PROTESTERS FLOCK TO COUNCIL MEETING
Anger as Deputy Mayor declines to accept latest Black Swan Lake petition
THE Australian Broadcasting Commission has accused Mayor Tom Tate of being dishonest in its defence against defamation action in the Federal Court.
Cr Tate launched legal action against the ABC for its Four Corners report last year focusing on Gold Coast development.
In its defence, the ABC has taken Cr Tate to task about claims posted on his Facebook page during July and August last year that Black Swan Lake was toxic.
It alleges Cr Tate told a resident that the Bundall lake would be filled and covered with grass because “I’m sick of toxic water killing the wildlife”.
He repeated the comments and added that the lake was not a natural habitat but a man-made borrow pit, the ABC alleges.
In its defence, the ABC said Cr Tate had no basis for asserting the toxic water in the lake was killing wildlife.
“Rather the Black Swan Lake November 2016 report, which it can be said inferred that the applicant (Cr Tate) had read, stated abundant wildlife had been observed in the lake,” the ABC’s defence said.
Cr Tate had omitted in his responses that the toxicity in the lake was contributed by run-off from horse stables at the Gold Coast Turf Club, the defence added.
“Thereby, the applicant’s claims that Black Swan Lake was toxic were dishonest.”
Cr Tate yesterday said in a statement: “The matter is now in legal proceedings. No comment.’’
Since January, the Bulletin has reported the Crime and Corruption Commission is investigating the conduct of councillors about decisions relating to Black Swan Lake.
Meanwhile, supporters trying to stop the lake being filled in for a car park yesterday were furious after Acting Mayor Donna Gates refused to accept their latest petition.
A protest group outside the Evandale chambers before the full council meeting gathered to present the petition which has 38,340 signatures.
Wildlife Preservation Society Gold Coast branch president Sally Spain said: “She could have stepped outside and collected one piece of paper. I think it says the council and Deputy Mayor don’t care about the city image.”
Cr Gates said she was unavailable before and after the meeting and had suggested the group present the petition to the turf club.