Letters to the editor

Being a dog owner and regular market goer, I was shocked at the large number of dogs, despite signs being put up.

I have never seen a ranger at the market and when I queried this with Redland City Council, I was told the ruling was rarely enforced. I never took my dogs there.

Moving back to Cleveland this year, I noticed market signs were gone and stall holders told me dogs were permitted.

I have been walking to the market most Sundays with my small dog. I thought to myself  “at last, the council has woken up”.

A letter you published states “not everyone is a dog lover”. Well, not everyone is a child lover – at least uncontrolled children.

My dog – and every other dog I have seen at the market – is always on a lead and under control. Sometimes I think this ruling should be extended to kids, many of whom are free rein. I bear the scars of a child pushing a stroller without adult supervision.

Where can I lodge a complaint about strollers? If someone complains about dogs and gets them banned, the same should apply for any other presence at the markets. 

- C. Ford, Cleveland

REGARDING the dogs at markets, I do not agree with writers saying dogs are part of the atmosphere. That is rubbish.

If the dogs could speak, they would say “no way”. Do they want to be dragged around the hot street with all those human feet? It’s not fair to dogs or people.

I live with people who have a cat and dog and I do love them but not to drag around like a trophy. Congratulations council. You have made the right choice.

- N. Gardiner, Bribie Island

I WRITE to correct numerous mistakes the Raby Bay Ratepayers Association makes in its latest Raby Bay News.

The association is doing Raby Bay residents a disservice by swallowing council’s spin on the Raby Bay canals but complaining about council’s ineptitude privately.

Council did not continue its canal wall engineering because the association requested it, as the association claims, council has a statutory obligation to do so.

Council also had no right to run an expensive consultation.

The association praises council for offering to contribute 10 per cent of revetment wall repairs and reconstruction. Isn’t this less than what it contributes now? Hasn’t the association demanded more? Haven’t we ratepayers always covered wall repair costs and more with our levies and high rates?

The association claims council’s new method of funding through general rates will enable council to “address emerging problems straight away rather than wait for a new implementation plan to be adopted”.

This statement defies belief. In the past seven years, council has been unable to produce a correct implementation plan.

Hasn’t council removed the levy because it couldn’t put an end-date and a budget on revetment wall repairs, as is required?

Hasn’t it reimbursed ratepayers some levy payments because council failed its statutory obligations? Isn’t there now a class action because of council ineptitude?

I’m embarrassed the association, like our two councillors, is captive of council’s spin.

- Z. Johnston, Raby Bay

THE destruction of Toondah Harbour and its foreshore is being contemplated by Redland City Council.

We are not to be aware before the desecration has been agreed to by council and this state Labor government. When are we to know what councillors think of proposals put before them?

The last I heard was that mangroves were to be removed. When will we be told that the remains of the two islanders who are buried there will be moved to an area as near as possible to where they have lain with dignity befitting their race?

- F. Bradley, Cleveland

THE distance from the roundabout at Wellington Point to the traffic lights at Finucane Road is 2.7 kilometres.

In this distance there are seven sets of traffic lights and two roundabouts, not including the roundabout at Wellington Point or the stop lights on Finucane Road. This requires motorists to prepare to stop an average every 300 metres.

I find that if you have to stop at the Jones Road/Daveson Road lights, you have to stop at every subsequent set of lights.

The answer is for Brewer Street to be extended to Jones Road so people can use the Jones Road/Daveson Road stop-lights to access Old Cleveland Road East.

If there is to be no minimum distance between lights, residents will also want lights at Arcadia Street, Nottingham Street, Burbank Road and other side streets and we can all trade our cars for pushbikes.

- D. Skiggs, Birkdale

I AGREE with David Keogh when he says the development of Weinman Creek is a lost opportunity (RCB, Oct 3).

The public may have been consulted  but I doubt most Redland Bay residents would agree with council’s priority for our wonderful foreshore – car parks.

It suits island commuters, who are a large portion of the voters in Division 5, which probably explains why this has happened. Certainly, Cr Mark Edwards has been declaring parking as the priority.

Given the massive housing developments it must surely be time to realign council electoral divisions and give people a say over their most significant asset, their foreshore.

- G. O’Brien, Redland Bay

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