Redland Museum and council stike agreement to help manage one of the region’s most historic sites
Redland City Councillors expressed their shock at a move to bring Redland Museum on board to help manage one of the reigon’s most historic locations, Willards Farm, after four years of waiting.
Redlands Coast
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THE future of one of the Redlands’ most historic locations will be seen to by Redland Museum following a shock call for a decision on the matter at this week’s council general meeting.
Mayor Karen Williams presented a Mayoral Minute — a motion which takes precedence during the meeting and is not required to be on the agenda — asking for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Redland Museum for the restoration of the historic Willards Farm Homestead.
The 156-year-old homestead property on Old Cleveland Rd East was purchased by the council in 2016 to preserve its history.
It neighbours a block of Commonwealth Government owned land, also of historic value, which the council is in the process of acquiring.
The MOU would place the management of Willards Farm, which was denied heritage listing in 2015, with the museum group and would include provisions for joint planning with the council to restore and protect the building, access by the community and investigation into funding, grants and donations for the project.
Cr Williams said the proposal was generated from a letter she had received from the manger of Redland Museum.
She said the matter was briefly mentioned at a meeting the day prior however some councillors were absent.
The topic was met with surprise by Cr Tracey Huges (Division 8).
“Apologies Mayor, I was a few minutes late yesterday morning so obviously missed that conversation and had no idea … I had no background on this … other than what you’re sharing with me now,” Cr Huges said.
“I’m feeling quite uncomfortable with that … not that I disagree in principle, but just to have that thrown as us?
“Why is it a mayoral minute today now so urgently that we haven’t had an opportunity to discuss this?”
Cr Williams said the issues was to brought to the table for consideration ahead of the upcoming council budget review.
“Can I also just say … we didn’t even need to bring forward a mayoral minute but I wanted to make sure that councillors were aware and had the opportunity to know that we could progress the MOU so that the funding could be provided to them (the museum),” she said.
Cr Paul Bishop (Division 10) urged for more time before a decision was made.
“Is it at all possible that we take some time to allow this to sit on the table and bring it back to a future meeting when councillors have the respect and opportunity to discuss this and consider the merits?” Cr Bishop asked.
“There are many reasons that I would be more than happy to raise including the fact that a lack of strategy has brought us to a position … a sudden decision that we need to make without it being strategically considered.
“I think if we precede with discussing and debating this today, and making a decision about it today, we will be removing the right for us as elected representatives to discuss, debate, deliberate and decide in the community interest.
“My first question to you Madame Mayor, given that this is a mayoral minute that’s suddenly been provided to us 12 minutes before it was presented, would you consider its withdrawal until a subsequent future meeting?”
The request was denied by Cr Williams who said timing was key in order to have the matter considered for the budget.
“I am conscious that there’s only three meetings before we go into caretaker and we have a budget review that’s coming early next year and I wanted to make sure that that was in the mix of all the requests that’s come from each and every individual around this table … so that that planning can be done,” Cr Williams said.
“But you can certainly move that as a motion if you wish but there are some other speakers before you do that.”
Cr Wendy Boglary (Division 1) said she was equally taken aback by the proposed MOU after having missed its discussion the day before because she was talking to a resident who had seen her in the carpark.
“I’m stunned as well like Cr Huges and Cr Bishop,” Cr Boglary said.
“Quite a few councillors tried to get Willards farm into the budget just gone and with a budget review coming up I know a few of us did put it in as a request that we do do something on this very valuable block of land.
“But to have this mayoral minute just given to me, I wasn’t aware that we were entering into negotiations with Redland Museum.
“It’s a fantastic museum which we’re all very proud of but I would like to know exactly why we’re going down this track … there’s lots of questions involved in this and I’m actually in favour of leaving in on the table (until the next meeting).”
Cr Williams explained the vote on the item was only to secure the MOU but not decide on the practical future of the property.
“You don’t have to decide anything at this point in time except that we agree to have an MOU, which isn’t legally binding, but allows us to discuss those issues such as the joint planning management going forward ect,” she said.
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“So this is just in response to their letter and making sure it’s in the public domain and making sure that people understand that we’re looking at this as an option for the future.”
Following a question from Cr Peter Mitchell (Division 2) the room heard the MOU would not preclude other appropriate organisations from being involved in the property in the future.
“That was really important to me to say we’re not putting all our eggs in one basket,” Cr Mitchell said.
“I generally agree the museum is a great and appropriate fit, (there is an) existing relationship (with council) … so long as it doesn't preclude any other fantastic opportunities that may come forward … then no problem with it.”
Cr Paul Golle (Division 3) called on councillors to get moving on restoring the property.
“We’ve had people go to the media saying it’s falling apart, council’s not acting — so here we are today with an opportunity where the museum has stepped forward with their means to reach out to people like the Governor of Queensland and other entrepreneurial people who are tied into heritage advocacy, and we’re borking at it and we’re trying to say there’s something wrong here, and we’re trying to politicise it?
“I would suggest that there is nothing more than … in good faith the Redland Museum has come forward and said ‘we will start a process, we’d like to work with you council, how do we move forward?’
“You’ve had community pressure for years, this was purchased back in 2015 and we’ve thrown rats and mice dollars at it just to put a few security fences around it.
“It’s not removing other groups as such to be involved … there’s volunteer groups involved with the museum that are not automatically aligned into the museum committee.
“We need to keep an open mind about this otherwise we just leave it sit on the table, a few more months goes by … it could sit here for another four years rotting.”
However Cr Bishop said time for consideration was vital.
“I can assure there are many other people who have expressed and other organisations that have expressed interest in this and we need to do a broader understanding because it seems to me that this … and I absolutely agree Redlands Museum should be involved in future discussions, they area a very trustworthy, noteworthy, respectable and valuable collective of community members who we would not want to discount … there are many other organisations and individuals and families and dynasties actually — founding pioneer families — who have expressed an interest in being involved in this.
“We as Redland City Council, as the owners of the block of land, having known for four years that we own the place, that we have a heritage management plan for the property, we are — and with respect Cr Golle — we are the entity that should be looking after a facilitation process.
“This property is of great significance, I also believe that what we need to do … is request that all known information known about this property and the Birkdale Commonwealth land property should be collated, presented for a historic assessment at the state level … and that needs to be done under our auspice as Redlands City Council.
“That will help to guide us as to the significance and that will help to decide on who are the organisations who should be involved.”
A five to four vote resulted in councillors supporting the mayor’s request for the council to enter into the MOU.
“We know this property is rich in history and we know Redland Museum is best placed to help Council protect and celebrate that history, and today’s decision will make that possible,” Cr Williams said following Wednesday’s general meeting.
“Subject to the next budget review, council will provide funds to Redland Museum to complete a feasibility study into the restoration, preservation and ongoing management of Willards Farm,” she said.
“This site is of historic significance to the Redlands Coast community and it is right that our local museum plays a role in helping to restore and maintain it so the community can appreciate its history.”
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