Next month marks then 10-year anniversary of the Toondah Harbour Redevelopment Project. Ten years of secrecy, and inadequate consultation with the residents of Redland City.
· Establishment of the PDA
· Ignorance of the Ramsar area
· Massive change of scale post-consultation
· Failure to be open about the scale, nature and impact of the project, both before and after construction.
· Manipulation of surveys.
· Devaluing of Cleveland’s heritage precinct
· Lost amenity of the historic GJ Walter Park
· Compromised the Moreton Bay Marine Park (an historic initiative of the ALP’s highly regarded Premier, Wayne Goss.
Next month marks then 10-year anniversary of the Toondah Harbour Redevelopment Project. Ten years of secrecy, and inadequate consultation with the residents of Redland City.
- Establishment of the PDA
- Ignorance of the Ramsar area
- Massive change of scale post-consultation
- Failure to be open about the scale, nature and impact of the project, both before and after construction.
- Manipulation of surveys.
- Devaluing of Cleveland’s heritage precinct
- Lost amenity of the historic GJ Walter Park
- Compromised the Moreton Bay Marine Park (an historic initiative of the ALP’s highly regarded Premier, Wayne Goss.
The Queensland Government is a partner in this private public real estate project.
The PDA, established under the LNP’s Newman administration’s Economic Development Act 2012, gives the State Government sweeping powers with little opportunity for community comment or appeal, completely overriding all other planning laws including local government planning instruments resulting in lost property rights without compensation.
It’s designed to be used when critical developments are required with urgency, where public interest is paramount, now frequently deployed. How did the Government agree to the setting aside of land worth $3-400 million at no cost, with out a lease, terms or conditions and secret obligations
A Rapid change of heart by Labor in Government
The PDA was decried by Labor in opposition as an attack on the rights of the community. Despite the then Oppositions criticism of the Newman Government’s PDA legislation when in Government it was embraced (notably by the then Deputy Premier Jackie Trad).
A massive change of Scale.
Within weeks of Labor coming to power, the Toondah Redevelopment had jumped from 800 to 3600 dwellings and massive reclamation without visible process, and without any community consultation. Jackie Trad was the minister concerned.
The promise 1000 construction jobs, was a big part of the Government rhetoric in favour of the development. That has now reduced to 300 (EPBC EIS Data) and the real social, economic and environmental costs are now clearly exposed.
Reclamation will now take place for up to10 years, a significant part of that being earthworks 24x7, 6 days a week.
Pump noise, sulphurous smell and heavy, frequent construction traffic.
300 jobs might be important, but not at any price.
Devastation of world-protected shorebird habitat.
Heavy impact on Bay wildlife including koalas
Trashing of property values
Trashing well established community values
The petition by over 6000 people, requesting a formal Commission of Enquiry was submitted to Parliament in and the Ministers response dismissed the request without enquiring of the petitioner the details of the allegations of the impropriety of the processes at that time.r
The Premier owes this community a Commission of Enquiry, into the processes used make and administer the Toondah were previous dismissed without query of the Principal Petitioner to assess the full scope of the issues of concern