Council seeks input on temporary commercial use of park reserves

Redland City Council is inviting the community to have its say on temporary commercial activities proposed for a limited number of Redlands Coast managed park reserves.

Mayor Karen Williams said consultation was an important step in Council’s commitment to supporting sustainable levels of commercial activity for the identified public park reserves.

“Council supports a range of temporary commercial uses to help create vibrant neighbourhoods and communities,” she said.

“This includes activities such as personal fitness training, mobile food and beverage vehicles, hire of recreation equipment, low key entertainment and tourist-based activities.

“Where the State owns the park reserve, Council is required to seek approval to use the land for these secondary purposes, through a Land Management Plan.

“At this stage 31 State reserves, where Council is the trustee, have been identified as potentially suitable for temporary commercial activities.

“They are on the mainland and islands.”

Cr Williams said the consultation, until 20 November 2020, followed a recommendation in Council’s Redland Open Space Strategy 2026 which aims to ensure great recreation activities and leisure opportunities are available to everyone.

“Our Draft Land Management Plan is about activating parks and open spaces,” she said.

“In some, people might just want to purchase a takeaway coffee or light snack and, in others, people might want to hire canoes or do stand-up paddle boarding.

“The commercial uses need to be consistent with the purpose of the reserve and are meant to be temporary, low key and are not just about mobile food vans.”

The proposed commercial activities include:

To make a formal submission and for information on the proposal, visit Council’s Your Say Redlands Coast website.