REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Tuesday, June 6, 2006

PROMINENT developer Craig Gore labelled councillors a ”pack of blithering idiots” after they restricted his helicopter flights in and out of a Coomera property following complaints from neighbours.

An angry Mr Gore said he was disappointed the council had not been sacked and said councillors should “hang their heads in shame”.

”We’ve got a bunch of blithering idiots running the joint and they’ve got no idea what they are doing,” said Mr Gore, who also owns a V8 race team.

”They should pull their heads in … quite frankly, for them to be sitting in the chambers debating about my helicopter approvals is just ridiculous.

“They should be focusing on broader issues of importance to the community.”

Area councillor David Power hit back, saying Mr Gore was a “bully” who turned to verbal abuse when he did not get his way.

“Mr Gore’s philosophy on life is do exactly what I want, when I want and how I want, otherwise you are obviously a fool,” said Cr Power.

“What he fails to realise is … there are other people who live in this city besides him.”

Mr Gore was listed at number 190 in Business Review Weekly’s Rich 200 List, with a fortune of $154 million.

His scathing attack came after the council limited his helicopter landings to 56 a year after he lodged a development application requesting 120.

A report to the council said the owner of the land, Thaya Morgan-Phoenix, lodged the application to provide a “fast form of transport” for Mr Gore.