Mayoral hopeful to overhaul development, save koalas
A new Redlands where healthy koala populations are a key tourist attraction and beloved precincts are protected from out-of-step developments is the vision for this 2020 mayoral candidate.
Redlands Coast
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REDLAND City Mayoral candidate Claire Richardson has vowed to overhaul the development process in the region, putting a halt to “inappropriate” construction.
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She spoke to a full house at Redland Bay Community Hall last night for the second of two meet the candidate forums ahead of the Redland City Council election.
Attendees at the event, hosted by Redlands2030, heard from Dr Richardson, one of the region’s three mayoral candidates, as well as five divisional candidates: Lacey Healey (Division 6), Ann Hagen, Hilton Travis, Junita Grosvenor (Division 5) and Peter Mitchell (Division 2).
Mayoral candidate Claire Richardson used her time pledge to improve access for boaties, look at a koala sanctuary in the city and has slammed the Toondah Harbour saying: “I do not support construction of 3,600 apartments on new land constructed on the bay”.
A keen sailor herself, Dr Richardson said one in 10 people in the region owned a boat and needed better facilities including toilets, at key locations around the islands and mainland.
She also suggested merging the region’s tourism’s interests with the need to preserve koala populations by creating a sanctuary, possibly at recently purchased commonwealth-owned land at Birkdale or Indigiscapes Centre.
“My objective is to reverse (koala) population decline,” Dr Richardson said.
“What I really see as a great potential for us is to integrate the repopulation of koala groups... with a tourism strategy.”
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She said her well-respected career in the environmental science field meant she could assess council issues impartially and make decisions based on facts.
“Because of my position, I have always had to be very impartial... and that is really crucial to my (potential) role as mayor,” she said.
She called out “inappropriate development” of the region and vowed to keep developers in check.
“What I’m looking for is appropriate development that meets our expectations,” Dr Richardson said.
“I’m not looking for no development, I’m looking for the right development.
“Within six months (of being elected mayor) I will complete a full review of the planning scheme.”
She said considering local character based plans for key areas including Cleveland Point and Wellington Point in order to tailor development suitable for the locations would be key.
Dr Richardson also called for a more transparent government.
“There doesn’t seem to be a week go by when we don’t see another (Queensland) councillor in the paper or the Courier-Mail.
“We need to be open in the decisions we are making.”
She also said she would look carefully at the future of Redlands Investment Corporation and slammed the decision to invest $50,000 in Our Redlands Coast Magazine.
“(That) should have done to the Donald Simpson Centre.”
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