Friday, August 27, 2010

Beware of Social Media Impersonators

Last night, I was informed that there was a new Twitter Account, "Karenwcouncil", that had begun to tweet information about Redland City Council which could make others believe that it is me.  This illustrates some of the dangers of social media and I would like to caution any of my genuine "followers" or "friends" to always be careful and cautious of the potential risk of identity fraud on social media.  For anyone interested in following the Real ME on Twitter, my username is CrKarenWilliams.

This "fraudster" is already following a number of my "followers" and I recommend that you block their tweets unless they are willing to disclose their true identity.   I have already sought advice from the administrators of Twitter and the police in relation to any offences that may have been committed.

I assure you that whenever I write, post, or tweet, I have the integrity to ALWAYS use my real name, and include a photograph where possible. Why? - because I believe in transparency and I write what I believe is factual and worthy of an identity.

Clearly this impersonator is closely related to someone within Council and people should question why someone in this position would need to lower themselves to such a level in an attempt to discredit me or others who may use these networks.

This debate about the use of pseudonyms or nom de plume in social media has been recently debated on the Bayside Bulletin blog where, in some instances, defamatory remarks about me and others crossed the line of acceptable standards.  To the Bayside Bulletin's credit, those remarks were removed. See link @ Bayside Bulletin.

I will continue to use these networks to ensure that people have genuine access to my values and beliefs as a representative, and to information that will assist us to make better decisions for the future of Redland City.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Council Fails To Acquire Strategic Foreshore Land for Public Use




Redland City shares approximately 48 km of its boundary with the beautiful Moreton Bay. Only about 8km is foreshore parkland and is publicly owned and accessible. Of this 8km, we share 1.5km with significant transport hubs such as Weinam Creek and Toondah Harbour, neither of which are are appealing for a day out with the family or visitors. Compared to other bayside areas like Redcliffe, we have failed to make greater use of our foreshore areas and its natural assets for both lifestyle and tourism opportunities.

Weinam Creek – Redland Bay Foreshore Masterplan

  • The current vision for Weinam Creek is to spend $5million dollars ripping up the car park right on the waterfront and re-bitumening it in the same place for less “user pay”car parks. This is not something that I have supported as it neither meets the needs of the Bay Island and Mainland communities nor is it visionary enough to excite anyone to use it for anything other than a transport hub. There are solutions which are either being ignored or require more visionary leadership than currently exists to make it happen.  These solutions would require partnerships with private and public entities.  

Toondah Harbour

  • Further north along Redland's foreshore, we have similar opportunities that have recently been lost. How the Mayor and Council managed to miss this opportunity is yet to be understood? This question needs to be answered. Why did the months of negotiations between CSIRO and Council to purchase this land end without warning? Who fell asleep at the wheel? Were we even driving? The negotiations allowing for a “priority sale” between one government body to another had been happening for a year!! No explanation from anyone on how this happened and where to from here.

It is beginning to feel like a clock going backwards at a Dutch auction on employment and lifestyle opportunities in “Deadlands”.  Not only has Redland City lost ANOTHER 100 jobs at this 30 year old facility, it has lost future strategic opportunities to improve the existing public space into something more than apartments next to a bitumen ferry and barge terminal.

The priority to purchase this CSIRO land far outweighs the recent examples of Council's land purchases but unfortunately it seems this has not been treated with the same amount of enthusiasm and vigour.

Aerial Photo of CSIRO land at Toondah Harbour                                                                                                                      Map c/- Google Earth



I encourage you seek an explanation from all levels of government on why Redlands and its future potential is being ignored and forgotten again!