Message from the Mayor – Get Ready Redlands
Art exhibitions showcase sustainability, femininity and an appreciation of the sea
Snakes alive when temperature rise
Clean up the bay
Go wild
Have your say on water
Boost for Coochie
Save the date
Message from the Mayor
Get Ready Redlands
You may also like these stories
The devastating scenes witnessed during the recent bushfires in New South Wales are a stark reminder of Mother Nature’s fury and unrelenting power. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been impacted by these fires.
We must all be aware that with summer fast approaching, there is always the potential for devastating weather events such as storms and fires. The fact we experienced both in the past year highlights the fact we cannot think it will not happen to us. Complacency can kill, so the time to prepare is now – do not wait for the weather alerts, do not wait for the fires to start, or the summer storms to hit. As a united community we need to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
Council takes disaster preparedness very seriously. We have already back-burned 47 hectares of land to lessen the fuel load and have a continuous program of vegetation management, maintaining hundreds of fire breaks cross the city.
In partnership with Council, 100 teams of volunteers recently distributed the Australian Red Cross’s emergency REDiPlan and the Department of Community Safety’s Bushfire Survival Plan to homes in high risk areas. These books contain important information and I encourage all residents who received them to read them carefully – they may save your life or the life of someone close to you.
Council has also developed a four-part disaster management plan, which provides residents with vital information on how to prepare for a disaster.
The first part of the plan was released in July. The second – which sets out a plan for the islands of Moreton Bay – will be released next week. The final two stages, covering the Redland City mainland, coastal and hinterland areas will be released early next year.
This level of inter-agency cooperation and planning means residents can be confident we are well prepared to cope in the event of a major disaster. But this does not mean residents; schools, businesses and other groups throughout the community do not also need to be prepared. I urge everyone to act now. The Red Cross Emergency Rediplan contains simple but important steps to help people prepare for an emergency.
Step 1: Be informed: Information is one of the best weapons against an emergency, so stay tuned to your local media, particularly the local ABC radio station and the Bureau of Meteorology for more information
Step 2: Make a plan: Being prepared can make emergencies less stressful by reducing disruptions. A guide for how to prepare an emergency plan can be found on the Red Cross website
Step 3: Prepare an emergency kit: Include items you may need if you have to evacuate your home in an emergency, or if you have to stay in your home when essential services have been cut off.
Step 4: Know your neighbours: People in a community who know each other are more likely to turn to each other for help, so getting to know your neighbours is an important part of preparing for an emergency.
Mayor Karen Williams
Redland City Council
More information
You can get a copy of the REDiPlan on the Red Cross website.
You can also download a copy of the State Government’s Bushfire Survival Plan.
Find out more about the Redlands’ disaster preparations by visiting the Get Ready Queensland website.
Exhibitions showcase sustainability, femininity and an appreciation of the sea
Three exhibitions showcasing the works of three talented artists will be exhibited at the Redland Art Gallery at Cleveland from this weekend.
The first two exhibitions will feature the works of artist Jo D’Hage in her exhibition Crafting Memory alongside her partner and fellow artist Russell Craig’s exhibition Slipstream.
The third exhibition, With or Without, will showcase the works of Nicola Moss, which raises some important questions about sustainability.
Crafting Memory continues the artists inquiry into the role and relationship between selected objects, being female and the painting process.
Russell Craig’s Slipstream is inspired by his travels and appreciation of the sea; the works act as a symbolic metaphor for the artist’s own personal journey of travelling in the slipstream of those that have gone before.
With or Without suggests we can make choices, or perhaps that choices need to be made regarding what we can we live with or without.
It explores how we are shaping our habits and activities to maintain a healthy environment in Moreton Bay – a RAMSAR site listed under the United Nations Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.
Exhibition details
- Where: Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland
- When: Sunday 3 November – Sunday 8 December
Floor talk: Floor talks and morning tea from 11am Sunday 3 November 2013
Snakes alive when temperatures rise
Residents are being warned to watch out for snakes with the warmer weather resulting in them becoming more active.
While snakes are part of living in Australia, particularly in the warmer months, residents need to be aware and take precautions.
Residents should also keep in mind that snakes are a protected species, so it is an offence to kill, injure or take snakes from the wild.
To prevent attracting snakes people should keep their yards neat and tidy and should be vigilant when they are outside gardening or hiking and wear protective clothing such as covered shoes, long pants and gloves.
People should also never interfere with a snake, with most snake bites occurring when people try to capture or kill a snake.
If anyone finds a snake they should contact an authorised snake catcher to remove it. A directory of snake catchers is provided on the Wildlife Queensland website.
Clean up the bay
Redland City Council is helping to keep the bay beautiful by supporting Clubs Queensland’s inaugural Cleaning up the Bay campaign.
Everyone is encouraged to get their workmates, friends or family together for a day by the water that will also help make a huge difference to our environment.
The initiative is encouraging locals, visitors, businesses and community groups to pitch in on Sunday 1 December to clean up the beaches and waterways.
Collection points will be set up by Council to help people dispose of rubbish, the nominated collection points are:
- Wellington Point Recreation (Main Road, Wellington Point)
- Cleveland Boat Ramp (William Street, Cleveland)
- Victoria Point (Colburn Avenue, North West Jetty)
- Redland Bay Boat Ramp (Banana Street, Redland Bay)
- Dunwich Boat Ramp (Yabby Street, Stradbroke Island)
- Amity Point Boat Ramp (Claytons Road, Stradbroke Island)
Anyone wanting to take part or for further information can visit the Clubs Queensland website.
Go wild
It’s time for budding David Attenboroughs to get snapping with the annual IndigiScapes digital photographic competition opening soon.
The popular focus on our wild Redlands opens on November 1 and offers cash prizes in a range of categories.
There are a variety of categories and age divisions, with up to $500 up for grabs.
Entries close at 4pm on Sunday 24 November, with judging and the announcement of winners on Friday 29 November. The photographs will then go on exhibition from 1-20 December.
All entries must be submitted via email to [email protected].
For conditions of entry and more information, call the Redlands IndigiScapes Centre on 3824 8611 or check out the IndigiScapes website.
Have your say on water
Are you prepared to have water restrictions during drought if it means a cheaper supply year round?
These and other important questions are at the centre of a State Government review of south-east Queensland’s water security.
Redlanders have been encouraged to have their say as part of a State Government discussion paper which will help determine the long-term management of our water resources.
The aim is to make sure there is enough water to supply community needs now and into the future at the lowest cost.
The State Government review team particularly wants to know about the level of water restrictions people are prepared to face during droughts as a way of reducing future water supply costs.
To find out more and have your say on the proposed water security measures, visit their website.
Boost for Coochie
Community sessions on Coochiemudlo Island have led to design modifications for the island’s new jetty.
Almost 200 Coochiemudlo Island residents and property owners took the opportunity in September to view and comment on the proposed design for the island’s link with the mainland.
Involving nearly a quarter of the island’s population, the engagement process included a public display day on the island and promotion through social media and letters to island residents.
While the overall design was clearly supported by most islanders, a number of popular design modifications were suggested that have since been incorporated into the specifications for the new $3.5 million jetty project being jointly funded by the Queensland Government and Redland City Council.
Island residents and property owners have been advised of the results of the community consultation.
Dredging has been completed in preparation for construction of the new jetty, due to begin early next year.
Save the date
‘Tis (almost) the festive season – which means Christmas by Starlight is just around the corner. This year the popular community event will be held on Saturday 7 December, so watch this space for more detail.
