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Planning an attractive and prosperous future

Rapid growth in recent years has made it imperative that Redland Shire Council undertakes careful planning so the Shire retains the features which attract people to the area in the first place. As the growth eases, new economic opportunities need to be encouraged to provide ongoing employment.

While much of Redlands is residential, community and business activity is concentrated in the towns of Cleveland and Capalaba. Cleveland has been developed to take advantage of its village ambience and harbourside location. Capalaba is the Shire's principal business and industrial centre.

Council has located its second customer service centre here and has also built an extensive high tech library. Ongoing planning is continuing to create an environment which is highly attractive to new business.

It includes preparations for distinctive streetscaping, attention to providing adequate access and parking, interlinking Council services via state of the art technology, and establishment of Capalaba Business Centre as a major public transport hub with a busway link direct to Brisbane CBD. The Centre has already attracted $200 million in public and private sector investment.

Cleveland has been transformed over the past three years to link activity in the town with the harbour. The Shire has invested in landscaped footpaths, gardens, extensive tree plantings and community art work to provide a pleasant backdrop to increasing numbers of shops and cafes, waterside restaurants and markets.

Mayor Eddie Santagiuliana said the response from the business community had been extremely positive. "The extent of interest in developing around the harbour is an indication that the developers are sharing in the vision of this interlinking harbour community," he said.

A pedestrian precinct created around the Library Square enhances the 'village' atmosphere. Here there is a spectacular fountain, open air dining and a specially designed path leading to the harbour.

From Cleveland, residents and visitors can catch a ferry or watertaxi to North Stradbroke Island, where they can enjoy the pristine bushland environment and the cultural experiences to be gained from the Island's Indigenous community.

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