Burning mad at councillor’s post

‘Hair on fire’ remark riles residents

A GOLD Coast councillor is inflaming residents by prewarning “self-appointed saviours of our suburbs” not to go “setting their hair on fire” over a new tower being built.

Labrador Cr Ryan BayldonLumsden took to social media to chide critics in advance of any objections to new student accommodation, featuring two-bedroom units, at 6 Tonga Place.

He said once completed it will be the “largest building in Parkwood by some margin”.

“Before the self-appointed ‘saviours of our suburbs’ and their echo chamber Facebook groups start setting their hair on fire, this development was approved in 2014 (under Cr Crichlow) and work commenced in 2019,” Cr BayldonLumsden wrote.

“Saying all of that, after visiting the site, reviewing the location and impact, I also would have approved this.”

He said it was a “good example of using the available space to its maximum, and utilising the location’s amenity, access to public transport, shops, the university etc” and would have “next to no impact on long-term residents when completed”.

Resident Jenna Schroder said she was disappointed by Cr Bayldon-Lumsden, calling his comments “inappropriate”.

“Is that an appropriate way to speak about your own constituents?” she replied on the Facebook post.

“You door knocked and spoke with these people and know overdevelopment is a concern, and this is how you address them? What a disappointment”.

Mrs Schroder said the proposed overdevelopment of Labrador was a hot topic for residents and she suggested the councillor read his post “from the eyes of somebody who is living there and concerned about high-rises being build next to their homes”.

Former division 3 council candidate Wayne Purcell said he agreed with Cr BayldonLumsden that the location made good sense for higherdensity development but expressed his disappointment at the councillor’s comments.

Many locals supported and thanked the councillor for the update, saying “as a community we are watchful of what is happening in our suburb”.

Cr Bayldon-Lumsden said: “I made my position very clear on development for Labrador during the campaign and funded the promotion of the forum held in Labrador to alert people to the city plan in that area.”