LetteroftheWeek

Have strong opinions, write in an engaging way? You could win our Letter of the Week, and with it a book from our friends and sponsors, the publishers HarperCollins. This month’s book prize is Queen of the North by Anne O’Brien. To those around her she is a loyal subject. In her heart she is a traitor. In 1399 the fight for England’s crown has dire consequences. This is one woman’s quest to turn history on its head.

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REGARDLESS of opinions on the merits of the Tugun to Bilinga Oceanway, if council proceed with this project it will serve to confirm that agreements and undertakings given by Gold Coast Council, even when they are in writing and are confirmed on numerous occasions, are of no worth.

In 1989 prior to construction of the boulder wall which protects the land on which this proposed Oceanway will be located, the then owners of beachfront property became concerned when it was determined that the alignment of the wall was seaward of their property boundaries. They only agreed to accept responsibility for payment for construction and maintenance of the section of boulder wall in front of their property after they received an undertaking by council at public meetings and in written communication that the construction would not result in provision of any land for public use in the area between their property boundary and the boulder wall.

Council also undertook to erect fencing at the street ends to block public access. It was never built.

In 1996, council made the embarrassing admission that as the land between property boundary and boulder wall remained road reserve they did not have the authority to deny public access.

Beachfront property owners were not released from their obligations to maintain the wall or refunded the monies they had paid but in the interests of partial restitution of their credibility council acknowledged that whilst unable to restrict access they would not do anything to facilitate public access.

A resolution was passed on 8/11/1996 and a letter was sent to effected property owners confirming: “Council will not construct public walkways/bikeways on the road reserve between existing property boundaries and the top of the boulder wall, extending from the Bilinga Surf Club to Sand Street”.

When the possibility of a walkway was again raised in 2012 the then councillor for division 14 in a written comment dated 14/2/012 stated in part, “I believe that governments should keep their word”, “the previous undertaking by Gold Coast City Council to not construct an Oceanway should be upheld”.

Council also issued a letter dated 30/10/2012 stating, “we are writing to advise that Council has resolved to not construct an Oceanway along the beachfront between Tugun and Bilinga”.

Both these resolutions were unambiguous and open ended and along with council’s 1989 undertaking can be confirmed by reference to records within council.

To satisfy the demands of a vocal minority council now intends to ignore the interests and betray the trust of ratepayers who have built or purchased Tugun/Bilinga beachfront property with the mistaken belief that the undertaking that was paid for in 1989 would ensure preservation of the natural environment.

The inconvenient but undeniable truth is that in 1989 council obtained payments in consideration for undertakings they were unable to fulfil.

In 1996 they found it necessary to modify and diminish the value of those undertakings. In 2012 they acknowledged their obligation to comply with their undertaking. Now it seems the intent is to totally ignore their previous undertakings.

I have previously written to the councillor for division 14 seeking an explanation but my letter remains unanswered. RAY MONAGHAN, BILINGA THANK you RS Duncan for the comprehensive analysis of the council’s so-called community consultation on the proposed Public Transport Plan (GCB 2/6/18).

Readers may be aware under the Local Government Act section for principles, the council is required to undertake “meaningful community engagement” through “transparent and effective processes” via “ethical and legal behaviour” and “democratic representation” to arrive at “decisionmaking in the public interest” and “good governance”.

Yet we see, time and again, major decision-making without even the barest of lip service paid to the Local Government Principles.

The decision to sell Bruce Bishop Carpark, Surfers Paradise Transit Centre and Neal Shannon Park – one of the city’s largest assets – was made without consultation or public notice, and was discussed behind closed doors for almost 12 months before it was sprung on an unsuspecting public. Why?

This council is too ready to go into closed session and redact enormous amounts of information from public documents and reports – reports that ratepayers pay for – without adequate reason. This should concern every Gold Coaster.

Some councillors seem shocked so many Gold Coast residents are eagerly looking forward to the CCC investigation into the goingson at our council, and that the call to “bring it on” is now so widespread, but the reality is a thorough investigation is the only way to restore public trust and confidence after so much secrecy and questionable decision-making DEBORAH KELLY, SAVE SURFERS PARADISE