Create | Birkdale Community Precinct

The next stage of Birkdale Community Precinct is here and with it comes an opportunity to see the amount of detailed research and planning required to bring this highly anticipated and exciting 62-hectare community space to life.

Redland City Council has released the proposed Local Government Infrastructure Designation (LGID) for Birkdale Community Precinct (BCP) for public viewing and has called for submissions on its content.

The Redlands Coast community currently have until midnight on Monday 22 May, 2023, to read the LGID and supporting documents, and make a submission.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said an LGID is the statutory planning process required to deliver a community facilities precinct such as BCP and includes the preparation and assessment of an Environmental Assessment Report (EAR).

“This is to ensure that all planning matters, including the environment, design, traffic and transport, cultural heritage and hazards, and much more, are all addressed in detail,” Cr Williams said.

“A comprehensive EAR has been prepared that shows how any impacts of the proposed LGID will be mitigated or managed in accordance with statutory policy and best practice.”

Cr Williams said Council has been working diligently behind the scenes on a comprehensive delivery plan for BCP.

“The current LGID process follows two rounds of extensive community consultation over the past two years that informed the development of both the Vision for the site and the Birkdale Community Precinct Master Plan,” Cr Williams said.

“Similar to a large, complex development approval, the LGID will ensure that precinct-wide land use and activity rights are in accordance with the concepts and design principles in the Master Plan that – thanks to the previous consultations – reflect our community’s aspirations for the site.

“As explained in the LGID, Development Applications will still be required for relevant works on site as they occur, and these will proceed through the usual public notification and approval processes.

“Making a submission on the LGID is yet another way the community can be involved in bringing this exciting precinct to life.

“Moving forward, the community will be with us on each step of the journey.

“An existing multi-year activation framework has already seen successful implementation of a pilot community partnerships program. Combined with a social value action plan, the activation framework will form the basis of a future deliverable, Bringing Birkdale Community Precinct to Life – Social & Community Activation plan.

“Birkdale Community Precinct is the largest community precinct project ever delivered by Council – it has lots of moving parts and it is essential we keep the community informed and able to have their input throughout all stages of its rollout.

“While we believe the intergenerational precinct is likely to cost approximately $300 million, the reality of operating a precinct of the scale and complexity of Birkdale Community Precinct is that the ultimate financial operating costs, and indeed the capital investment, will depend upon future decisions of Council, as well as the complex interconnectedness of those decisions.

“This city-shaping project includes the significant commitment by the Federal and State governments to fund the construction of the Redland Whitewater Centre that will be a host venue for Canoe Slalom events during the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Council will also actively seek industry and government partners and grants to assist in its delivery, Cr Williams said.

To view the LGID documents and to make a submission (closing 22 May) visit Council’s Your Say site at: yoursay.redland.qld.gov.au/imagine.

Once consultation closes on the proposed LGID, Council will review all submissions it has received and prepare a consultation report summarising matters raised and how they have been addressed. It will also consider the outcomes of a state interest review by the Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning.

Redland City Council’s appeal of sections of a State Heritage listing for Willards Farm at Birkdale Community Precinct has resulted in an agreement on formalising a unique heritage code for the precinct.

Planning and Environment Court Judge McDonnell ruled, with the consent of the parties, on Wednesday 7 June 2023 that the appeal be upheld in part, resulting in a slightly smaller state heritage boundary for Willards Farm.

The property at 302 Old Cleveland Road East, Birkdale, is one of Redlands Coast’s oldest surviving farms and residences and was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register (QHR) by the Queensland Heritage Council (QHC) in March 2022. Council appealed sections of the listing in April 2022.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the revised boundary resulting from the court decision was agreed to by the QHC as part of the appeal process, which continues to recognise the important state heritage features of the land.

“Council and the Department of Environment and Science will execute a Heritage Agreement on how state heritage matters on the Birkdale Community Precinct site will be managed,” Cr Williams said.

“This will cover both Willards Farm and the nearby former World War II Radio Receiving Station that was entered into the QHR in June 2020.”

The heritage agreement will incorporate management codes and requirements that will allow development consistent with the Birkdale Community Precinct Master Plan, the Heritage Management Plans commissioned for Willards Farm and the World War II Radio Receiving Station, and a range of acceptable outcomes jointly determined by Council and the department.

“Practically this allows development on site within the state heritage boundaries in accordance with the Birkdale Community Precinct Master Plan and heritage agreement,” Cr Williams said

“The collaborative approach that has resulted in the outcome of the appeal reflects Council’s commitment to manage historic heritage values to the highest standard on the Birkdale Community Precinct, ensuring they were protected, recognised and celebrated.”

State-approved restoration works will begin this year on the original Willards farmhouse and fencing, milking shed, creamery, inground well and elevated water tank, as well as era-specific landscape areas.

Cr Williams said Council had worked closely with the department to ensure the c1870s historic farming property could be revitalised for future generations to enjoy while protecting its heritage values.

This decision has no impact on other sections within the Birkdale Community Precinct.

Negotiating the swift waters to deliver a whitewater centre of excellence takes teamwork.

That is why Redland City Council has formally invited partners on its journey to bring the Olympic-standard Redland Whitewater Centre at Birkdale to fruition.

The best way to deliver a first-class facility is to learn from others.

Both centres, working together, will draw future National, Oceania and World Cup events in the lead up to, and well beyond, the Brisbane 2032 Games.

Already, the NSW State Government committed to a $3.1 million investment in February this year to upgrade the Penrith Whitewater Stadium in preparation for the 2025 Canoe Slalom World Championships. Redland Whitewater Centre will work with a revitalised Penrith Whitewater Stadium to attract even more sporting competition to Australia.

The Redlands Coast facility, which will be a key component of the 62-hectare Birkdale Community Precinct, is expected to be operational and open to the public in 2027.

Redland Whitewater Centre will not be a stand-alone venue at Birkdale, but part of the broader Redland Resilience Training Centre, with a primary focus on swift-water and urban flooding rescue training while remaining accessible for paddle sport elite training and international level competition as well as to the community for recreational purposes.

The Redland Resilience Training Centre presents significant legacy opportunities as a world-class natural hazard resilience training facility for state, national and Asia Pacific emergency services personnel.

While the focus of both Penrith and now Redland venues is on the elite paddle aspects of the venue and the Olympics, the Penrith venue has proven through more than 20 years of operations, that the vast majority of its revenue (and usage demand) comes from tourism and recreational rafting opportunities.

The Redlands Coast facility seeks to bring a rafting and paddle experience to Queensland, leverage its coastal environment and support tourism.

The precinct will boast Redlands Coast’s first public swimming lagoon, an adventure play area, outdoor concert and performance areas, open green parklands, a 2km running track loop, bush tucker gardens, cafes and restaurants, some 2.8km of walking tracks through nearly 40 hectares of protected bushland, tree-top walk and zipline, and a canoe launch area for accessing Tingalpa Creek.

Consultation has now closed on the Local Government Infrastructure Designation (LGID) for Birkdale Community Precinct.

The Redlands Coast community and stakeholders were invited during April and May to have their say on the next stage of bringing Birkdale Community Precinct to life. Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Council remained committed to continuing thorough and effective engagement on the creation of Redlands Coast’s most encompassing and diverse community precinct.

“Birkdale Community Precinct is the largest community precinct project ever delivered by Council – it has lots of moving parts and it is essential we keep the community informed and able to have their input throughout all stages of its rollout,” Cr Williams said.

“Council resolved in August last year to prepare a Local Government Infrastructure Designation for Birkdale Community Precinct, with the final Birkdale Community Precinct Master Plan subsequent LGID consultation strategy endorsed by Council on 15 March 2023.

“An LGID is the statutory planning process required to deliver Birkdale Community Precinct – it is an important step in continuing to respect, protect and enhance the site’s cultural, heritage and environmental assets.

“Consultation on the Birkdale Community Precinct LGID followed two rounds of earlier community consultation that informed the development of both the Vision and final Birkdale Community Precinct Master Plan.

“The Birkdale Community Precinct LGID will ensure that precinct-wide land use and activity rights have been established in accordance with the conceptual spatial layout and design principles to reflect the values and aspirations of our community and stakeholders that are incorporated in the Master Plan.”

Public submissions on the LGID documents for Birkdale Community Precinct were open from 21 April to 22 May 2023.

Redland City Council has unveiled plans for what will become one of Queensland’s largest and most exciting parks, including Redlands Coast’s first ever swimming lagoon, and an adventure playground sure to be a hit with local families.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the Birkdale Community Precinct Master Plan that was adopted by Council at its general meeting on 15 March 2023 focussed on giving the 62 hectares of public space back to the community.

“Local families have been crying out for a project like this for years, and Council has listened by creating a Master Plan with the community for the community,” Cr Williams said.

“Brisbane has South Bank and New Farm Park, Townsville has the Strand and Cairns has the Esplanade, and now Redlands Coast will have Birkdale Community Precinct.

“This land was always owned by the community, but it was locked away as a Federal Government communications facility for decades. It is time it was opened up for the community to enjoy.

“After buying the property in 2019 to save it from being used for small-lot housing, Council has spent the last two years engaging with the community to create this exciting Master Plan.”

Cr Williams said Birkdale Community Precinct struck the perfect balance between the past and future.

“This Master Plan maps out a 20-year journey – so it has specifically been designed with our youth in mind – providing somewhere for kids to play, somewhere local bands will take to the stage and somewhere our youth can meet their friends,” she said.

“But just as importantly it also includes some exciting history that will be retained and celebrated, including the restoration of the 1870s Willards Farm, which is expected to begin later this year. Again this property was saved from demolition when Council bought it in 2016.

“We will also be breathing new life into the heritage-listed World War II Radio Receiving Station that sits at the heart of the precinct; delivering an historical precinct that commemorates Redlands’ role in the conflict in the Pacific.”

Cr Williams said the Birkdale Community Precinct Master Plan would ensure Redlands Coast was the focus of international attention as host of Olympic whitewater slalom events during the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Knowing the eyes of the world will be on our community thanks to this precinct should provide a real sense of pride for every Redlander. This is your city and thanks to Birkdale Community Precinct we will have the opportunity to show the world why it is the best place to live,” she said.

“The whitewater venue is about so much more than the Olympics. It is being specifically designed as a swift-water and resilience training facility that will train emergency service agencies from across the world, meaning the skills perfected at Birkdale could quite literally save lives.”

Cr Williams said the Master Plan was rounded out with about 40 hectares of protected environmental land.

“As former farming land there are clearings in the centre of the property where we will build the playgrounds, stages and water play, ensuring the surrounding vegetation is protected,” she said.

“These areas have tracks and trails where residents will be able to take a stroll to appreciate our naturally wonderful lifestyle.

“We will also build a 2km running track around the perimeter, which will be a huge hit for local running groups.”

Division 10 Councillor Paul Bishop thanked the community for their engagement on this important project.

“In the years ahead I look forward to working together with the community to bring the many historic stories of the site to life,” Cr Bishop said.

“There are important educational opportunities on this site that help us understand our past in ways that can be appreciated by future generations.”

Redland City Council has welcomed the NSW State Government’s recent announcement of a $3.1 million investment to upgrade the Penrith Whitewater Stadium in preparation for the 2025 Canoe Slalom World Championships.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the two Councils were working together to ensure both the existing Penrith facility and the new Birkdale venue being delivered for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games were first class and continued to deliver legacies for their communities.

“We know the best way to deliver a first-class facility is to learn from others and our partnership with Penrith focuses on sharing information to ensure our Birkdale facility is not only used by tomorrow’s Olympic champions, but also delivers a lasting legacy for local families and businesses,” Cr Williams said.

“The announcement by the NSW State Government will allow us to work with Penrith as part of their upgrades and use that information to ensure the Birkdale venue is the best it can be.

“We have been working with Penrith City Council and Paddle Australia since last year as part of our plans for the Birkdale facility and, on behalf of the community, I congratulate them, the NSW Government and International Canoe Federation on the announcement.

“I will be writing to Penrith ... to arrange a discussion in the near future so we can start exchanging information as well as exploring training opportunities that will deliver significant tourism and economic benefits to both cities.

“It is exciting that we are working together to see two world-class Australian whitewater facilities come to fruition within the next decade, providing unrivalled opportunities for accessibility to this sport for all ages and abilities, including staging of elite competition, in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Birkdale Community Precinct will be home to the Redland Resilience Training Centre which incorporates the Redland Whitewater Centre.

The Redland Whitewater Centre will be capable of hosting international, national and state events before, during and long after the Brisbane 2032 Games, when it will be a host venue for Canoe Slalom competition.

The historic Willards Farm will start to be brought back to life from early in the new year after Redland City Council’s plans for the heritage-listed property at Birkdale Community Precinct (BCP) recently received State approval.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Council had worked closely with the Department of Environment and Science to ensure the c1870s historic farming property could be revitalised for future generations to enjoy while protecting its exciting heritage values.

“If this property could talk it would tell stories of farming history dating back centuries that have helped forge our city’s identity today,” Cr Williams said.

“This history was set to be lost forever in 2016 when the property was facing demolition, prompting Council to step in and buy it for $1.45 million to protect its heritage for future generations.

“This is one of the oldest surviving examples of a farming homestead on Redlands Coast and I am pleased that the State has now approved our designs, paving the way for us to create a place for local families to visit and learn about our city’s farming history.

“State-approved restoration works will breathe new life into existing historic buildings including the original farmhouse and fencing, milking shed, creamery, inground well and elevated water tank, and era-specific landscape areas.”

Cr Williams said Willards Farm would be the first stage of the 62-hectare BCP, an exciting inter-generational community destination.

“Willards Farm covers about 8200 square metres and forms a key hub within the broader precinct that the community was consulted about in May this year," she said.

“Council’s 2022-2023 Budget includes $12.7 million for the BCP, including restoration work at Willards Farm."

Cr Williams acknowledged the work of Council and State officers in finalising plans for the historic property.

“It is an exciting milestone in the revitalisation of this property,” she said.

“The fact that our plans were approved within a matter of weeks is a testament to the quality of Council’s designs and the strong partnership Council has with the Department of Environment and Science.

“I would like to acknowledge the work of officers as well as the support of Minister Megan Scanlon in supporting Council’s proposal.”

Division 10 Councillor Paul Bishop said he was delighted that Willards Farm and associated buildings would be restored in accordance with best practice state heritage principles.

“This unique pastoral homestead anchors precinct, which also contains the state heritage-listed former US Army Radio Receiving Station,” Cr Bishop said.

“No other property in our part of the world contains remnant habitat, iconic species, evidence of First Nations occupation, pioneer structures hewn from timbers felled on site and the American Radio headquarters that helped transform global democracy during World War II.

“Everyone will want to learn about this place in years to come. Thanks to Council and all who have helped preserve these intrinsic and irreplaceable values.”

Redland City Council was not asked at its general meeting today (17 August, 2022) to approve earthworks and the “first stages” for the Birkdale Community Precinct (BCP) site.

Reporting of that as published on couriermail.com.au at 6.40am on Wednesday 17 August 2022 is incorrect.

At today’s meeting Council endorsed a community engagement summary report for the Draft BCP Master Plan and confirmed the preferred process for statutory planning of the site.

The $34 million mentioned in the article is a $34.5million carry over of capital funds not spent last financial year and is across all of council capital works. As it is a carry over there is no additional cost to ratepayers.

A total of $147,922 from the $34.5 million carried over will be used for restoration work at Willards Farm this financial year.

In the 2022/2023 Council Budget, $12.7 million was already allocated to fund the next stage of Birkdale Community Precinct.

The couriermail.com.au article also incorrectly reports that the Federal Government “gave the land to Council”. In fact, Council purchased the land from the Commonwealth in late 2019 for $4.1 million to bring it into public ownership.

Further still, the article incorrectly refers to the 45-page community engagement summary report as an “in-house” report. In fact, it was completed by a third party external engagement expert.

The article also gets the year of the engagement campaign wrong. It was this year (2022) not last year as reported. Council held an extensive five-week community engagement campaign from 30 April to 6 June 2022 to gather community feedback on the Draft BCP Master Plan.

The results of an extensive five-week community engagement campaign conducted by Redland City Council have confirmed strong support for what is being delivered at Birkdale Community Precinct (BCP).

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the campaign was held from 30 April to 6 June 2022 to gather community feedback on the Draft BCP Master Plan.

The results were included in an independently prepared engagement summary report which was adopted at the 17 August, 2022, Council general meeting.

“During the consultation period, an online survey asked if BCP provided the right mix of facilities, spaces and activities. Overall, the majority of respondents agreed with the draft master plan directions,” Cr Williams said.

“On average, three out of four respondents to the online survey conducted during the campaign, agreed or strongly agreed with what the Draft BCP Master Plan was proposing.”

Cr Williams said the survey results also showed a clear indication that the precinct will be visited regularly with general day-to-day activities being for recreation, meeting friends, using the public swimming lagoon, birthday and other parties and for personal fitness.

Located along Old Cleveland Road East at Birkdale and bordered in part by Tingalpa Creek, BCP is the largest, most encompassing and diverse community project ever delivered by Council for Redlands Coast.

Council will take a whole-of-precinct approach for the next major delivery stage of BCP.

“To address and protect the site’s significant environmental, ecological, cultural and heritage values, while delivering the diverse assets as detailed in the draft master plan, will be a very interconnected and complex process,” Cr Williams said.

“If the statutory planning approaches are not undertaken in a cohesive manner there will be potential for delivery, cost and integration risks leading to piecemeal and low-quality development outcomes.”

Also at the 17 August general meeting, Council resolved that a Local Government Infrastructure Designation (LGID) be prepared for BCP in accordance with the Planning Act 2006, Planning Regulation 2017 and the Ministers Guidelines and Rules 2020.

The overall delivery of BCP is based on a 20-year development timeframe with three core time periods, Cr Williams said.

“Although a relatively long period for overall delivery, the decision to commence the required statutory planning in 2022 is to ensure that the first major stage of BCP is open to the public in early 2027, with a possibility that some smaller parts of the precinct, such as Willards Farm, may be accessible to the public earlier,” she said.

“Council intends to involve and inform the community at all possible opportunities. This will be above and beyond the required statutory notifications and will, in general, have to do with specific communications campaigns around individual planning applications – allowing the public access to appropriate documentation and plans, and soliciting their input.

“We have already shown how willing we are to make this project first and foremost about community.

“Council has now conducted two extensive community engagement campaigns as well as launching a Local Partnerships Program, all of which were non-statutory; meaning that Council was not obliged under any legislation – apart from its own resolution – to undertake any of these engagement or feedback activities.”

The Local Partnerships Program (LPP) – commenced before and continued throughout the community engagement period, Cr Williams said. Nine pilot projects directly related to the precinct were established under the LPP with community and youth groups working on various topics such as recycling, storytelling and well-being.

“The LPP is a way for Council to build successful and long-term partnerships with community, business and youth, based around the intergenerational project that is BCP,” she said.

Council had planned two Info Days to be held onsite at Birkdale during the engagement campaign, unfortunately they had to be cancelled due to weather events.