Redland City councillors have voted to reject the Redland Investment Corporation’s (RIC) latest proposal for Weinam Creek, instead backing a state government–led plan to finally deliver a long-awaited multistorey car park at the key Southern Moreton Bay Islands transport hub.
Councillor Shane Rendalls said the decision followed confirmation from the state government that it would fully fund and deliver the car park, ending more than a decade of planning delays.
On December 8, senior state government figures — including Assistant Minister to the Deputy Premier Rebecca Young MP, Assistant Minister Amanda Stoker MP and Russell Field MP — met face to face with 10 of Redland City Council’s 11 councillors, along with council executives and Economic Development Queensland (EDQ).
During the two-hour meeting, EDQ presented a proposed framework and indicative timeframe for progressing the multistorey car park at Weinam Creek, alongside broader discussions on Priority Development Areas across Redlands.
“This level of collaboration between the state government and council was previously unheard of,” Cr Rendalls said.
The meeting followed a presentation earlier the same day from RIC outlining a revised Weinam Creek proposal centred on a full-line supermarket development.
According to Cr Rendalls, many councillors were not convinced the RIC plan represented the best outcome for Southern Moreton Bay Islands residents, mainland Redland Bay or the wider Redlands community.
He said concerns raised about the RIC proposal included a constrained car park site limited to seven storeys with no future expansion potential, increased congestion from on-grade supermarket parking, competition between supermarket staff and residents for parking spaces, reduced foreshore public access, and limited flexibility to redesign the ferry and bus interchange.
“Many councillors did not believe this was the best use of prime waterfront land,” he said.
At the December 10 general meeting, Cr Rendalls moved a successful motion to delegate authority to the council’s CEO to begin negotiations with the state government to progress delivery of the multistorey car park.
While a minority of councillors argued for further consultation and planning, the majority supported moving ahead without further delay.
“There has been 12 years of planning and delay and still no car park,” Cr Rendalls said.
The adopted motion enables EDQ to take full responsibility for funding and delivering the project and removes the supermarket component from the Weinam Creek development.
Cr Rendalls said this would free up valuable waterfront land for alternative community-focused uses, allow a rethink of road and transport infrastructure, and preserve most existing car spaces during construction to minimise disruption to island residents.
The resolution also pauses council spending on the proposed Loop Road in the 2025–26 and 2026–27 budgets and allows a redesign of marina, bus interchange and accessible drop-off areas to meet future population growth, with the Southern Moreton Bay Islands population expected to double over the next decade.
“Most importantly, it allows the state to get on with the job of delivering a multistorey car park, while giving council time to properly plan the best use of this rare and highly valuable waterfront site,” Cr Rendalls said.
Senior council officers have since met with EDQ, with a formal state government proposal expected to be presented to council early in the new year.
