Toondah Harbour

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Toondah Harbour was declared a Priority Development Area by the Queensland Government at the request of Redland City Council on 21 June 2013 to revitalise the waterfront site through mixed-use development.

Planning for the area was undertaken by the Queensland Government, in partnership with Redland City Council, and a final development scheme was approved on 29 May 2014.


Final Environmental Impact Statement – now on public display

The Walker Group Toondah Harbour redevelopment proposal was determined in 2018 by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Water to be a controlled action under the provisions of the Commonwealth Environment

Toondah Harbour was declared a Priority Development Area by the Queensland Government at the request of Redland City Council on 21 June 2013 to revitalise the waterfront site through mixed-use development.

Planning for the area was undertaken by the Queensland Government, in partnership with Redland City Council, and a final development scheme was approved on 29 May 2014.


Final Environmental Impact Statement – now on public display

The Walker Group Toondah Harbour redevelopment proposal was determined in 2018 by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Water to be a controlled action under the provisions of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The redevelopment proposal is subject to assessment by environmental impact study (EIS), including a period of public exhibition and invitation to comment.

The draft EIS was open for public consultation from 12 October to 6 December 2022.

The consultation was led by Walker Group.

Walker Group has now reviewed and considered all submissions, prepared a supplementary report in response to the submissions, and has now submitted its final EIS to the Commonwealth Minister to commence a 40-business-day assessment period.

The Walker Group final EIS (consisting of a supplementary report and the original draft EIS) is now on public display until 7 February 2024, and can be viewed at the Toondah Harbour Virtual Information Centre or within one of Redland City Council’s libraries at either Cleveland, Capalaba, Victoria Point or Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island).

The Commonwealth Minister will then determine whether to approve, approve with conditions, or not approve the project.

If approved under the EPBC Act, Walker Group will then seek Queensland Government environment and development approvals.

Q&A

Please review the responses below, as your question may already be answered. If you would like to ask us a new question about the Toondah Harbour project, please do so here. 

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    How can this be stopped now?

    J Walsh asked 4 months ago

    Thank you for your question.

    Walker Group has now finalised its supplementary environmental impact statement (EIS) under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and submitted it to the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water for formal assessment and decision. 

    The Honourable Tanya Plibersek MP, Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, is the decision maker under the EPBC Act.

    Following consideration of submissions and assessment of the final EIS, Minister Plibersek will decide whether the project can proceed or not.

    For further information on the EIS under the EPBC Act, you may wish to write to Minister Plibersek at PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600.

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    When will the draft EIS for the proposed Toondah development be completed?

    Nigel asked 11 months ago

    Thank you for your question Nigel.

    Walker Group is currently finalising its supplementary environmental impact statement (EIS) with the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water for formal submission to the federal Minister for the Environment and Water. 

    Once the federal minister provides agreement, Walker Group will then place its supplementary EIS on public display for a 10 business day period.

    Assessment and decision by the federal minister regarding potential environmental impacts and their management will then occur.

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    How do I vote against this project

    cliff asked over 1 year ago

    Thank you for your question, Cliff.

    Walker Group Holdings is responsible for the consultation of the Toondah Harbour draft EIS which is to be assessed by the Australian Government under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

    If you have any questions about the draft EIS or the project, please email engage@toondah.com.au or 1800 170 729.

    If you would like to provide feedback about the draft EIS or the project, please direct your comments to Walker Group Holdings via:
    Post: PO Box 9189, GCMC Bundall QLD 9726
    Email: engage@toondah.com.au

    Thank you.

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    When will the Final Toondah Harbour be released for public consultation? Can you please let me know when it is released, so that I can comment?

    Rabaulz asked over 1 year ago

    Thank you for your question. We assume you are asking about when the Walker Group draft environmental impact statement (EIS) prepared under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) will be made available for review and comment by the public. As you may be aware this is an Australian Government approvals process managed by the now Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Walker Group is required to seek approval by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment to publish the draft EIS for public comment. When the draft EIS is open for public comment it will be published on the DCCEEW website Public comments on EPBC Act referrals.

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    Please can you confirm whether this area is in fact Ramsar listed and whether sea level rise has been taken into account. Do I see mangroves and potentially salt marsh and sea grass? what will happen to any dredging?

    Sue King asked over 3 years ago

    The Toondah Harbour renewal project, as proposed by the Walker Group, is located within a Ramsar Wetland and is contingent on obtaining federal and state environmental approvals.  

    The Commonwealth Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) will assess how the design and layout of the Walker Group’s proposed master plan for Toondah Harbour interacts with the international and national environmental values of the area, including consideration for potential sea-level rise, mangroves, salt marsh, sea grass and future dredging. The Commonwealth Department of Water, Agriculture and the Environment (the Commonwealth) will invite public submissions on the draft EIS once the Commonwealth decides the draft EIS is ready for public comment.

    All current and future dredging of Toondah Harbour requires an environmental authority for dredging under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) and development approval for an environmentally relevant activity (dredging) under the Planning Act 2016 (Qld). No applications for dredging associated with the Walker Group’s proposed master plan have been made to the State at this time.


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    Any further development to the wetlands at Toondah will negatively impact the very fragile and weak migratory birds when they return from Siberia and Alaska. I ask how this has progressed to this stage? There is multilayered international protections in place. Why is the council even considering this development ? Are we able to get a straight answer except for 'EIS' - Developments are short term money making exercises for private interests. Money cannot bring back a species. South Korea took out 1/3 of the migratory birds in one fell swoop - I think the council is considering the same thing here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saemangeum Honestly, Think of a critically endangered species and our following generations that will not be able to see them if this development is approved.

    Andrew Arlington asked over 5 years ago

    The Toondah Harbour Priority Development Area was declared in 2013 with the objective of supporting economic development, attracting tourism investment and enhancing the harbour as a community focal point and regional gateway to Moreton Bay and North Stradbroke Island. To support this objective mixed use, medium density development, and delivery of infrastructure such as ferry terminals and public open space by the private sector for overall public benefit is envisaged. 

    The Toondah Harbour Priority Development Area Development Scheme (the development scheme) recognises that Toondah Harbour and surrounding Moreton Bay are coastal environments with sensitive ecological values. The development scheme states development should seek to avoid, then minimise and mitigate impacts arising from development, and ensure that ecosystems and natural physical processes are maintained. 

    The Commonwealth Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) will assess how the design and layout of the Walker Group’s proposed master plan for Toondah Harbour interacts with the international and national environmental values of the area, including consideration for migratory species such as wader birds. 

    While Council and the Queensland Government support development at Toondah Harbour for the community and economic development it can bring, this support is contingent on the Walker Group being able to demonstrate development recognises and responds to the ecological attributes of the area, and that all relevant environmental approvals and permits can be obtained.

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    I would like to know where the formal submissions at the last stages of consultation made by residents, business and public are visible? These should be of interest for the public who may or may not be overall informed enough to understand the arguments against or for the development for parties involved and concerned. Please advise, as I am interested and the public should know where others stand, apart from the government officials, the developper and organisations that are doing their own campaigning. Thanks

    Bay Islander asked over 5 years ago

    The Toondah Harbour Priority Development Area (PDA) was declared in 2013, and soon after that a draft development scheme was prepared for the PDA. Public notification of the development scheme under the Economic Development Act 2012 (ED Act) was undertaken between 10 January and 24 February 2014. 

    During this notification period community members were invited to make written submissions. All submissions received during the public notification period were considered by the Minister for Economic Development Queensland (MEDQ) prior to the final development scheme being approved. 

    submissions report summarising the number of submissions received and the matters raised in those submissions was prepared in 2014, and continues to be publicly available. The Toondah Harbour PDA Development Scheme was adopted on 29 May 2014 and is publicly available on this website and also on the Department’s website

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    Some of the migatory wading birds have flown all the way from Siberia. Already their populations are seriously threatened because 65% of their tidal flat rest and fuel stops have been filled in, polluted or affected by algal blooms in China, Korea and the other east Asian countries en-route. Do you really plan to finish them off completely by filling in these wetlands?

    Margaret Kerr asked over 5 years ago

    The Commonwealth Environment Impact Statement (EIS) process under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) will assess any potential impacts the proposed development may have on wetlands subject to the Ramsar International Convention and all other matters of national environmental significance, such as migratory wading birds. 

    The Queensland Government acknowledges the significant interest that the community has in the proposed redevelopment of Toondah Harbour, particularly the environmental function of this area of Moreton Bay. 

    Walker Group’s development proposal cannot proceed unless Commonwealth environmental approval and all necessary approvals and permits are obtained at a State and local level.

    Queensland Government agencies, Redlands City Council and the community will have the opportunity to comment on the preparation and assessment of the EIS over the coming months, before statutory decisions related to the development proposal are made by the Commonwealth or the State.

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    I have a few questions: What is the anticipated timeframe for finding out whether the development will be given approval to go ahead? Have modifications been made to the original plans to help gain approval? Are changes being made dynamically as you work with the Australian Department of the Environment and Energy? Is this a process where you are in close contact with an individual or group within the department? Was it a surprise that the plans were sent to be reviewed or was it anticipated? Thanks, I know these are a lot of yes/no questions, so if you could elaborate in your answers, that would be appreciated.

    asked over 5 years ago

    Walker Group is now required to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).  Under that process, the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment will invite public submissions on the EIS.  There is no fixed timeframe for Walker to prepare its EIS, but that that would not be expected before the second half of next year.  Following consideration of the EIS and public submissions the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment will invite public submissions on the EIS.  Also, subject to consideration under the EPBC Act, there would be several opportunities for the community to provide input to or make submissions on the proposal as part of some subsequent State statutory decision processes.


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    How can I petition against the development? The "gateway to Straddie" works just fine as it is, and I strongly object to the destruction of the wetlands and further commercialisation and privatisation of the harbour. Commercial carparks is hardly a step forward. The whole plan is disgusting. Even the ferry operators don't want the development.

    Sarah Eastwell asked over 5 years ago

    Walker Group is required to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).  Under that process, the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment will invite public submissions on the EIS.  Also, subject to consideration under the EPBC Act, there would be several opportunities for the community to provide input to or make submissions on the proposal as part of some subsequent State statutory decision processes.


Page last updated: 18 Dec 2023, 09:30 AM