Council returns fire in airstrip squabble

TOWNSVILLE CITY Council has slammed complaints made against their investment in the Galilee Basin’s airstrip as being politically driven and inaccurate.

The council’s decision to spend up to $ 18.5 million on the airstrip has come under fire with local businessman Philip Batty complaining to the Crime and Corruption Commission Queensland.

However a council spokesman dismissed Mr Batty’s claims the airstrip’s contract with Wagners did not follow a procurement process and said it was a contractual matter between the company and Adani.

The Bulletin revealed this week the CCC had referred Mr Batty’s complaint to the Local Government Department.

A council spokesman said the “repeated and inaccurate claims” came from people running political campaigns to stop the coal industry.

“They don’t care how many jobs they kill off,” he said.

“That’s why council has pledged up to $ 18.5 million to deliver a 30- year jobs pipeline for the city, which will inject an extra $ 90 million into our economy each year for the next three decades.”

Wagners non- executive director John Wagner said yesterday the company had won a competitive tender with Adani to design and construct the airstrip more than three years ago.

He said no airstrip would be built until Adani received all approvals.

“We’re still working with Adani to help get approvals,” he said.

“Along comes Townsville and Rockhampton ( councils) and they’re having separate discussions with Adani about the funding of the airstrip.

“The council is in no way involved in the construction or the operation of the airport.”

Mr Wagner said he had no details of any agreement between Adani and Townsville and Rockhampton councils.

“It’s of no interest to me what Townsville or Rockhampton do with Adani, I’m only interested in what Wagners do,” he said.

Mr Wagner said Adani had been “very good to deal with” and the criticism they had “copped” had been terrible.

“They have been very hon- ourable, they pay their bills on time,” he said. “They’ve been very good to us. I’m quite positive the project ( mine) will proceed.” The company was waiting for a notice to proceed.

Mr Batty said his complaints were not politically driven.

“Jenny ( Hill) has been quoted as saying, ‘ we will own the airport’,” he said.

“If that deal ( is) we will get $ 90 million spending $ 18.5 million I’ll support it until the cows come home but we need to know that that’s the case.”

Rockhampton Regional Council and Adani declined to comment.