Letters to the editor

I'd like to provide some alarming information from correspondence received late last year from the council's general manager, community and customer services department, with regard to another car park sale.

The information received came from my inquiries regarding the sale to LJ Hooker of the shady and much used, public car park at 2-16 Wynyard Street, Cleveland.

The car park is the one closest to Coles and the Suncorp Bank.

Basically the response from council indicated that the parking lot was transferred to RIC in order to generate money and stimulate a rejuvenation of the Cleveland CBD.

No answer was supplied as to why this busy car park was chosen to be sold but, as seems a stock response with the increasing loss of parking in Cleveland, it was suggested that replacement car parking would be provided at the Redlands Performing Arts Centre at the other end of town. 

Of greatest concern was the response as to the process. I asked if the land was for public sale and how it was marketed.

I quote: “The potential sale of the property was discussed with more than 10 parties in 2015-16. Three of the 10 parties who were approached then presented offers for the land parcel.”

And “the sales process was in line with laws and regulations governing the Redland Investment Corporation's (RIC) company operations and it acted in the best financial interest of the council and the local community.”

Worryingly, in response to my query as to why ratepayers were not given a chance to comment on the sale of such an important piece of public land, the answer was “that there is no obligation to carry out public consultation prior to the sale of land.”

There may be no legal obligation, but one would think a transparent and open council would do so in every instance.

How can public land be not offered for public sale in order to ensure the best possible return for the community?

The fact that RIC approached only a few parties seems not only a dubious sales scheme but one which should loudly sound propriety alarm bells throughout the city.

Even though the RIC apparently met laws and regulations governing the RIC it leaves a decidedly bad smell in the air.

- B. Whitelaw, Cleveland

I WOULD like to thank my family, friends, the Stradbroke/Capalaba Buffalo Lodge, Redlands National ervicemen’s Association, Wellington Point Lawn Bowls, Redlands Baden-Powell Guild and the many people who sent me flowers and cards in the loss of husband Neil.

Unfortunately Neil lost his battle with motor neuron disease on February 1 and you do not realise how prolific this dreadful disease is until you start talking about it.

It is just amazing how many people know of someone who also lost the same battle or are going through it now and I would like to take the opportunity to encourage everyone to make a donation, no matter how small, to Associate Professor Trent Woodruff who has started human trials this year of a Queensland-developed treatment for the deadly neurological condition.

At this stage there is no cure and no treatments that markedly slow its progression and it can affect people of all ages, even children.

So please when you win Lotto or you have some spare money and you do not know what to spend it on, keep this worthy cause in mind.

It is absolutely devastating to have to sit back and watch your loved one slowly lose every muscle throughout their body and there is no way it can be controlled or cured.

- B. Geary, Birkdale

I WRITE in support of D. Baxter “Bullying a power game” (RCB, Mar 14).

Governments, the education system or parents cannot teach children that bullying is not right when it is thrust in their faces via TV and the media.

How can kids get a right perspective on bullying when commentators, and even the Aussie cricket captain, promote sledging as an acceptable part of the game.

Kids see their sporting idols, particularly cricketers, bullying the opposition on the field every match under the guise of sledging.

I have given up watching cricket because of the un-gentlemanly behaviour on and off the field. I am 70 and was bullied at school but just turned my back and got on with life. It is a matter of choice.

Bullies have the problem not those being bullied.

- L. and B. Sorrell, Cleveland

I DROVE past my neighbor on the weekend who was mowing grass in the gutter.

I live on a corner with two drain grates and over the past 15 years, I have cleaned gutters to let water drain.

Age is making this a bit harder and after heavy rain my corner resembles a lake.

In all those years I can remember seeing or being aware of a street sweeper only once attending to the gutters.

We can get fined if we park on nature strips or over kerbs as it is classed as council property but on the other hand we are expected to maintain these for council at our own expense. And for the price we pay for rates surely we can get the gutters swept.

I know it has been wet lately, but drive around most streets in Cleveland and see the amount of rubbish and growth in the gutters and kerbs. It is disgraceful.

Seems the only way you can get the gutters cleaned is to ring and complain.

- C. Ford, Cleveland