State MP Kim Richards blindsided by secret Redland council ferry terminal makeover agreement

A long-running wrangle between the state government and a local council has escalated after the council secretly inked a memorandum of understanding to overhaul a ferry terminal.

Redlands MP Kim Richards wrote to Redland mayor Karen Williams to complain she was not kept in the loop over the winning partner to overhaul carparking and the Weinam Creek ferry terminal. Picture: Contributed

A long-running wrangle between the state government and a local council has escalated into an exchange of strongly-worded letters after the council secretly signed a memorandum of understanding to overhaul a ferry terminal without notifying the state of the winning tender.

Redland City Council revealed on its website that it had inked a non-binding MOU for an undisclosed amount with construction giant Consolidated Properties Group on February 22, a month after the council went into caretaker mode.

Redlands State MP Kim Richards sent a tersely worded letter to Redland mayor Karen Williams asking why she had been left out of the information loop and not told of the deal.

And Cr Williams responded in a four-page scathing missive, declaring Ms Richards as “misinformed” about how local government processes and decisions were made on the project.

The agreement is believed to be for a multi-level carpark at the Weinam Creek ferry terminal at Redland Bay along with waterfront beautification and commercial buildings, including a Coles supermarket, to be built in stages over the next “two to three years”.

Parking is at a premium at Weinam Creek where many island residents need to leave their cars for more than three days. Picture: Judith Kerr

Ms Richards said the council had “deliberately” kept her and the state government in the dark for fear of public backlash over expected parking fees the private developer might receive for the carpark.

She said she found out the agreement was struck when she saw a notice on the council’s website last week.

Economic Development Queensland, which plays a role in assessing development proposals within the Weinam Creek Priority Development Area, was also not told Consolidated Properties Group had signed the deal.

An excerpt from the letter State MP Kim Richards sent to Redland City Council mayor Karen Williams about the secret agreement for the ferry terminal and its carpark.

“Like many, I was surprised to see this announcement during the caretaker period as we head toward the Local Government Elections in a few weeks’ time,” Ms Richards wrote.

“I was particularly surprised as there has been little consultation or communication with the community over the course of evaluation and the awarding of the preferred development partner.

“There has also been no consultation by Redland City Council or Redlands Investment Corporation with me throughout the process, evaluation and awarding of the contract, including no details of the agreement.

“As you are aware, the carparking at Weinam Creek is already at a crisis point.”

In a four-page letter of response, Cr Williams did not reveal why Ms Richards and the state government’s planning department were not told that Consolidated Properties Group was the approved project partner.

Cr Williams said the claims that Ms Richards and the community had not been consulted were surprising and misleading.

Her letter said Redland Investment Corporation held four information pop-up stalls in September and several resolutions made at council meetings were public and accessible before the current caretaker period started on January 29.

The mayor also said the council was committed to continue to lobby the state for a park ‘n’ ride at the ferry terminal.

An excerpt of a four-page letter from Redland mayor Karen Williams to Redlands MP Kim Richards about the Weinam Creek ferry terminal project.

“It saddens me ... that the provision of public transport infrastructure (a State responsibility) such as park ‘n’ ride facilities have been funded and delivered for other areas ... however, for the case of Redlands, a decade of advocacy ... has fallen on deaf ears,” the letter said.

“Not only has the State Government not accepted responsibility for the provision of park ‘n’ ride facilities at Weinam Creek but are also yet to come to the table in support of council who has picked up the pieces and progressed delivery of this ongoing public transport infrastructure.”

It has taken Redland council more than 10 years to sign the agreement for the project, plagued since developer Walker Group abandoned plans in 2018 because it could not strike “a mutually acceptable development proposal”.

Ms Richards, whose electorate covers bay islands and the marina, said she deserved to be kept informed of the major decisions on the project as the ferry terminal was a state government Priority Development Area and was once state-owned land.

“The council has not revealed how much the contract is for, when it will be started, how many car parks it will include, or how much it will cost to park in the new carpark,” she said.

“I would like to know what has changed since Walker Group found the deal was too cost prohibitive and will carparking fees be used to pay for the project and what are the parking plans during construction?”

A map of the Weinam Creek ferry terminal showing a version of the masterplan which includes a waterfront walkway, a multistorey carpark, a plaza and mixed use for cafes and shops.

Redland City Council said Consolidated Properties Group would complete a due diligence period and refine the detailed design proposal, which will be presented to the new council.

“A proposed management plan for the multi-storey car park is still being finalised,” the council said.

The project was listed at $186.2 million in the Redland Investment Corporation annual report 2019-2020.

Redland Investment Corporation chief executive Peter Kelley said Consolidated Properties Group was known for collaborating with stakeholders to adapt designs to suit a project.

“CPG has a successful track record in delivering and investing in a wide range of institutional-grade retail, commercial and residential properties along the eastern seaboard, with specialist skills in providing exemplary design and innovation to create successful place-making projects for the community,” Mr Kelley said.

The foreshore at the Weinam Creek ferry terminal. Picture: Judith Kerr

CPG chief executive and chairman Don O’Rorke said the company, which was started 40 years ago, had a strong and genuine interest in partnering with the council.

Redland Bay resident Junita Grosvenor said the state government, the council and the Redland Investment Corporation had treated mainland and island residents as fools for a decade.

“The responsibility for this complete mess is on both sides — not just the council,” she said.

“The losers are ratepayers and island residents who need this essential and vital transport hub.

“I find it hard to believe that the local state MP is unaware of what’s been going on at any stage of the awarding of contracts in her own electorate, when all approvals for state PDAs go through the state government.”

The next stage of the project will be the detailed design phase, where CPG will provide a proposed design for the multistorey car park and retail precinct, including the number of secure car parks designated for Southern Moreton Bay Island commuters.

Originally published as State MP Kim Richards blindsided by secret Redland council ferry terminal makeover agreement