A dramatic twist has hit Redland City Council ahead of tomorrow’s general meeting, with Mayor Jos Mitchell today dropping a mayoral minute calling for an internal audit into one of the city’s most ambitious and controversial projects — the Redlands Coast Regional Sport and Recreation Precinct at Heinemann Road.
The bombshell announcement landed at 3pm, with Mayor Mitchell formally notifying councillors that she will move a motion seeking a sweeping audit into the governance, procurement, and financial oversight of the multimillion-dollar project — which has been plagued by delays, contract changes, and community concern.
Under the motion, the audit would be completed by 20 February 2026, with findings to be reported to Council and made publicly available, subject to confidentiality provisions.
Mayor Mitchell said the project, first approved in 2017, represented a “significant intergenerational investment” and must be managed with “the highest standards of governance, transparency and financial stewardship.”
The community rightfully expects that major public investments are managed with integrity and that all aspects, from planning and procurement to delivery, are transparent, accountable and aligned with Council’s long-term sustainability goals,” she said.
The Heinemann Road Precinct, envisioned as a world-class sporting and recreational hub, has faced years of shifting plans and stalled progress.
After Council voted to purchase the property in 2017, master planning began in 2019–2020 with community consultation and expert input.
A stage one contract was signed in 2022 but later withdrawn in 2024, with Council endorsing a new delivery approach.
Environmental approvals have since delayed progress, and earlier this year Council voted for the project to revert to its 2020 master plan.
The mayoral minute makes clear that growing public interest and scrutiny of the project prompted the move.
To maintain public confidence and ensure our community can be assured of the project’s integrity, an audit is both timely and appropriate,” Mayor Mitchell wrote.
The proposed audit will examine financial controls, probity, procurement, and governance arrangements, with the goal of strengthening Council’s internal processes and “setting a benchmark for future infrastructure projects.”
The stunning last-minute development has set the stage for a fiery council meeting tomorrow, as councillors prepare to debate whether to back the mayor’s call for a deep dive into one of Redlands Coast’s biggest and most expensive undertakings.
If endorsed, the audit could expose the inner workings of the troubled project — and potentially reshape how the city handles its future mega-developments.
MAYORAL MINUTE – s.6.10 Council Meeting Standing Orders
11 November 2025
Chief Executive Officer
Redland City Council
PO Box 21
Cleveland QLD 4163
In accordance with section 6.9 of Council Meeting Standing Orders, I intend to move the following motion at the General Meeting scheduled for 12 November 2025:
Motion
That Council resolves as follows:
- To endorse the commissioning of an internal audit of the Redlands Coast Regional Sport and Recreation Precinct (Heinemann Road Project) to be completed by 20 February 2026.
- To request that the internal audit examines the governance framework, procurement and project management processes, financial oversight, and alignment with approved scope and community expectations.
- Directs that the findings of the internal audit be reported to Council and made publicly available, subject to confidentiality and commercial-in-confidence considerations.
Background
The Redlands Coast Regional Sport and Recreation Precinct at Heinemann Road represents a significant intergenerational infrastructure investment undertaken by Redland City Council.
The project is designed to provide a world-class sporting and recreational hub to meet the current and future needs of our growing community.
Given its scale, complexity, and strategic importance, it is essential that this project is delivered with the highest standards of governance, transparency, and financial stewardship. The community rightfully expects that major public investments are managed with integrity and that all aspects, from planning and procurement to delivery, are transparent, accountable, and aligned with Council’s long-term sustainability goals.
Council has received community and stakeholder interest in understanding the processes and decisions underpinning this project. To maintain public confidence and ensure our community can be assured of the project’s integrity, an audit is both timely and appropriate.
This audit will build on Council’s internal controls by providing an external and objective assessment of the project’s governance, procurement, and expenditure practices. Importantly, it will support continuous improvement and inform how Council manages large-scale, multi-phase projects into the future.
Key milestones for the project include:
- May 2017: Council voted unanimously to purchase the Heinemann Road property.
- 2019–2020: Master planning was undertaken, incorporating expert input and community consultation.
- 2022: Stage One contract signed.
- 2023: Council adopted a revised master plan, ensuring most of the site remains as natural area.
- 2024: Council officers withdrew from Stage One contract and Council endorsed a Significant Contracting Plan for staged delivery, including road upgrades.
- 2025: Project delivery has been delayed pending environmental approvals, with Council continuing to advocate for timely and cost-effective delivery.
- Resolution 2025/241: The project to revert to the previously adopted Master Plan dated 13 May 2020 (Resolution 2020/127).
Key Messages
- The Redlands Coast Regional Sport and Recreation Precinct is a significant intergenerational investment that will shape the social and recreational landscape of our city for decades.
- Council has a responsibility to ensure that the project’s governance, financial management, and delivery processes are beyond reproach.
- An audit reinforces Council’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and public confidence in how major projects are governed and delivered.
- The audit will provide assurance on key aspects including financial controls, probity, procurement, and project governance arrangements.
- Findings will help strengthen Council’s project management capability and set a benchmark for future infrastructure projects across the Redlands.
- Undertaking an audit demonstrates proactive leadership and aligns with the community’s expectations of good governance and prudent use of public funds.
- This initiative ensures the Redlands Coast community can have full confidence that this important intergenerational asset is being delivered responsibly, sustainably, and transparently.
- Multi-year projects of this scale and complexity usually have budget allocated for project assurance.
Cr Jos Mitchell
Mayor, Redland City
