FAQs
FAQs - Tree removal works
Why do the trees need to be removed and how many?
This is unfortunate but necessary to progress works that are critical to the delivery of Weinam Creek PDA redevelopment.
A mix of vegetation has been identified along Banana Street where the new temporary car park and eventually the multi-storey car park and commercial precinct will be located.
Of the mixed vegetation, approximately 30 gum trees will need to be removed.
There will be significant new tree planting in the area. Redland Investment Corporation, on behalf of Council, will be planting three new trees for every one gum tree removed.
This means there will be an overall increase in the number of gum trees and the volume of usable green space in the longer-term.
What type of trees will be removed?
The area along Banana Street contains a mix of vegetation which is primarily native, including Queensland Blue Gums as well as landscape and streetscape plantings.
The vegetation identified to be removed is not identified by the Vegetation Management Act 1999 as comprising regulated high value regrowth.
Were alternative strategies considered?
The Weinam Creek PDA project is the result of extensive community consultation to help resolve a number of parking, amenity and lack of infrastructure concerns.
The area along Banana Street is adjacent to the Marina Redland Bay ferry terminal, the main gateway to the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.
There are no other alternative locations to provide the infrastructure needed for the multi-level car park.
Are there koalas living in the trees that will be removed?
The status of koalas has recently been upgraded from Vulnerable to Endangered under the EPBC Act and this change has increased the scrutiny and implications for actions involving removal of habitat.
Ecological assessments have been conducted of the area in 2014, 2022 and again in 2023. The assessment concludes there are no koalas inhabiting this area.
What are the environmental impacts of removing the trees along Banana St?
Within the recent ecological assessment conducted of the area, the species identified of the highest relevance for consideration of ecological impacts were the koala and grey-headed fox.
The assessment concluded that while some of the trees that are being removed are recognised as primary food trees for koala, there will be no major impacts to koalas as the area is highly urbanised with no valuable eucalypt woodland habitat and no signs of koalas inhabiting the area.
Potential impacts to the grey-headed fox have been considered and recommendations regarding the specific tree species for replacement and landscaped plantings have been proposed to ensure minimal impacts.
Will the trees be replaced and where will these be located?
The removal of the trees within the Banana Street area does not require any specific State or Local Government legislation or offsets. However, Redland Investment Corporation, on behalf of Council, has chosen to replace the trees that will be removed by planting three gum trees for every one gum tree removed.
These trees will be planted throughout Sel Outridge Park and Neville Stafford Park within the Weinam Creek PDA as part of the planned revitalisation.
What steps will Council take to ensure minimal impacts to native species?
To assist in mitigating potential impacts to any native species known to frequent the area, additional ecological assessments and inspections will be conducted prior to any tree removal. Ecological spotters will also be onsite during the removal.
When will the trees be removed?
Tree removal works from Banana Street, Redland Bay is planned to commence from 22 January 2024.
What environmental rejuvenation plans are there for the Weinam Creek PDA master plan?
Environmental enhancements and foreshore rejuvenation are planned throughout the Weinam Creek PDA, including improvements and park upgrades to open space areas including Sel Outridge Park and Neville Stafford Park.
- More car parks, designated to Southern Moreton Bay Island commuters and visitors to the area
- Improved drop off facilities for island residents and visitors
- Activated foreshore with better pedestrian and cycleways for improved connectivity throughout the area
- More open space and family-friendly areas
- Grocery and retail outlets
- Medical and allied health
- Restaurants and cafes
When will works start on the new recreational boat ramp?
Construction of the new recreational boat ramp is planned to commence from May 2024.
Subject to weather and other project constraints, the new boat ramp is expected to be open from mid-2024.
When will works start on the new temporary car park?
Construction of the new temporary car park on Banana Steet in Redland Bay is planned to commence from January 2024.
To assist with parking demand during the construction phase of the project, the first 40 spaces of the new temporary car park is planned to open to the public from April 2024, subject to weather and other project constraints. The remaining 100 car spaces will be available to coincide with the opening of the new recreational boat ramp in mid-2024.
When will the new multi-level car park be constructed?
Construction of the new multi-level car park and commercial precinct is planned to commence from mid-2025.
What is being done to minimise disruption during works?
There will be some disruption during the construction phase of the project. That is unavoidable but only a short-term inconvenience to achieve the long-term benefits. Council will do everything possible to mitigate the disruption and keep residents and commuters informed.
There will be changes. The new Marina Redland Bay will vastly improve the area for local residents through better facilities, better roads and better management of the transit zone. Council are working with local residents to understand any issues and being flexible where possible to accommodate reasonable concerns.
How will the redevelopment improve the area?
Not only will the Marina project provide more parking for our Southern Moreton Bay Island commuters, the redevelopment will deliver a vibrant waterfront precinct that vastly improves the Redland Bay Marina for residents and commuters through better facilities, better roads and better management of the transit zone.
It will be an exciting, iconic, picturesque recreation and shopping destination and improved transport hub connecting Redland Bay to the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.
The Marina Redland Bay development delivers improved infrastructure, more tourism dollars, more jobs and more community facilities. It will create an estimated 700 jobs and generate $30 million in local economic activity.
Would it be cheaper to provide a stand-alone car park only, without the additional community amenity such as medical, retail and grocery?
The car park cost would remain the same. If a stand-alone multi-level car park was provided without the commercial amenity (e.g. a supermarket operator), then the car park would need to be funded wholly by Redland City Council ratepayers.
As with similar major place-making projects, the cost is considered too great for rate payers to bear. The retail amenity not only provides better convenience and services for island and local residents, it also assists in funding for the multi-level car park, reducing the burden on rate payers.
Parking for retail and hospitality outlets onsite would be proposed as additional to designated parking for Southern Moreton Bay Island commuters.
What amenity will be provided within the commercial precinct?
Delivered in stages, the Weinam Creek PDA project will transform the waterfront of Redland Bay, improve the usability of the transport hub, attract visitors, create jobs and drive economic development in the area.
Construction of the commercial precinct is planned to commence from 2025 and will deliver:
What is being done to combat illegal parking activity such as long-term vehicle storage?
Council will adopt a realistic and pragmatic attitude to this activity during the construction phase but ultimately the area will need to operate under the same bylaws as other areas of the Redlands.
How many car parks will be available and what happens if the population continues to grow on the islands?
Stage one of the project has already provided over 500 new car parks to the precinct. However, the project’s plans must provide a minimum of 2,200 car parks in the precinct.
Redland Investment Corporation (RIC), on behalf of Council, managed an expressions of interest campaign for a development partner to deliver the commercial precinct, which will include the multi-level car park.
The final designs, including the exact number of car parks that will be available within the multi-level car park will be finalised following the EOI process.
Why has the redevelopment taken so long?
The master plan for the Weinam Creek PDA was approved in December 2021. Work is underway and progress is being made. Stage 1 of the project is complete and delivered more than 500 additional car parks.
An Expression of Interest (EOI) campaign has commenced to secure a development partner and there is firm timeline for the project. Aspects of the development will be announced when appropriate and launched as completed, as seen with the hospital precinct.
Significant work has been done over recent years on the economic viability of the various project components and Council and Redland Investment Corporation are confident there will be strong interest from retail and hospitality providers.
How much will it cost to park in the multi-level car park?
A proposed management plan for the multi-storey car park is still being finalised. The car park is proposed to be four-levels high and a mix of long-term paid, short-term and disability parking. It will also have provision for car sharing spots, electric charging bays and storage facilities for bikes and scooters. It will be sheltered, secure and provide elevator/disability access to the ferry terminal.
Council are conscious that island residents are seeking clarity on the future cost. We will provide that as soon as is practical. Keep in mind that construction does not start until 2025 and the results of the EOI also need to be factored. Council needs to ensure the management model is right before committing to costs. Council’s commitment is that the car parking will be charged at an appropriate market rate. We are well aware of the cost implications and the need to keep car parking in the area viable for those who most need it.
Funding and operating model options for the new car park are currently being prepared by Redland Investment Corporation, in conjunction with potential partners, for Council’s consideration. This information will likely be released following results of the EOI.
Will there be free car parking available once the project is complete?
Yes, free car parking will continue to be available at the Marina Redland Bay at both the Moores Rd car park and on the open-air, ground level, adjacent to the ferry terminal.
Will there be time restrictions on parking at the Moores Road car park?
Council is not currently planning on implementing time restrictions the Moores Rd car park.
Stage 1 of the Weinam Creek PDA project provided over 500 car parks for precinct.
The intention of the Moores Rd car park at the time of opening was to offer initial relief to car parking pressures immediately, with the long-term vision to eventually move the boat trailer parking from the northern side of the creek to Moores Rd. This change will allow trailer parking on the northern side of the creek to be converted to car parking so that prime commuter parking is more accessible to Southern Moreton Bay Island residents.
It is important to note that over the course of the project construction period, car parking will continue to change and evolve. This is necessary to allow Council to provide as much available parking as possible within the PDA while the project takes shape.
Where will Southern Moreton Bay Island commuters park during the construction of the multi-level car park?
Everything possible is being done to find temporary car spaces to ensure the area remains fully functional when construction of the multi-storey car park starts in 2025. Council are making every effort to compensate for the loss of car parks during works stages.
During the course of the project construction period, car parking will continue to change and evolve.
To support these changes and continue to provide as much parking possible during this inconvenient transition, Council, in partnership with Redland Investment Corporation are working on an alternative car parking solution that will include temporary parking. The first stage of temporary car parking will be available on Banana Street, Redland Bay from April 2024.
Further alternative solutions are currently being finalised as part of an overall temporary parking strategy. Full details will be shared in early mid-2024 and the strategy will be implemented prior to construction starting on the multi-level car park in 2025.
Where will disabled parking be available during construction?
Council recognises the importance of providing easy access to disabled car parking, close to the Marina Redland Bay ferry terminal.
Designated disabled car parking will be available to the north of the ferry terminal, within close walking distance. These changes will be made available for the construction of the multi-level car park from 2025.
Where will car share vehicles be available during construction?
Redland Investment Corporation, on behalf of Council continues to work closely with stakeholders of the Weinam Creek PDA project.
Council endeavours to continue to provide designated car share spaces within close proximity to the Marina Redland Bay ferry terminal both prior to and during the construction period so that business as usual operations can be maintained as much as possible.
Will the bus still have access to the ferry terminal during construction?
Yes. Bus access to and from the Marina Redland Bay ferry terminal will continue throughout construction stages of the Weinam Creek PDA project.
During the later stages of construction for the new loop road, a temporary bus stop will be provided to ensure that bus service operations will not be affected.
Will there be disability access to the multi-level car park from the Marina Redland Bay ferry terminal?
Yes. Disability access friendly designs have been considered with the view to enhance connectivity throughout the Weinam Creek PDA project. Special consideration to maximise disability access to and from the multi-level car park, including elevator access is being included in the final designs.
How will Council fund the Weinam Creek PDA project?
Redland City Council has always had a clear vision for the Weinam Creek PDA precinct that responds to the community's needs.
The approved Weinam Creek masterplan is the result of extensive community consultation and has been designed to create a community precinct, meeting the requirements of the Development Scheme, that was informed by community feedback.
During planning stages for the project, Council identified that to achieve the precinct vision for the community, public-private partnerships, providing retail and residential uses, would be required to help fund the works and reduce cost Redland City Council ratepayers.
A development partner is currently being sought to partially fund and deliver the project.