Tom Sharp's
Blog
04-02-2021
SHARP COMMENT 11 - Scenic Rim Regional Council has stepped on another land mine
Scenic Rim Regional Council has stepped on another land mine, one they laid themselves, that has blown up in their face.
You have to give them a 10 for consistency.
The matter relates to the proposed Beaudesert Town Revitalisation Project and the demolition of the Helen Street Pig and Calf Saleyards to make way for a car park.
Following a failed community consultation process (some 90 people) the SRRC ploughed ahead with plans to demolish the saleyards only to be confronted with two petitions from the people of Beaudesert and surrounds (some 1200 people) appealing for Council to leave the saleyards well alone and to preserve the town’s rural lifestyle and heritage as per Council’s own “community plan”.
Council should have been well aware of community rumblings, and on the flip side local lobbying efforts alerted the people to the fact that their petition was going to fall on deaf ears where Council was concerned.
The people acted, and with the help of Beaudesert Lawyer Cliff Kroesen, made an application to the Queensland Heritage Council for the saleyards to be added to its register and hence stop the demolition.
On the 21 September 2020, Council knowing full well the position of the people, voted against the people they represent and decided not to support the yards being included in the register citing that the yards did not meet State Heritage criteria.
It was announced last Friday that the saleyards did meet the criteria and that the Queensland Heritage Council will be adding the saleyards to the heritage register.
No doubt the SRRC submission will make for interesting reading, should it ever see the light of day. One wonders how the SRRC could get it so wrong and its interests be so out of touch with the people it represents. Then again, it is my understanding that the SRRC CEO doesn’t even live in the Scenic Rim and is a resident of the Gold Coast.
Where to now, with regards to the Town Revitalisation Project? Thankfully, Council will be able to shed light on this for the people at the next Ordinary Meeting set down for Tuesday, 9 February - or will it go silent and defer the matter for a “confidential briefing or workshop” away from the public eye allowing the spin doctors time for some sort of damage control. Methinks the latter.
Cliff Kroesen has been quoted as suggesting that now that the site has been heritage listed, he hopes all parties can get behind the saleyards, and that it is important that everyone works with Council, and Council works with the people of the region.
We now have the added problem that by Council’s own admission the saleyards have not been properly maintained and that the saleyards may be heavily conditioned by the Heritage Council in terms of additions, drainage, security, materials to be used for maintenance, and their use. All of which could have been avoided if the Council had properly consulted with the community and actually listened to the people it is meant to represent.
The precinct presents a major opportunity for incorporating our rural heritage and becoming a drawcard bringing people into Beaudesert. Council should consult with our business leaders and the people to explore that very potential and the many options surrounding it.
In relation to Council’s determination to build a car park on the saleyards site, why are they ploughing down this destructive and wasteful path?
Hopefully we can shed some light on this over the coming months.
In the meantime, I can only congratulate Mr Kroesen and the people on their win.
You have to give them a 10 for consistency.
The matter relates to the proposed Beaudesert Town Revitalisation Project and the demolition of the Helen Street Pig and Calf Saleyards to make way for a car park.
Following a failed community consultation process (some 90 people) the SRRC ploughed ahead with plans to demolish the saleyards only to be confronted with two petitions from the people of Beaudesert and surrounds (some 1200 people) appealing for Council to leave the saleyards well alone and to preserve the town’s rural lifestyle and heritage as per Council’s own “community plan”.
Council should have been well aware of community rumblings, and on the flip side local lobbying efforts alerted the people to the fact that their petition was going to fall on deaf ears where Council was concerned.
The people acted, and with the help of Beaudesert Lawyer Cliff Kroesen, made an application to the Queensland Heritage Council for the saleyards to be added to its register and hence stop the demolition.
On the 21 September 2020, Council knowing full well the position of the people, voted against the people they represent and decided not to support the yards being included in the register citing that the yards did not meet State Heritage criteria.
It was announced last Friday that the saleyards did meet the criteria and that the Queensland Heritage Council will be adding the saleyards to the heritage register.
No doubt the SRRC submission will make for interesting reading, should it ever see the light of day. One wonders how the SRRC could get it so wrong and its interests be so out of touch with the people it represents. Then again, it is my understanding that the SRRC CEO doesn’t even live in the Scenic Rim and is a resident of the Gold Coast.
Where to now, with regards to the Town Revitalisation Project? Thankfully, Council will be able to shed light on this for the people at the next Ordinary Meeting set down for Tuesday, 9 February - or will it go silent and defer the matter for a “confidential briefing or workshop” away from the public eye allowing the spin doctors time for some sort of damage control. Methinks the latter.
Cliff Kroesen has been quoted as suggesting that now that the site has been heritage listed, he hopes all parties can get behind the saleyards, and that it is important that everyone works with Council, and Council works with the people of the region.
We now have the added problem that by Council’s own admission the saleyards have not been properly maintained and that the saleyards may be heavily conditioned by the Heritage Council in terms of additions, drainage, security, materials to be used for maintenance, and their use. All of which could have been avoided if the Council had properly consulted with the community and actually listened to the people it is meant to represent.
The precinct presents a major opportunity for incorporating our rural heritage and becoming a drawcard bringing people into Beaudesert. Council should consult with our business leaders and the people to explore that very potential and the many options surrounding it.
In relation to Council’s determination to build a car park on the saleyards site, why are they ploughing down this destructive and wasteful path?
Hopefully we can shed some light on this over the coming months.
In the meantime, I can only congratulate Mr Kroesen and the people on their win.