Nearly half the council go to ground on asset sale

ALMOST half of the councillors on the Gold Coast City Council are refusing to answers questions about the future of the Bruce Bishop car park.

Four days after the Bulletin sent off questions, seven councillors declined to respond or comment.

Cr Bob La Castra yesterday apologised for the delay, only to say “the questions you raise pertain to what are now legal matters — in this regard, I don’t feel it appropriate to make comment”.

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates, planning chair Cameron Caldwell, and Crs Gail O’Neill, Kristyn Boulton, Pauline Young and Paul Taylor have declined to answer questions about the sale.

Those councillors who either argued to stop the sale or believe it now should be halted due to a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation — Gary Baildon, Dawn Crichlow, Peter Young, Daphne McDonald and Glenn Tozer — are standing firm on their position.

Helensvale-based city councillor William OwenJones and Robina-based city councillor Hermann Vorster are happy with the decision they took at the time to support the ratepayer asset being put on the market.

Cr Owen-Jones, on his council Facebook page at the weekend, wrote: “To be fair, both the Gold Coast Bulletin and individual councillors are not posting on their Facebook pages about it because of the difficulty in moderating comments.

“Whilst the investigation is progressing I personally don’t think councillors should be discussing it while it is subject to an independent investigation.”