Candidate for Redland City, Division 5, 2020

The Redlands inspires and challenges.

I first saw the red colour of its fertile soil some 30 years ago as a young man when my mother, and aunt and uncle, purchased some land on Macleay Island (Alcheringa). Back then there was no real infrastructure on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI). The mainland side of the Redlands, was starting to take off in terms of population, facilities and popularity.

Macleay Island became my permanent home in 2015 although I’d worked in the Redlands for decades as an audio visual engineer, outside broadcasting technician and IT professional.

I am community and wildlife focused and wish to serve on the Redland City Council as a Division 5 councillor. Division 5 encompasses part of Redland Bay on the bay side of Moogurrapum Creek across to Serpentine Creek Road and down Christopher Street to the waterline and the four Southern Moreton Bay Islands (Macleay, Russell, Karragarra and Lamb). All places I have worked or lived in and/or visited for many years.

There is a wide and varied cross-section of Australian citizens whose needs, wants and dreams must be supported. Some 11,000 people will get to cast their vote for who they consider will best understand and represent their views.

As Vice President of the Macleay Island Local Ambulance Committee (MILAC), I listened to the SMBI community and those in Redland Bay regarding the need for additional paramedics being assigned to the islands and the water ambulance. A petition with over 2,000 signatures was delivered to the Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services Steven Miles MP, the State Member for Redlands Kim Richards MP, and Cr Mark Edwards, Division 5 Councillor. I worked closely with my fellow committee members to achieve a favourable outcome for the community and the hospitals on the mainland – particularly Redland Hospital.

There are a number of points of contention across Division 5 as well as the whole Redland City Council Local Government Area. Our Councillors need to be better listeners, be better informed, and be better communicators if our mission is to serve our current and future population.

I am an active member of the SMBI Listeners which focuses on using “lived experiences” of residents to work with government departments such as Queensland Health and Education Queensland and community organisations such as the Benevolent Society and the Dusseldorp Forum to develop community-lead support and services for newborns to 8-year-old children and their families.

Redland City Council has a stylised koala as its logo which serves as a reminder that it’s not just people that Council cares about/should care about.

I am a wildlife rescuer and carer and would like to see a better focus on wildlife care and protection, and the preservation of flora. Land management affects so much in our environment and I would make it a priority to work with the Quandamooka People, Redland citizens and the QFES and other agencies and organisations to ensure we implement best practice land management to protect our lives, properties and environment.

Few would deny that our summers are getting hotter and longer. I believe we need to do something to reduce the impact and severity of bush fires. Hazard reduction burns don’t have the window of opportunity they used to have. Our landscape needs to be supportive for both humans and animals and wildlife.

I’ve already been listening and will continue to work with you and for you to:

• Ensure that the Redlands never loses its “feel”.
  • Work towards a balance of open spaces and nature corridors and property developments.


• Endeavour to keep housing affordable and practical as the population grows.
  • Streetscapes become cluttered and traffic and rubbish removal is restricted when there is a lack of off-street parking.


• Keep the reduction of hazardous road surfaces as well as footpaths and bike-ways on the agenda.
  • Partially surfaced roads like those found on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands are unacceptable in any permanent community and the health effects of silicosis are real.
  • I would also fight for the extension of a footpath on Russell Island to take in Sandy Beach and Rocky Point.


• Enhance the accessibility of areas like Sandy Beach so they can be fully utilised as evacuation points and to also make sure that Sandy Beach is properly developed as an evacuation area.
  • I would work with Council to ensure that all Redlands residents, but especially islanders, are aware of evacuation routes and the Council’s disaster management plans.


• Ensure resources are available to keep our local residents active and engaged within the community and where possible employed locally.
  • Together with Council, I would use my lobbying skills to work with State Government to develop better public transport and parking for all residents in keeping with population projections.


• Ensure better public transport to and from our Redlands public and private hospitals.
  • My Local Ambulance Committee experiences also tell me that hospital discharge times may also need to be assessed, especially from the emergency department. Ferries to the islands currently do not run 24/7. This then impacts on the amount of patients in hospital and affects the Redlands community as a whole.


• Enhance public transport as a whole for mainlaind and island residents and look at current and future transport options for SMBI commuters.
  • If Macleay, Russell, Lamb and Karragarra Islands move from being primarily places of retirement and leisure, the transport needs will dramatically change as more people move on and off the islands for work and schooling. Current ferry timetables and parking may not be compatible with work hours and the extra commute.

I can make a positive contribution to Redland City Council as I have no “conflicts of interest” and believe in working for the good of the community. I am dedicated in all of my professional and personal endeavours and have the time and energy to commit to becoming a Division 5 Councillor if elected.

Even if not listed above, your concerns will become my concerns and part of my action plan for you. I will seek, consult, evaluate, discuss, inform and achieve for my diverse mainland and island community. The Redlands will be in good hands if I am elected to Division 5 as your Counsellor.

Authorised by: Hilton Travis (10 Alkira Street, Macleay Island, Qld, 4184)

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