Council’s green light for carpark

A MAJORITY of Gold Coast city councillors have voted against halting the sale of the Bruce Bishop car park in Surfers Paradise.

Area councillor Gary Baildon at yesterday’s full council meeting put a motion which would have had council refrain from taking any action that could bind it to a sale given a Supreme Court case was pending.

The Save Surfers Paradise group is seeking an injunction to stop council from selling the $25 million asset raised by developer funding.

Councillors who support the sale see the money from it being used to help build the cultural precinct and Isle of Capri bridge upgrade. Those against fear the council, if it ties in a buyer, could face compensation if Save Surfers Paradise wins its case.

Mayor Tom Tate removed himself from the debate after earlier receiving a warning by the Save Surfers Paradise group. He declared a material conflict of interest, given his share in a nearby property interest.

Only Peter Young, Glenn Tozer, Daphne McDonald and Dawn Crichlow supported Cr Baildon’s motion.