Job Losses On Straddie Add To Negative Job Growth in Redlands

On Wednesday evening I moved a motion asking Council to request a repeal of the recent Nth Stradbroke Protection and Sustainability Act 2011 for various reasons.  (See below)  Interestingly, rather than discussing the real issues , they decided to make it personal - as only some Councillors know how! Just because I don't support their position they haul out the personal attacks alleging political affiliations,  donations from mining companies etc.  Quite hilarious really – The Mayor insinuated I was an LNP member because I laid a wreath on ANZAC DAY on behalf of the Federal Member for Bowman?  For the record, I am not a member of any political party and have not received donations from any mining company but I did lay the wreath upon the request of the MC at the ANZAC Ceremony.

  

The motion was lost 9-1.  In response, the  Mayor put forward a Mayoral Minute which is included below. 

Some Councillors claimed not to know about SaveStraddie campaign was about, yet are members of the organisations that fund it. (WPSQ, CARP, FOSI, SIMO etc)

For the record, I refuse, regardless of party politics, to accept dodgy legislation done on the run that does not adequately consider and mitigate the impacts imposed.  Unfortunately, we are increasingly exposed to this from the State eg Water Reform, Pool Legislation, etc. The more we accept it – the more they dish out!

The debate clearly demonstrated that Council's position was not to request a repeal of this legislation therefore they must support it. In fact, you will read in the Mayoral Minute that the Mayor actually "welcomed the announcement". 

Welcome sign at Dunwich before Easter Saturday Rally.

While Councillors sat on the fence watching these jobs evaporate in Redland City, they were quietly hoping that no-one would notice their silence and they could secretly support the very green groups that support them. 

I was hoping to give you a link to the Redland Times online article but it seems it has been withdrawn after a stern email from the Mayor!

19.2   NOTICE GIVEN BY CR WILLIAMS (DIVISION 9)

19.2.1  REPEAL OF NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND PROTECTION AND SUSTAINABILITY ACT 2011

On the 20 April 2011, Cr Williams gave notice that she intends to move as follows:

That Council resolve to put forward their complete rejection of the recent “North Stradbroke Island Protection and Sustainability Act 2011” to the State Government requesting a repeal and outlining concerns with particular objections to:

a)    The loss of direct and indirect jobs in Redland City and in particular  North Stradbroke Island;

b)   The transitional economic planning being removed from Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation and transferred to Department of Environment & Resource Management;

c)    The lack of consideration for Native Title discussions by allocating 20% National Park without broad consultation prior to an ILUA being signed; and

d)   The mapping of National Park being placed over the Water Treatment Plant without any explanation of how that will impact on future water supply.

BLIGH’S WATER PLAN COSTS JOBS IN REDLAND CITY

Job losses in Redland City seem to be the flavour of our future under Mayor Melva’s administration.  First we lose Fisher & Paykel and their associated employment. Then the State Government barged into North Stradbroke with legislation leaving up to 650 people (direct and indirect) without future employment. Mayor Melva has publicly stated she has “No position on this”. And now, it seems, Mayor Melva has not even been able to protect what she has the most control over – Council jobs.

I feel this latest move by Redland City Council to sack workers in an effort to balance the books is prematurely “callous”. Though Bligh is clearly responsible for our current water fiasco, you have to ask why and how Council allowed themselves to be placed in this situation.

While there is definitely a need to tighten the financial belt, some very serious questions should be asked as to why now? Why such a serious long term decision to cut staff, when the proposed State Government’s short term CPI cap on water is only for 2 years and we have no detail beyond that?  

Ironically, Councillors proudly hang their hats on the fact that we were   ‘Queensland’s Most Sustainable City’ award winner.  Clearly, recent moves demonstrate that we are facing the fact that Council is financially unsustainable thanks to becoming so dependent on the income from our water dividends and not taking the advice to prepare for these political “bumps”. 

The chickens have now come home to roost for Redland families, and Mayor Melva and her team have a lot to answer for.  On the eve of school holidays and Easter, Redland City has the dubious honour of being the first, perhaps the only Council in Queensland, to announce job cuts in the wake of the Bligh back flip on water and CPI reform price cap.

This terrible outcome has been predictable at two levels.

The promises by Bligh at the start of the water disaster had clearly blinded Mayor Melva and her support base.  It had been stressed that Council needed to proceed with extreme caution and keep cash balances high through this politically uncertain water reform. We didn’t! 

As demonstrated in Council’s 2007/08 budget, a five-year forecast proposed cash reserves of $85m for 2010/11.  This would have allowed us to absorb the impact of Bligh’s political stunt for at least two years, whereas the most recent Budget indicates only a cash reserve of $45m. 

Where did the other $40m go; was it the Increased operational expenditure incurred in employing more management, consultants and contractors?  With Council increasing staff growth at a time when economic growth in the Redlands was going backwards, it had to end badly somewhere, and now it has.

The proposed staff job losses raise many questions about Council’s management style and approach.  Ironically, the redundancies appear to be targeting higher management positions where most of the recent growth has occurred and which will no doubt cost ratepayers the most to remove.

Mayor Melva’s Council has relied too heavily on just environmental sustainability.  Sustainability also means economic viability.  Some Councillors don’t seem to understand this fact and now families across the Redlands may pay the price.

The financial strategy adopted by other councillors last year was heavily reliant on the ‘dividends’ of the Bligh-based water business windfall, which I raised concerns about in one of my first blogs, Click here to view blog.  These dividends had not, and could not, be confirmed. Residents, ratepayers and staff have the right to demand answers.

I am now concerned at what seems to be a knee jerk reaction to "wield the axe" when we have next to no long term detail on the State Government’s plan to cap the retail price of water for two years at CPI.   

Unlike the State Government, we need a responsible approach, which demonstrates prudent long-term financial management.

It is no secret that I have been urging stronger efficiencies over the past couple of years yet have been howled down by some councillors – particularly Cr Ogilvie.  The 4.75% Council efficiency over 5 years that was offered and accepted by other Councillors was never going to be realised, because it was absorbed by the growth factor that was already built into rate increases. 

Businesses in Redlands will probably be saying “what growth?” You only need to walk around Cleveland CBD to know that opportunities are receding not growing. 

Had we adopted a more serious efficiency target when I first raised the issues, we would not now be threatening the livelihood of our staff.

The Redland Water 'Rip Off' - Wrap Up

All government decisions come at a cost to the community.  The water reform we have experienced over the past 5 years has cost billions of dollars and it will have to be paid for.  

If we encourage amendments to the current water legislation now, we will save further expenses being wasted by continuing down this path of commercialisation . 

More importantly, we need to protect our future generations from potential privatisation of water. The comparatively small cost to do this now will protect our children 

and grandchildren in the future

Though 9 out of 11 Councillors did not view this issue as urgent at last Wednesday's 

meeting (See Bayside Bulletin link), I believe the political climate (with leadership of this State 

being discussed on a daily basis and the imminent increase in water bills for Redland City) makes this issue urgent and requires our community leaders to put this on the agenda now.  

Below is the copy of a letter that has been sent by me to the Premier, Anna Bligh and the Leader/s of the Opposition.

Click here (Give Redlands Its Water Back Facebook Page) to view the page that I set up last year in

an attempt to create debate about this issue.     

Click here for Previous blog posted on this Issue - The Redland Water "Rip-Off"

31^st March 2011

Dear Premier,

As a mayoral candidate for Redland City in 2012 and a current Councillor of Redland City, I am seeking the agreement of your Government to consider a strategy that I believe will protect the long-term security of water for our community.

I acknowledge the Water Grid provides broader security for South East Queensland and that recent infrastructure, built as a result of Water Reform, must be funded.  I am hoping you will consider my proposal to ensure that water remains affordable and accessible for future generations.

1)          The four state owned levels of bureaucracy (Qld Water Commission, Linkwater, SEQWater, SEQ Water Grid Manager) are combined into one,

2)      State debt for the water grid’s new operational assets is paid for over this period of time,

3)      Water Distribution/Retail entities such as Allconnex are ultimately disbanded and responsibility returned to individual councils.

 The streamlining of these businesses is in line with the recommendations of the Weller Report and would deliver operational savings, which ultimately influences the cost of bulk water.

The rationale behind disbanding the distribution/retail businesses is supported by statements from members of your Cabinet who are insisting that Councils should now give rebates through their rates for water.  Clearly this strategy allows Councils to consider the cost of water and its impacts on its community through its rating process.  

More importantly, the final decision on water pricing remains with elected representatives who are directly accountable to their community and not just legislation.

In my view this strategy allows the Water Grid to exist, protecting SEQ from future droughts yet lessens the treatment of water as a commodity as opposed to being a necessity of life.

I trust you will consider this strategy seriously as the residents of Redland City have clearly voiced concerns over Water Reform since 2007.  This was demonstrated by a number of petitions with over 3000 signatures that I presented to Parliament through the Member for Capalaba, Michael Choi MP in 2007. 

Please be advised that this request is made on behalf of representations made to me directly by residents of Redland City and is not necessarily the view of Redland City Council.

I look forward to your reply.

Cr Karen Williams

Division 9 – Capalaba

Redland City 

Cc.   Mr Jeff Seeney Leader of the Opposition

            Mr Campbell Newman

            Mr Michael Choi MP State Member for Capalaba

            Mr Mark Robinson MP State Member for Cleveland

            Mr Peter Dowling MP State Member for Redlands