A conservation group had to remove its banner and stop its petition at the IndigiScapes environment and community fair after council deemed it political.
Group member Vicki Salisbury said two hours into the event Redland City Council staff told volunteers their Save the Bay - Toondah Harbour banner was a negative message for such an event and they could not have a petition at the stall.
"We removed the banner and petition immediately," she said.
Ms Salisbury said the aim was to share information on ACF and what it was doing to help solve the climate crisis and protect endangered wildlife.
"We set up our stall with printed materials such as banners with Save Our Bay -Toondah Harbour, Climate Action Now, endangered animal stickers and informative brochures about ACF including Toondah Harbour."
"We also created a petition asking the Redlands City Council for genuine community engagement about the Walker Corporation's proposal for the construction of 3600 apartments in the Ramsar listed wetlands," she said.
Ms Salisbury said council's actions at the event created a free speech issue.
A council spokesperson said the fair aimed to provide a family friendly event for people to learn more about sustainable living and create awareness of what IndigiScapes was doing to build connections with the environment and offer opportunities for growth.
"Council officers determined that the erection of a large banner for a political purpose, as well as approaching event attendees to sign a petition, did not align with the purpose of the fair," he said.
"The ACF were permitted to remain at the event on the basis they provided proactive, non-political environmental education messages as per the intent of their application and approval to be there."
In preparation for the event, stall holders were emailed a list of policies and procedures.
Ms Salisbury said all the council material had been carefully read and there was no mention of a restriction on petitions, or the presentation of any Toondah Harbour material.
The council spokesperson said stall holders had agreed to direction by council staff in relation to the operation of stalls.
"Stall holders also agreed that any conduct determined to be unsatisfactory could have resulted in a requirement to leave the event," he said.
