Div 6: Preserving Redcliffe’s seaside charms for generations to come

Published 17 June 2022

Coastal living is synonymous with Redcliffe, which is exactly what Cr Karl Winchester (Div 6) wants to protect as the Peninsula’s population grows.

Cr Winchester said that would mean greater efforts to protect our natural environments, better design for built environments and preserve the Peninsula’s heritage and history.

Top of that priority list is setting money aside to either retain or rebuild the historic Sutton’s Beach Pavilion,” he said.

We have budgeted $2.2 million for this project, to ensure there is money there even before the invasive testing into the viability of the structure has concluded or the precinct’s future is determined.

Whatever the outcome, it is my heartfelt belief that governments need to be doing a lot more to preserve the art deco charm of Redcliffe that sets it apart from other coastal communities in Queensland.

;So I’m proud we are taking action on this front.

We’re also protecting our beautiful foreshore from erosion and inundation by continuing the Charlish Park seawall restoration, to improve safety and make a new beachfront access point.

This Budget even goes beyond the traditional remit of Council, to deliver community-minded solutions that locals have been lobbying for.

We will invest $1.5 million converting the old Pensioners Hall into a homelessness support hub in Redcliffe.

The project will continue into 2023/24 and has $3 million in funding committed from the State's South East Queensland Community Stimulus Program.

While we will need all three levels of government closely together to properly address this challenge, and it’s a growing challenge, I’m proud to be part of a Council that’s doing what we can while we work with our government partners.

More than anything I want to ensure our kids and our kids’ kids grow up here enjoying the same kind of freedoms and active lifestyles we had.

So we’re renewing nine netball courts at KR Benson Park, with a massive $1.38 million overhaul of this incredibly popular sporting precinct thanks largely to support from the Queensland Government.

We’re upgrading the lighting at Ray Frawley Fields with a $600,000 investment, as well as giving the lights at Bradley Park an $800,000 upgrade thanks to Federal Government funding and we’ll spend $300,000 on playground upgrades at Pelican Park in Clontarf.

In keeping with the Council’s vision of “Going Green as we Grow” there’s $370,000 allocated towards progressing the Margate Civic District Park development.

I believe it’s important to traders and local families that we lock in greenspace while delivering a drawcard in the heart of Margate that might help bring more foot traffic for businesses and provide public space for locals to relax and enjoy a coffee.”

Budget 2022-23 delivers a record $259 million capital works program to provide the infrastructure and investments locals have told us they want to see in their communities, via feedback in the Moreton Says survey. This Council wants to ensure our priorities align with our community’s values.

Budget Highlights for Division 6

• $2.2 million towards rebuilding or restoring the Suttons Beach Pavilion
• $1.5 million to construct a homelessness support hub in Redcliffe, with Queensland Government support
• $1.38 million for netball court renewal at KR Benson Park in Clontarf, with Queensland Government support
• $800,000 for a lighting upgrade to the Bradley Park sports field, Redcliffe
• $600,000 for lighting renewal at Ray Frawley Fields in Clontarf, with Federal Government support
• $535,000 for road resurfacing along Lilla Street Woody Point 
• $530,000 Seawall Renewal at Charlish Park, Redcliffe (South - Stage 1)
• $370,000 towards land acquisition for the Margate Civic District Park Development
• $320,000 for stormwater renewal along Hawthorne Street in Woody Point
• $300,000 for the Pelican Park playground renewal at Clontarf

Video transcript