Moreton Bay Regional Council talks result in plan to save Redcliffe’s Suttons Beach Pavilion
Moreton Bay Regional Council has promised to join forces with residents to save a historic Redcliffe bathing pavilion after a huge backlash at plans to demolish it.
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Moreton Bay Regional Council has promised to join forces with residents to save a historic Redcliffe bathing pavilion after a huge backlash at plans to demolish it.
The backflip comes after a huge outpouring of anger, with a clear message to Council to rebuild or repair the Suttons Beach landmark.
Locals were furious Council had maintained the beachfront bathing pavilion so poorly it was earmarked for demolition.
An action group met with the MBRC on Thursday (February 17) and both parties agreed to try to save the building, which is partly waterlogged.
Suttons Beach Pavilion Preservation Group founder Jodie Starr said talks with the council were successful.
“The council listened to our request to either restore or rebuild the historic structure, which everyone loves to visit,” she said.
“The council said it wanted to save the building, but that will depend on the outcome of testing on the site and the costs involved in repairs.
“The council also said it had made mistakes when the news about demolition plans were released.”
Ms Starr revealed Council still planned to go ahead with invasive testing, meaning tenants will have to vacate on February 28.
“Council has admitted there was some miscommunication around wording and have admitted their fault in this,” Ms Starr said.
“The committee is extremely thankful for Council’s co-operation and understanding, and proud of the local Redcliffe community.
“Our committee members have worked hard and we’re extremely proud of the community for getting this outcome for Redcliffe.
“It just goes to show how impactful we really can be.”
Following the hour-long meeting, Council agreed to retain or replace the building as part of the precinct revitalisation — if it can be afforded in the Budget.
Mayor Peter Flannery and Deputy Mayor Jodie Shipway praised the group for their constructive community campaign and understanding.
“Firstly, I think it was important to acknowledge the handling of communications around the condition of the buildings has been poor, and I have apologised for that,” Cr Flannery said.
“While we were caught on the back foot, we have been working double speed to make all the engineering reports public and get community engagement under way.
“Obviously we don’t have all the answers yet, which is why we will be undertaking the invasive testing as quickly as possible to confirm to us, and to let the community, know the exact extent of deterioration here.
“But we have to be realistic, and if that’s not possible I’ve already said I think it’s important to retain that kind of art deco aesthetic in Redcliffe — in which case we would have to consider the costs of constructing a replica.”
Council will cease masterplanning for the Suttons Beach Park, from Redcliffe Peninsula Surf Life Saving Club to the end of MacDonnell Rd, until after testing is done and the future of the buildings is determined.
The two parties both agreed the next steps in the process will be:
Tenant vacates buildings
The buildings will be vacated at the end of the current lease on February 28 to maintain public safety and enable the necessary invasive testing of the structures to be undertaken.
Invasive testing of the buildings
Undertake invasive testing of the buildings after the buildings have been vacated.
The invasive testing will confirm the internal structural integrity of the buildings and inform the future Council’s decisions on the fate of the buildings.
Council is currently calling for tenders from suitably qualified experts to undertake this invasive testing.
Deciding the future of the buildings
While the independent expert reports commissioned by Council to date have put the organisation on a path to probable demolition, there still remains three options for the buildings: demolish, partially demolish and partially rectify/restore, or fully rectify/restore.
The decision on the fate of the buildings will be informed by the invasive testing results, community survey findings and detailed cost analyses to ensure the chosen option represents good value for use of public funds.
Thursday’s meeting followed a full city council meeting where the matter was raised by Redcliffe residents Karen Whittam and Shane Murphy.
Both made passionate pleas in a bid to save the popular Suttons Beach Bathing Pavilion.
Both advocated for the 1937 art deco structure on the Redcliffe foreshore to be kept, or a replica built, and urged councillors to visit the beachside venue before it closed.
They addressed the council after more than 13,000 people signed a petition to secure the building’s future.
Both said the council had exaggerated findings from four engineering reports and two heritage architectural reports, which they claimed did not recommend evacuating the building or carrying out invasive testing.
Ms Whittam, a member of the Suttons Beach Pavilion Preservation Committee, blamed the council for failing to maintain the building for more than 10 years, despite reports calling for substantial rectification works.
She said without the pavilion, visitors would have nowhere to buy an ice cream on the beach, hold exercise classes, listen to live music or buy fish and chips.
She also asked for the council to allow the businesses to remain on site during testing.
“The community’s rightfully outraged by this and as the council is the custodian of this much-loved building we feel very let down by council’s neglect in the first place, and then by council’s decision to demolish it, thinking that it does not matter to our community,” she said.
“None of the building reports conclude that demolition is the only option and one of the reports concluded that the building was in fair condition for its age and location and posed no threat of immediate failure.”
Moreton Bay CEO Greg Chemello said the lack of maintenance was only one aspect of the building’s current poor state.
He said its design, the quality of the building, and its position in the harsh beachside environment also played a part in its deterioration.
Mr Chemello said all the engineering reports agreed that invasive testing was necessary.
“There is no way under law that any food and beverage business can operate while there is invasive testing,” he said.
“Invasive testing is as it sounds … exposing the walls, pulling them apart, exposing the ceilings …”
Residents also called for restoration experts to be involved in future investigations to gauge the possibility of a commercial community-aligned development to replace the building.
Mr Murphy said that option would mean the developer would pay for the replacement building so ratepayers were not hit with the bill.
He also warned council of the legal dangers of ignoring the overwhelming community support for saving the pavilion and the current business tenants.
A rally will be held on the Redcliffe foreshore on Sunday at 10am in a bid to show community support for the building.
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