation-brisbanes-disappearing-heritage-and-hub68-in-letters/

The following resolution is listed for discussion at the Redland City Council meeting on 17 June 2026.

That Council resolves to authorise the Acting Mayor to write to the Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, and Minister for Industrial Relations, advising that Council provides in-principle support for the general area, as identified below, to be investigated through the review of the South East Queensland Regional Plan, for inclusion in the Urban Footprint, subject to the following conditions:
1. The land is utilised for employment generating, tourism, sport and recreation purposes.
2. The landholdings identified are:
a. Contiguous; and
b. Of sufficient scale to enable feasible development and accommodation of the land uses identified in clause 1.
3. The land is not to be used for suburban-scale residential development.
4. The Queensland Government is to assess the land for future development suitability having regard to the Urban Footprint principles in the South East Queensland Regional Plan.
5. Note that the land at this time is not serviced by core infrastructure, notably sewer and any investigation around the suitability of the land for future urban development, should
carefully consider and resolve a treatment and discharge solution and strategy, before the land is accepted into the urban footprint.
6. That future developers of this area acknowledge that the full cost of delivering infrastructure to service future development within the area, including all external network impacts, will need to be borne entirely by the development proponent/s and not by existing
ratepayers.

Link to meeting agenda:https://redland.infocouncil.biz/Open/2026/06/CO_20260617_AGN_2426_AT.PDF

The 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List included five people identified as Redlands residents. Redlands2030 was also pleased to see that former columnist Kathleen Noonan has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

More in the latest story on the Redlands2030 website.

Redlands residents and Kathleen Noonan – Order of Australia awards Twice each year, Order of Australia awards are bestowed to recognize service and achievements of people who have gone 'above and beyond'. Redlands residents

At the Redlands Town hall meeting next week (Monday 15 June) Mr Craig Eaves – A/General Manager of the Cleveland Bowls Club will discuss plans to take the Club in a new direction.

Ormiston College's clearing of koala habit will be discussed by both Una Sandeman and Kristie Lockhart.

Other agenda items will include plans for upgrading the Dunwich (Gumpi) ferry terminal, and a preview of Redland City Council meetings this month including the Budget (rates increase) meeting on 30 June.

As usual, the meeting will be held at the Cleveland Scout Hall on the corner of Bainbridge and Gordon streets in Ormiston.

Doors will open at 6:00pm for a meeting start at 6:30pm. The meeting will conclude about 8:30pm but you can stay and chat until 9:00pm.

If you wish to attend this Redlands Town Hall meeting please RSVP via this link: https://actionnetwork.org/events/town-hall-meeting-15-june-2026/

Link to meeting announcement on the Redlands2030 website: https://redlands2030.net/redlands-town-hall-meeting-june-2025/

The recent decision by the Queensland Country Press Association (QCPA) to select the Redland Bayside News and its article When Four Decide for Thousands (17 December 2025) as “Best Single Story by an Individual Journalist” warrants serious scrutiny when measured against the core obligations of journalism: truth, fairness, public interest, balance, and accountability.

Read more on the Redlands2030 website.

Journalism and the public interest The recent decision by the Queensland Country Press Association (QCPA) to select the Redland Bayside News and its article When Four Decide for Thousands (17 Dec