A message from the Mayor Cr Jos Mitchell
Dear Residents,
The festive season is drawing near and our Redlands Coast community is once again set to shine with warmth (not just the summer temperatures), generosity and connection.
Redland City’s unique qualities come to the fore during this season – the way we look out for each other, lend a hand when needed, enjoy the lifestyle our city offers and take pride in the beautiful place we call home.
2025 has brought both achievements and challenges. We’ve made progress on projects that strengthen our city’s future, including future planning, improved roads, parks and initiatives supporting local businesses and sustainability. We’ve seen our community come together in recovery and resilience after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and emergencies – neighbours helping neighbours, volunteers stepping up, and local groups making a difference every day.
Christmas is a time to pause and reflect on the last year, and on the people who are most important – our families and friends. It’s also a time to reach out with kindness to those doing it tough, those spending Christmas alone, and the many who continue to serve others over the holidays – the volunteers and local heroes who keep Redlands Coast thriving.
Thank you to everyone who has made contact this year and worked to make positive impacts for our community and our city.
I wish everyone a restful Christmas season, safe travels if you are going further afield, valuable time with loved ones and a bright start to the new year.
Councillor Jos Mitchell Mayor of Redland City
Lighting up the festive season
The festive season will kick off in style on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 November with the official lighting of the Redlands Coast Christmas Tree at Raby Bay Harbour Park, Cleveland.
The free event starts at 4.30pm on both days and features an array of family-friendly activities, including carols, live entertainment, food trucks and a festive movie in the park.
It marks the official launch of Council’s citywide Christmas on Redlands Coast four-week program for 2025, which includes a central Christmas hub with a hotline direct to Santa and the North Pole. A new addition to the program this year is a carousel ride at Raby Bay Harbour Park from 28 November to 4 December.
There will also be Christmas events at RPAC, RAG, Redland Libraries and IndigiScapes, along with a special augmented reality experience at the Cleveland Lighthouse.
Changing how we embrace the future
As we look to 2026 and beyond, the importance of Council’s agility and ability to keep pace with change is one thing that is coming sharply into focus. Since being elected just over 18 months ago, I have become aware of many issues affecting Council’s, and our city’s, future.
We have seen society reset itself from the pandemic years in interesting, sometimes challenging, but ultimately creative ways.
It is time for Council to reflect that and focus on innovation; look at how it needs to adapt; and how it progresses instep with our community – in the directions we want it to go, while supplying the services we require.
We have made a start on this process. Council is commissioning an independent, external review of our organisation as a proactive step to ensure we continue to meet the evolving
needs and priorities of our community in a manner that is efficient, effective, and sustainable.
Its purpose is to take a considered look at how we operate, to ensure our teams are appropriately resourced, and that we are delivering the best possible outcomes for our community.
We, as a community, will also need to look at how we do things as well. We can start by engaging with council and chipping in to assist where we can – managing our waste, reporting issues and providing feedback.
Redlands Coast is an extraordinary environment and working with a collaborative, respectful and forward-focused approach will provide our city with the best chance of enhancing and shaping our region for a strong future – honouring its heritage, protecting its environment and embracing emerging prospects.
Mayor’s Christmas Appeal 2025
I am very pleased to announce the inaugural Redland City Mayor’s Christmas Appeal 2025 will launch very soon!
This is the first year of what I hope will be an annual appeal to support those in the Redlands Coast community who are doing it tough during the festive season.
By the time you read this, our two charity partners will have been chosen following an Expression of Interest process. Charity partners will support Redlands Coast residents in need, with a focus on
those experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness and/ or domestic and family violence.
Please visit Council’s website for more information and to donate. Every bit counts and 100 per cent of donations made go directly to the charity people choose to support.
The STAR Community Services Appeal, which Council supports by providing drop-off venues at our libraries for donated items, will continue to be a charity partner and I am delighted we can once again support STAR in this way.
Mayor Jos Mitchell
Office: 3829 8623 | Email: mayor@redland.qld.gov.au
Excited to welcome the Junior State Cup back to Redlands Coast in 2026 and 2028!
Making friends with Kiah at the Family Koala Fair at IndigiScapes.
Bay Island Water Sports co-owner Ashley and myself about to go on the Today show.
National Volunteer Week was a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the amazing volunteers in the Redland SES Unit.
Catching up with the Oaklands Street Community Garden team at the Eco Market.