Raby Bay Ratepayers Association - 2 April 2012 Presentation by Bob - - PDF document

Raby Bay Ratepayers Association - 2 April 2012 - Presentation by Bob Pollock – Candidate for Division 2 1 of 11

Raby Bay Ratepayers Association - 2 April 2012 Presentation by Bob Pollock – Candidate for Division 2

Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you for inviting me to attend your Committee Meeting tonight and for the opportunity to discuss my Vision for the Future of Cleveland and North Stradbroke Island.

BRIEF HISTORY

Firstly let me tell you a bit about myself. I was born in Brisbane in 1951, matriculated from Brisbane State High and studied at QIT, RMIT and QUT. I have worked as a Mechanical Engineer, Structural Engineer, Architect, Facilities Manager, Construction Manager, Director in the Queensland Government, a Company Director since 1981 and have successfully managed a number of businesses in the Construction Industry. I was involved in the transformation of Ipswich City Council in the 1990’s and assisted Mayor Dave Underwood and the CEO Jamie Quinn in the restructuring of that organisation to improve the return for Ratepayers. I have had a lot of experience in the master planning of public infrastructure, retail centres and residential areas, having managed projects for Ipswich City Council, Brisbane City Council, Maroochy Shire Council, Westfield, AMP, Central Queensland University, University of Western Sydney and University of Melbourne. I currently manage a business which advises large organisations in how to successfully manage and deliver complex Capital Works Programs with values up to $3Bn and projects worth up to $350M. I have been happily married to my wife Tricia for 38 years. I have 3 sons who are all employed in good jobs. I am also a grandfather and looking forward to more additions to our family.

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WHY AM I CONTESTING THIS ELECTION?

Simple – the Current Redland City Council is not delivering for the people of the Redlands. My family currently has 4 generations living in the Redlands and I want to protect their lifestyle and prosperity in the future.

SO WHAT HAVE I DISCOVERED?

After meeting and speaking with hundreds of residents in Cleveland and North Stradbroke Island I have discovered that Redland City Council is not only not delivering but are engaged in some very questionable activities. These include:

REVENUE GOUGING AND OBSTRUCTIONISM

Obstructing residents from adding even the smallest improvements such as carports, garages and decks has been the experience of many people I have met. Horrendous application and re-application fees, extra costs for redesign and unreasonable delays of 12 to 18 months are

• commonplace. But that is not the whole story.

Council Officers in jack boots turning up at residents’ homes to do snap inspections and then demanding the removal of plants, gardens and pots as well as issuing on the spot fines for some non-compliance or other. At the other end of the spectrum, businesses have been encouraged to submit applications, pay high application fees and then wait for years for any response from Council only to be told that their application has been rejected. So off to the Planning and Environment Court they go, wasting millions of dollars of ratepayers money only to have Council’s decision

• verturned.

LACK OF PROPER MAINTENANCE

I have been shown countless examples of where Council has simply failed to do even the most basic maintenance. What about lights in the parks that remain broken for months as is the case around here. Parks left unmown for weeks with debris such as needles, rubbish, long grass and diseased trees with limbs ready to fall on passersby. Street trees with limbs left

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hanging low over roadways to be smashed against trucks as they drive by and residents fined for removing the debris.

SO WHAT ABOUT RATES?

Rates across the Redlands have skyrocketed under this Council with some ratepayers paying up to 47% more now than they were in 2008. Some of you know what that is like. In fact, those increases have put so much pressure on many residents that they can no longer afford to pay their Council Rates and have told me they will have to leave their houses because of those costs alone at a time when house prices have dropped. Many of you purchased your property at a time when the cost of land was low in Raby Bay by today’s standards and the cost of building a house was more affordable than it is now. For many of you this represented the last investment in residential property that you made before retiring from paid work to enjoy the simple pleasures for which you have worked so hard. Why then has the current Council chosen to target you and others who have made wise investments in the past? You have every right to question the motives of the current Mayor and Councillors in perpetrating this scurrilous attack on your standard of living. Is this a Council that wants to push hard working people out of their homes? Clearly, Council has decided that people living in Raby Bay, parts of Cleveland and parts of North Stradbroke Island are all very wealthy and should be subject to a Wealth Tax. So what more does this Council have in store? Recently at a public meeting in Birkdale Mayor Hobson confirmed that she was committed to another increase of up to 5% in Council Rates in the Redlands.

SO WHAT IS MY POSITION ON RATES?

Firstly, I believe we must restore equity in the Rating System based primarily on the extent and quality of services being provided to Ratepayers.

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Secondly, the Rate in the Dollar to be used to calculate the Council Rates for all properties should be within a band so that the highest Rate in the Dollar is no higher than 3 times the lowest for properties with similar services. Thirdly, I cannot support a Rating System that has 45 different categories. It appears to be just another excuse for more bureaucracy.

WHAT ABOUT CANAL LEVIES?

When the former Redland City Council released the developer of Raby Bay from its

• bligations in return for the princely sum of $1.5M, that Council assumed all of the liabilities

associated with the maintenance of the canals. Yet many of us know and knew at the time that the canals had not been constructed in accordance with the approved designs and engineering documentation. So why was the developer let off the hook? My question is why should the residents who played no part in the release of the developer’s

• bligations by the Council, now be expected to pay for the poor decision-making of Council?

It is my view, supported by recent decisions in the Supreme Court of Queensland, that if Council were to be challenged by the residents, the Supreme Court might well order the reimbursement of all Canal Levies. I see this as a risk that Council should include on its Risk Register and that Council should seek to achieve some clarity about this matter. It is my view that Canals are a Public Asset just like Roads, Footpaths, Parks, Sewers etc and should be maintained in the same way.

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MY VISION FOR CLEVELAND AND NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND World Class Community Infrastructure:

The Redlands is now a City. But the World’s Most Liveable Cities all have World Class Community Infrastructure. It is time we had a Council that is striving to make the Redlands the best it can be. By managing its activities wisely and its finances carefully, Redland City Council can reduce the Cost of Living for all residents.

Housing types that cater to all income levels and tastes:

Sensible policies and practices within Council can reduce the cost of land and housing which is one of the largest costs for struggling families. The current Council does not seem to understand that basic fact. Council must consider the impact of their decisions on all of the Community not just minority interest groups. All residential areas, both new and existing, must be enjoyable to live in with parks, walking tracks and play grounds that are well designed and well maintained.

Vibrant Cleveland CBD:

Redland City Council has ignored this issue for far too long. There are sensible solutions but first of all Council must make a firm commitment to fix the problems. With my background and experience in the master planning and design of commercial and retail centres, I can act as a catalyst for better development. The current state of Cleveland CBD is deplorable. But this Council seems to think that a new logo or an occasional “Win a Car” competition will do the trick. Cleveland CBD must be reconfigured and aggressively promoted as the Gateway to Moreton Bay and the Cultural Heart of the Redlands. From the comments made by Councillor Ogilvie, he like so many others, simply has no idea what has caused the decline or how to reverse it. If the GFC is to blame why are places like Victoria Point, Capalaba, Oxford Street, Carindale, Garden City and Loganholme trading their heads off while Cleveland is still languishing?

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Cleveland must develop and maintain its own identity. Those retailers who understand this are trading well but they must be in the company of other like-minded operators.

Toondah Harbour and Dunwich Ferry Terminal:

Redland City Council has failed to resolve this issue and must take a leadership role in addressing these deplorable pieces of infrastructure. The current Council is waiting for someone else to deliver the solutions. But Council must be prepared to partner with the private sector and other levels of Government to make things happen. Magnetic Island and Hervey Bay are good examples of what can be achieved when a Council shows some leadership.

Parks that People Can Enjoy All Year Round

The Redlands has numerous parks. But many of them are little more than desolate wastelands without facilities and are poorly maintained. Parks are like the lungs of our Community. Our parks should all have well designed facilities that residents and visitors can use all year round. Lighting needs to be upgraded. Shelters, toilets and picnicking facilities are needed. There must be more areas for pet owners to exercise their pets without the fear of being heavily fined by the Council.

A Proactive Council that helps business to prosper

Successful businesses are the cornerstone of a viable and prosperous community. Redland City Council must make it easier for businesses to establish and to grow. Let’s make the forest of “For Lease” signs like these a thing of the past. Over the past 4 years businesses have closed their doors throughout Cleveland and North Stradbroke Island. It is time for the world to know that the Redlands is open for business. Councillors must be conscious of the damage that too much red tape and slow decision making can do to employment growth in the Redlands.

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A Council that really listens to the needs of all the people

Redland City Council must stop engaging in sham consultation. It is time to put an end to backroom deals and documents that are not open to the scrutiny of all residents. All sectors of the community must have a voice - not just the vocal minority.

Striking the right balance between urban growth and the environment

Redland City can grow without destroying its precious environmental heritage. More prosperity will deliver the resources to achieve better outcomes for the environment. By actively engaging with developers to find good workable solutions from the beginning, most of the legal brawls that Redland City Council have become renowned for can be avoided. Council can use ratepayers’ funds more wisely by being active participants in developments. Courts rarely impose solutions that are good for the environment either. So we all lose!

STRONG LEADERSHIP

I have a reputation for Getting Things Don not Just Talking About Them. As a Councillor I will make a strong stand on issues that affect the residents of Cleveland and Straddie. I will demand that the level of over-management be addressed in Redland City Council and that more resources be made available at the Coal Face where real services are delivered. That will immediately reduce the cost and improve the service. Responsible management to deliver the best value for money and the best quality

• utcomes without the Waste.

Thank you Ladies and Gentlemen. I have produced a comprehensive policy platform which is available on my website.

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MY POLICIES

Reducing Rates and the Cost of Living



Putting the brakes on increases in Council Rates until they are comparable with those of

• ther Councils in southeast Queensland while maintaining high quality services.



Revise the Rating System to restore equity based on the level of services and amenity provided.



Review all spending programs to ensure that they have a robust business case and will deliver real benefits to the Community.



Improve the alignment of revenue and community benefits in every Budget of the new Council.



Review all fees and charges that have hit the residents of the Redlands so hard by the current Council.



Review tip fees to discourage illegal dumping and introduce a voucher system for ratepayers.



Establish Service Level Agreements for all Council Services and review performance quarterly.

Better Management of Debt and Spending



Implement sweeping changes to the way Council conducts its operations and infrastructure investment decisions to ensure that Ratepayers’ Funds are used more wisely.



Ensure that the investment in all new Public Infrastructure is underpinned by a viable Business Case with real benefits for all Residents.



Ensure that the Costs of new investments do not outweigh the Benefits.



Well managed debt can deliver much needed infrastructure to the whole Community but must not add to the burden for future generations.

Proper Engagement with the Community and Business



Establish a Redlands Business Centre so that local issues and new private investment can be discussed frankly with the key stakeholders and Council Officers can provide valuable guidance to proponents.



Eliminate ALL backroom deals and sneaky tactics that Redland City Council has become renowned for over the past 4 years.



Establish Community Reference Groups in various parts of the Redlands to give local residents an opportunity to have their voices heard and make a real contribution about important issues in their areas in an open forum.



Circulate monthly Highlight Reports to communities about issues and projects in their areas.

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Restoring Vibrancy to Cleveland and North Stradbroke Island



Urgently undertake a proper assessment of the configuration of the Cleveland CBD in consultation with residents, visitors, businesses and property owners and develop a more sustainable Master Plan for an overhaul of the CBD that is more pedestrian friendly and implement the new Master Plan without delay.



Engage with the community about issues such as more convenient parking, tenancy mix, facilities and promotion of the precinct to help reinvigorate Cleveland.



Urgently review the whole spectrum of uses and issues that have seen the lifestyle, employment and prosperity decline across North Stradbroke Island. The Council must act as a catalyst for establishing viable employment generating industries for the long- term that integrate well with the natural environment such as marine research, increasing fish stocks and cultivation of native flora.



Engage with the community about issues such as transport facilities, mainland parking, retail infrastructure, promotion, parks, caravan and camping areas, ecotourism, wildlife preservation and long-term employment prospects.



Working with the new Queensland Government to find a sensible solution to the continuation of sand mining, the closure of the mines in an orderly fashion and creating new opportunities for employment.

Toondah Harbour and Dunwich



Engage with the community, businesses, ferry operators to develop a more Viable Master Plan to upgrade ferry, parking and tourist facilities at Toondah Harbour and Dunwich in partnership with the private sector which will provide much needed facilities for the long-term.



Ensure that Redland City Council acts as a catalyst for improvement not a hindrance.



Significantly reduce the current congestion in surrounding streets.



Make sure that all solutions will benefit the broad community in the long-term and will not be a burden on current and future ratepayers.



Engage with local Members of Parliament to facilitate any changes to State legislation that will enable the new Master Plan to be implemented quickly.

Tourism



Engage with tourism operators, the community and local businesses to develop and implement a proper Tourism Plan for the Redlands.



Provide more support and facilities for Tourist Information Centres and ensure local tourism operators get the benefits, leading to more employment in the Redlands



Promote the Redlands throughout Australia and overseas to attract a wider range of tourists including fishing, boating, wildlife watchers, caravaners and campers.

Parks and recreation Areas



Parks throughout the Redlands are generally little more than desolate wastelands that have not been maintained.



Upgrade Parks in Raby Bay, Cleveland and North Stradbroke Island and keep them properly maintained.



Improve Lighting in parks.

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

Establish a new Redlands Botanical and Zoological Gardens for the enjoyment of all residents and visitors.



Increase the number and quality of Off-leash Areas for dog owners and help pet owners to comply with the regulations rather than hunt them down as the current Council has been doing.

The Environment and Conservation



A healthy environment is important for a healthy community.



Review the current Planning Controls to deliver a better balance between urban development, parklands. recreation areas and wildlife conservation.



Ensure that all developments give careful consideration to the environment.



Eliminate the concept of property owners becoming nothing more than “Involuntary Koala Caretakers” and having their income, lifestyle, wealth and prosperity stripped away without proper consultation.



Eliminate sham processes conducted in secret and make all documentation publicly available.



Review all planning decisions made by the current Council and remedy the wrongs that have been done to both landowners and the environment.



Introduce regulations to ensure that property owners are properly compensated for any conservation projects undertaken by Redland City Council.



Put an end to sham Conservation Projects and the nasty backroom deals that have been done in the name of the environment, often using the natural environment as a scapegoat.

Boating Fishing and Recreation



Improve facilities for Boating, Fishing and Recreation throughout Cleveland and North Stradbroke Island.



Improve services and access to our natural wonders for day trippers, caravaners and campers.



About 70,000 people are travelling around Australia in caravans and motor homes. But the Redlands has almost no facilities for them. So local businesses are missing out on the income that these people provide.



Make the Redlands more RV Friendly by providing caravan parks, free overnight camping areas, parking bays and dump points in key locations.

Urban Growth and Planning Controls



The current Council has failed to deliver sustainable development but instead has delivered unplanned Community Infrastructure and monumental eyesores.



Classic examples are the recent rapid development in Victoria Point, the total shambles in the Capalaba Commercial Precinct, the total lacking of sustainable planning at Redland Bay, the near death experience for business owners in the Cleveland CBD and the eyesore at Toondah Harbour.



Redland City Council must be more open in its dealings with the whole Community, not just minority interest groups.



The Council must engage with the business and local residents to reach decisions quickly and then enforce those decisions.

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

No one wants uncontrolled urban sprawl that has occurred in other parts of Australia. This only leads to the creation of ghettos.



The ratepayers of the Redlands who are the shareholders of Redland City Council don’t want their Council to engage in futile drawn out legal battles that deliver poor quality

• utcomes.

Community Facilities



Expand Community Facilities at Donald Simpson Park, Nandeebie Park, G.J.Walter Park and Foreshore Park.



Reduce Traffic Congestion adjacent to the Cleveland Showgrounds. Improve off-street parking and reduce the impact of noise and lighting on local residents.



Upgrade the Council's facilities for caravaners and campers on North Stradbroke Island and the mainland to make the Redlands more RV friendly. Provide strategically placed parking bays and dump points throughout the Redlands.