Tate defends Greenheart about face

MAYOR Tom Tate has defended his turnaround in calling for renewed funding on the city’s Greenheart project after having earlier concerns about flooding.

Cr Tate, in a general business item at a full council meeting yesterday, called for a briefing on the city’s biggest parkland proposal at the first council meeting after the March 28 poll, and for funding to be considered at a special budget meeting.

He said the council in June 2019 adopted a budget allocating funds to continue a master plan for the Greenheart.

“The Greenheart is of major significance to the city and will deliver important benefits for grassroots sport, the environment and major events,” Cr Tate said.

“Our economy is built on the foundation of the enviable lifestyle the city offers. As such, and given the importance of the project in underpinning key elements of that lifestyle, it’s important that the new council be briefed on the project.”

Councillor Peter Young questioned the Mayor on why he had changed his position “so dramatically”, aware of a mayoral directive to council CEO Dale Dickson in April 2017.

Cr Tate wrote to the CEO of his experience dealing with flooding in 2013, 2015 and 2017.

“All these flood and weather events have all reaffirmed my view that the city should not be investing ratepayer funds into any continuation of the ‘Green Heart’ master plans of the past,” Cr Tate told the CEO.

“Specifically, there is little point in the city investing ratepayer funds in creating park land, and park facilities that is so easily and regularly wiped out by this area’s function as a major flood plain for the central part of the city.

“Please discontinue work on ‘Green Heart’ flood areas and concentrate efforts on existing parkland creation and upgrade projects across the city.”

Cr Tate told Cr Young the council at the time had to focus on the Commonwealth Games, which required $260 million for new infrastructure.

He conceded the floodplain was a major concern but a lot of work was later conducted to “overcome those concerns”.

In September 2017, the council announced a central park at Robina as part of a botanic garden with a $10 million stage one masterplan.

Robina-based councillor Hermann Vorster welcomed the Mayor’s recommendation, which was backed unanimously yesterday by councillors.

ONLY one of the 14 city councillors will not face a challenge at the March 28 poll.

Councillors about to meet at the last full council meeting before the election have been waiting on information from the Electoral Commission of Queensland.

Candidates had a deadline of midday to get their paperwork finished.

Only Pacific Pines-Nerang based councillor Peter Young (pictured) appears at this point to be unopposed. The ECQ is expected to confirm nominations about 5pm.

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates, who appeared to be running unopposed in the lead-up to nominations closing, has been challenged by relative unknown Wayne Purcell.

Council insiders also said Robina-based councillor Hermann Vorster would be opposed by self-proclaimed eco warrior Chantal Clarke.

The community worker made headlines in December last year after looking for foster gnomes for about 20 ornaments banned from city parks and gardens.

Supplied by a hardware chain and decorated by year 8 students, the ornaments were designed to encourage smokers not to leave their cigarette butts on the ground.

Council opposed the move, saying it was unlawful, and Ms Clarke said there were concerns about syringes being left with the gnomes.

The full list of current nominations as provided by ECQ is listed below. Some additional names may still be being processed.

The names are presented in alphabetical order by surname.

*Donna Gates *Wayne Purcell

DIVISION FOUR

*Kristyn Boulton *Cameron Caldwell

DIVISION FIVE

*Peter Young

DIVISION SIX

*Susie Gallagher *Brooke Patterson *Michael Pulford

*Jo Sherline *Josephine Tobias *Shaelee Welchman

DIVISION SEVEN

*Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden *Wendy Coe *Amin Javanmard *Tony Melia *Andre Saint-Flour

DIVISION EIGHT

*Matthew Armstrong *Bob La Castra *Joshua Smith

DIVISION NINE

*Keith Douglas *David Guimaraes *Mary-Anne Hossack *Glenn Tozer

DIVISION 10

*Seema Chauhan *Stephen Cornelius *Adrian Johnstone *Rowan Panozzo *Eddy Sarroff *Darren Taylor *Mike Winlaw

DIVISION 11

*Chantal Clarke *Hermann Vorster

DIVISION 12

*Cathy Osborne

*Zac Revere

*Scott Turner *Pauline Young

DIVISION 14

*Katrina Beikoff *Daphne McDonald *Scott Wallace *Bern Young

DIVISION 14

*Gloria Baker

*Gail O’Neill