While Federal Labor’s rejection of Walker’s Toondah Harbour development is welcome, unfortunately Queensland Labor’s ongoing support for it is not.

Firstly, thanks to everyone from all political parties and persuasions who have supported this petition and helped persuade Minister Plibersek to save Toondah. 

Naturally, I respect your right to vote as you wish. With the major parties still backing a corporate not community-focussed development at Toondah, now is a good opportunity to send a message by voting Green or independent to stop them.

The community vision to upgrade the ferry terminal, improve the environmental value of the site and support sensitive development is now being shared with feedback welcome.

Unfortunately, Labor’s State Development Minister, the Hon. Grace Grace MP, Member for Capalaba, Don Brown and Member for Redlands, Kim Richards refuse to listen to over 77,400 signatures and around 26,000 EIS submissions. 

Instead their government continues to pedal their PDA plans with consideration for ‘potential PDA boundary and development scheme changes’. This could allow high density foreshore development replacing the koala and public parkland area. 

So desperate to support Walker’s sales spin, even though I live half an hour away, Don Brown even tried to pitch that ‘the main petitioner (me) doesn’t even live in the same city, I’ll make sure to let Tanya know’ (see photo). 

For the record, my family has had a continuous property and resident connection to the Redlands (including immediate family and their family currently living there) since the early 1980s. Regardless, it’s an internationally significant site.

While Don Brown is in a very safe seat, there is a very real opportunity to replace Grace Grace with environmentally friendly Greens candidate for McConnel, Holstein Wong and Kim Richards only has a 3.9% margin. 

Subject to their government’s secret agreement with their developer donor instead of the will of thousands of people, ‘any alternative proposal will need to be considered against obligations under a Development Agreement between the Walker Group, the State Government and Redland City Council, and also be consistent with relevant state and federal environmental frameworks.

Minister Grace’s e-petition response to a call to revoke the PDA shows Walker, not the public who own this land will be able to progress plans without scrutiny: 

‘Until such time as an alternative proposal is received from the Walker Group and further discussions are had with them and the Redland City Council, it is not possible to provide any further comment on any alternative options, implications for the state’s commercial agreement with the Walker Group or the current PDA’. 

I think it would be more democratic if the Queensland Government considered the community vision and looked at the Sealink ferry terminal upgrade proposal instead. 

At least we live in a democracy, so whichever way you feel we can all have a vote and do so peacefully. 

Thank you for caring about Toondah and the environment :))

Yours in Toondah 

Dylan