Redland City councillor Rowanne McKenzie has declined an invitation to speak at an upcoming Redlands2030 meeting, accusing the community group of consistently opposing major projects that would support the city’s economic growth and future prosperity.
In a letter to Redlands2030 secretary Steve MacDonald, Cr McKenzie thanked the group for its invitation to attend its November 17 meeting but said she could not “in good conscience” participate.
“While I value genuine community engagement and open dialogue about Redland’s future, I have serious concerns about some of Redlands2030’s ongoing conduct and its impact on the city’s reputation, economic progress and civic discourse,” she wrote.
Cr McKenzie said the organisation had taken an “adversarial stance toward almost every significant project designed to enhance Redland’s long-term prosperity” since its establishment in 2014.
She cited the group’s opposition to projects including the Toondah Harbour redevelopment, the Redland Whitewater Centre, Ormiston College’s campus expansion, the Heinemann Road Sport and Recreation Precinct, and the consolidated sports fields at Shoreline.
“This consistent pattern of resistance has created an environment that too often pits progress against ideology,” she said.
“While debate is healthy, ongoing hostility towards almost every major development undermines confidence, deters investment and limits the city’s ability to create new local jobs.”
Cr McKenzie also pointed to a 2022 Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) decision that ordered Redlands2030 to pay $135,000 in legal costs to the Walker Group after the group’s failed attempt to obtain confidential documents about the Toondah Harbour project.
She quoted comments from Judicial Member John McGill SC, who said it was “difficult to discern any public interest” in the group’s opposition to the appeal and that “organisations of limited financial resources” should not feel they could “litigate with impunity, protected by poverty from any adverse costs consequences.”
Cr McKenzie said the case demonstrated how Redlands2030’s actions had consumed community resources “while achieving nothing tangible for Redlanders.”
“In my opinion, Redlands2030 has repeatedly acted as a counterproductive influence on the city’s future – prioritising confrontation over collaboration and criticism over contribution,” she wrote.
She said she remained committed to engaging with residents, businesses and community organisations that “wish to build a stronger, more prosperous Redlands based on mutual respect and shared purpose.”
Redlands2030 has been invited to access information about the new Redlands Coast City Plan through council’s website.
Steve MacDonald, President Redlands2030, said it was disappointing that Cr McKenzie has chosen disengagement over dialogue on issues shaping the Redlands’ future.
He said Redlands2030 remains committed to open debate, factual information and community-led planning for a sustainable and prosperous Redlands Coast.
“We are a little puzzled as to whether or not Cr McKenzie wrote her letter all by herself,” he said.
“Regardless, we thank the councillor for giving Redlands2030 the opportunity to point out that Redland City Council seems to make a habit of embarking on projects which are foolishly conceived, pursued with a lack of transparency, and are unpopular with the community because people can see that these Council proposals are unsustainable.
“We should note also that Cr McKenzie has attended a Redlands Town Hall meeting previously in May 2024, saying afterwards that she was “More than happy to address the Redlands2030 audience on matters that may come up in the future or have a chat over coffee.”
“We assume that we will be waiting quite a while for that coffee.”
