Planning process farce

Elected councillors may get no say in project

THE fate of one of the most controversial developments to hit Cairns in decades could wind up being decided by an unelected bureaucrat due to donations made to Cairns regional councillors.

Paradise Palms owner Darren Halpin helped fundraise for Mayor Bob Manning’s Unity Team in 2016 and the golf course company he heads also donated gifts in kind worth $1898.

Save Paradise Palms As- sociation committee member Clive Abbott has slammed the Unity Team’s moves at last week’s council meeting to clip the wings of their non-aligned counterparts.

“There is the possibility that (Mr Halpin’s) application could be accepted by the council planning officers, then passed by the CEO, without a single elected person having any say in it at all,” he said.

The Kewarra Beach facility will close next month to make way for a residential estate, the design of which has not yet been lodged with the council for assessment.

Unity Team councillors made a power play last week that means any matters with which they have a conflict of interest will be delegated to council CEO John Andrejic rather than a subcommittee comprising a majority of non-conflicted councillors.

It means independents Cathy Zeiger, Linda Cooper and Brett Olds will be unable to vote on the matter despite having no skin in the game.

It would be a simple tick and flick in line with the recommendation made by a council officer, whichever way it goes.

A council spokeswoman said a development application was not expected until mid to late-2019.

“Given the complexities of the proposal, it is unlikely to be decided until late 2019 or early the following year,” she said. “Indications from the minister responsible for local government and the LGAQ is that legislation would be rectified well in advance of the expected application date,” she said.

“Council has already resolved to revisit the delegation process in three months.”