Redland City Council recommends 3 QAA members for consulting

Eric Frei

From documents recently obtained under RTI laws there is now solid evidence of Redland City Council (RCC) recommending 3 individuals who all happen to be QAA members. This specific case relates to the Mary Street Site.

The truth is known by many but getting the evidence is always the hard part.

Raymond Villari of the Qld State Govt wrote:-

That statement alone rang alarm bells and prompted the call for information. It would be seriously detrimental to free trade for councils to do such a thing, so lets see what was found.

Now first of all I will show a Development application Permit request for information, pretty normal and common not only to this council, pay attention to the highlighted area.



Now lets talk about the PROFESSIONALISM of the QAA.

Did the QAA even bother responding to the Q-Build fiasco at Chatswood State School that brought about state wide changes? No they didn't bother.

Did the QAA bother responding to two emails (one from me and another from Save Mary Street) about the conduct of one of their members and their report? No they didn't bother.

Did the QAA bother responding to concerns that they are the centre of vicious rumours to discredit a non member and one of their members writing to an LGA a blatant lie about that member? No they didn't bother.

Did the QAA bother responding to concerns that either their Vice Presidents computer or emails were hacked or their VP was sending derogatory emails? No they didn't bother.

Do note that there is no entry criteria to join QAA, in fact same for most orgs. That's been covered well in the links above to the other stories.

Now for the Mary street case there was two reports written, mine and another, have a read of the two, one is from the QAA member then there's mine. To me at least it's pretty clear which one is the dodgy one. Also note the QAA members report, as usual states work to be done by a QAA or ISA member.

So do you honestly believe that this is professional behaviour? I don't and this clearly demonstrates the misconception that belonging to an org makes you any superior to some-one who does not.

The orgs lobby places like councils that only their members are worthy of work, once that door is shut and councils do like RCC has here then the orgs market to the industry that belonging to them opens doors for work. Not a bad scam. They create the need for themselves to exist and suck money out of you.

It is severe interference in the market place and needs to be stopped. Any type of list, arrangement or boys club is not on.

In the PDF documents attached is copies of emails that circulated in council.

What appears to have been the correct response of no such list existing got pressured into providing 3 names, how quaint!

Also refering a caller to Yellow Pages is not good enough, what is wrong with the internet too? The council should suggest to the person that they need to source/search for their own.

Inevitably Landzone did write a report for State Government. It is attached in this post as a PDF. Ends up they also did the treework but of course another business name for that.

So there you have it, in a nutshell and once again exposed.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Attached Files

	MaryStRTIp1-2.pdf (122.3 KB, 82 views)
	MaryStRTIp3.pdf (63.4 KB, 112 views)

__________________

Garry Brockley

I would say that the council has taken a quick look around and decided they want a company thats involved with a reliable organisation, as they do with plumbers, builders ect but what they havent done is thier home work on said organisation.
it's not good that they believe the members of the organisation make them better than everyone else who has put alot of time and effort into being as good as they can.

Come on RCC it's time to wake up to the facts, the only way to get a reliable firm is to use qualified, insured people! not any old company thats involved in an organisation. The organisations dont require qualifications just yearly subs, beyond that there is no necessity to conform to any rules per say, as the org wont do anything about the said members because they don't want to lose the yearly subs.

__________________

serialtreekiller

council are dogs

Jeff Darby

I can understand council requesting a qualified Arborist to undertake the work at hand, however stating he or she must also be a member of QAA, ISA or any other organisation is ludicrous.

In my opinion all they should be requesting of the contractor is that he is qualified to a minimum, AQF level 3, which gives you the right to call yourself an Arborist, appropriate insurances and the means to undertake the work at hand.

The need to be a member of an organisation is a personal one, and should not be mandated to be in the running for local government contracts.

JayD
Independant Arborist and proud of it ..

__________________

Member: Australian Tree Association

Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard !

Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others

© Jeffrey J Darby 2011

Garry Brockley

how can a council demand that a company must be part of an amateur group like the QAA when they have no joining requirements?
obviously there is a QAA member at the ear of this council.

__________________

jmcg.insight.gardens

well, not only specifying Arborists that belong to an Association, but then specifying particular Arborists. Sad to see it is coming to this now.

I wonder what the Ombudsman would make of all this, is this the way Council works now....?

I always believed in free trade. It's the Aussie way. There are many really good Arborists out there. Why do you have to belong to an Association to be hired by Council? This is not the way it has been done in the past, why the sudden change, I just do not understand it....?

Surely a Level 3 to 5 Arborist has the ability to do the work, why do they also have to belong to an Association?

Is this legal?

Julie

Kenny Koala

No they've recommended people that will kiss their arse and do things how they want.

We asked for one of these to come out for a quote to knock the 25m Ironbark.

His climber lives in the same TPA as we do and because of the ruckus we caused in the council he wouldn't even come out and quote the removal.
To scared he'll upset the heirachy in the council working for us.

Eric Frei

Typical butt sucking woosies.

Do not worry, ATA is commencing.

Back it.

Invest in it.

And leave these dumb assed mules in the dust of the rear view mirror.

Seeking Interest for New Arboricultural Association

http://www.treeworld.info/f6/nominat...ion-22231.html

For some strange reason "they" think that because you are an arborist (and a very good one) you should be a conservationist and commandeer the use of other peoples land for "green" use.

Not so, time for balance and some order.

__________________