COUNCIL has budgeted $3.1 million for Weinam Creek during the same financial year that sees the Southern Moreton Bay Island Translink levy come to an end.
Mayor Karen Williams says the levy – designed to set up the Translink service for the islands – would end on December 31.
“This levy … has done its job with about 1400 trips a day on the service,” Cr Williams said.
“...It is now over to Translink to maintain all the benefits residents have enjoyed once the agreement expires.”
Cr Williams said she would tell Transport Minister Mark Bailey the community expected him to honour the commitment made in 2013 to keep the service in place.
She said this was part of council’s push for the state government to fulfill its responsibility to fund marine infrastructure for the islands.
“This would allow us to invest in intergenerational projects such as Weinam Creek.
“The alternative to the state government funding marine public transport is that the city – and that means ratepayers – will have to pay more.
“We cannot continue to be the only council of our size that pays for such marine transport projects which are the responsibility of the state.”
Cr Williams said council was planning to borrow money for the Weinam Creek project.
The budget includes spending on the Green Seal road program on the bay islands.
The Rural Fire Brigade special charge stays at $20 per year and the charge for standard 240 litre waste and recycling bins on the islands will increase to $30.90 a year, the same as for the mainland.
Infrastructure
COUNCIL is set to spend $4.5 million on upgrading Collins Street and School of Arts Road at Redland Bay in the next financial year.
The allocation is part of the $66.9 million capital works program which has a budget of $22.9 million for roads projects and more than $4.1 million for renewing playgrounds, parks and sports fields.
A total of $2.1 million will be spent upgrading Redlands IndigiScapes Centre to include an environmental education interpretation terrace, expanded cafe, theatre and meeting centre, outdoor amphitheatre, gardens incorporating caring for country themes and a new administration building.
Cr Williams said almost $6.5 million had been allocated for work on the canals.
“Following community consultation and changes to the way we fund canal and lake maintenance, dredging and revetment wall repairs, council has set aside $2.3 million for the Raby Bay revetment wall upgrade program, $1.13 million for Raby Bay groyne removal and $3.1 million for work at Aquatic Paradise,” Cr Williams said.
Other allocations include $700,000 for the Victoria Point barge ramp that services Coochiemudlo Island and $1.9 million for libraries, Redland Performing Arts Centre and the Redland Art Gallery.
More than $6.3 million will fund waste, water and wastewater projects.
Major projects
- Charlie Buckler sports field car park, Redland Bay: $622,000
- Three Paddocks Park car park and public amenities, Birkdale/Wellington Point: $552,000
- Station Master’s Cottage project, Cleveland: $502,000
- Village Green and streetscape upgrades, Wellington Point: $388,000
- Masters Avenue seawall, Victoria Point: $357,000
- David Parr Park renewal, Alexandra Hills: $371,000
- Cascades Gardens water feature renewal, Victoria Point: $200,000
- Willard’s Farm, Birkdale: $100,000
- Seanna Drive Park, Mount Cotton: $168,000
- Wimborne Road Park, Alexandra Hills: $164,000.
