THE council redevelopment of Weinam Creek has been described as a social and environmental disaster by Redlands Greens spokesman David Keogh.
Mr Keogh said the proposed 600 lot car park to service Southern Moreton Bay Island ferry users would help stymie the development of better public transport and Redland councillors should think again.
“The proposed 600 lot car park represents a lost opportunity to improve public transport in the Redlands,” he said. “Redlands is already highly congested in part due to out of sequence and inappropriate development.
“The road network is not designed for the current, let alone future population to get to work, school, shop or generally get around.”
Council put up a draft plan for Weinam Creek after a public private sector proposal with Walker Corp fell over.
The plan is aimed at easing chronic mainland parking issues for bay island residents and includes multi-level car parks, residential areas, restaurants, walkways and a boat ramp.
It links the ferry terminal via a pedestrian bridge to the former Moore’s Farm development area on the southern side of the creek but has been opposed by many residents.
Cr Mark Edwards said Mr Keogh needed to talk to islanders and how they felt about Weinam Creek parking.
He said the priority development would allow council not only to address long term parking issues but properly open up the foreshore to the public.
“The PDA will allow us to make the area more usable for everyone,” Cr Edwards said.
“This has been years in the making and we need to get on with it. Mr Keogh’s ideas are no solution to the problems at Weinam Creek.”
Cr Edwards said redevelopment of the site, better parking, better facilities for buses and ferries, introduction of faster ferries would lead to overall improved public transport use.
Mr Keogh said the problem with Weinam was the escalating population of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.
“To extend the car-parking is using a 20th century solution to a 21st century problem,” he said.
“Here is a golden opportunity to re-direct the funding into establishing a high frequency public transport system based on buses and utilising the local tax service.
“What is needed is the recognition that the current proposal will ruin the local area bringing in more traffic, scaring away the local koalas and wildlife and generally adding noise and disruption.”
The Greens proposed a low-priced bus fare complemented by a similar taxi-based scheme similar to that which operated at Logan.
He said Redlands had an opportunity to set up the first link into a fully integrated public transport network.
“Building an ugly car-park will not solve the problem but make it worse,” he said.
“A fully functioning public transport system would relieve many islanders of having to keep a car on the mainland.
“Council needs to listen to the objections of the community and think again.”
Cr Edwards said if it turned out that sufficient parks could be provided through a multi-level car park, he would have no qualms about having another look at how the Moore’s farm site on the southern side of the creek was used.
