COUNCILLORS have voted to reject the latest proposal for Weinam Creek, instead supporting a State Government-led plan to deliver a long-awaited multistorey car park at the key Southern Moreton Bay Islands transport hub.
Div 5 Councillor Shane Rendalls said the decision followed confirmation from the Government that it would fully fund and deliver the car park, ending more than a decade of planning delays.
On December 8, senior government figures – including Assistant Minister to the Deputy Premier Rebecca Young, Assistant Minister Amanda Stoker and Russell Field – 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 Redlands Investment Corporation (RIC) outlining a revised Weinam Creek proposal centred on a full-line supermarket development.
According to Cr Rendalls, many councillors were not convinced the supermarket 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.
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 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, and preserve most existing car spaces during construction.
Senior council officers have since met with EDQ, with a formal Government proposal expected to be presented to Council early in the new year.
