A Redland City councillor has been quietly rapped by council after being filmed carrying out maintenance work outside the Redlands Coast Visitor Information Centre in Cleveland, despite the area already being scheduled for routine mowing.
The intervention follows community complaints about the presentation of the tourism office, which prompted Division 2 Councillor Peter Mitchell to publicly criticise council standards and push for action.
However, council has since confirmed the grass outside the visitor centre had already been programmed for mowing and was cut by council staff on Friday 30 January.
In a statement responding to Redland Bayside News, a council spokesperson confirmed staff carried out the work as part of routine operations, but acknowledged a separate incident involving a councillor the following day.
The grass outside the Redlands Coast Visitor Information Centre in Middle Street, Cleveland, was already scheduled for mowing on Friday 30 January 2026.
It was mowed that day by Council employees as part of their routine works program.
Council is aware of a video, posted to social media on Saturday 31 January, that shows a Councillor using a grass trimmer that morning around a pole outside the Visitor Information Centre.”
While the spokesperson noted that community members — including councillors — sometimes carry out minor works on public land, council made clear it does not encourage the practice.
While members of the community, including Councillors, occasionally carry out simple maintenance works on public land, Council recommends that maintenance issues be reported to Council for actioning.
Council can advise on work schedules, and it is best that public maintenance works are carried out by Council officers who have been trained and have documented procedures and safety equipment.”
The clarification comes after Cleveland resident Ian Neil publicly slammed what he described as the “appalling” presentation of the tourism office, questioning whether councillors or council staff were paying attention to the city centre.
Appalling presentation of Redlands Tourism office. Seriously??!! This is a prime example of the lack of care for this community,” Mr Neil said.
Seriously, you wonder if any Councillor or Council personnel ever walk the streets of Cleveland.”
Mr Neil warned the suburb risked losing its standing as a gateway to the Redlands Coast, saying:
The place is becoming a backwater.”
Cr Mitchell said he shared the concerns and had long argued Cleveland deserved a higher standard of presentation.
I agree that Council should be setting the example for all private and public land owners in Cleveland town centre regarding the standard of care and presentation of properties and streetscapes,” Cr Mitchell said.
The town centre is unique across our city, and I have long argued with Council and Councillors that it deserves a preferential and higher level of service.
This is not the current policy however.”
He said council acted quickly once the issue was escalated, but warned the situation should never have arisen.
Council responded fast once pushed, however great presentation of Cleveland town centre should be normal business,” he said.
It’s what the community expects, and Council’s own surveys say just that.”
In its response, council also pointed to the scale of its maintenance task across the city.
Council has an extensive mowing schedule for maintaining 7.5 million square metres of grass in public spaces across the mainland alone.
During peak mowing season, grass seed heads can develop quickly, making areas appear untidy towards the end of the scheduled period. This was the case with the area outside the Visitor Information Centre on 30 January.”
Council reiterated that residents should report concerns directly, rather than taking matters into their own hands.
Council recommends maintenance issues be reported to Council on 3829 8999 or by lodging an online request form.”
Cleveland is a major entry point for visitors heading to North Stradbroke Island and other Redlands Coast attractions, with the visitor centre intended to provide a strong first impression — one residents say must be backed by consistent standards, not ad hoc fixes.
