Council fails Criterion
ONCE again Shari Tagliabue is right on the money in her article regarding political donations from property developers to local government candidates ( Townsville Bulletin, March 3, 2018).
In particular her comment that “The Hive experienced opposition to plans that required demolition of the Criterion Hotel, yet donations to Team Hill by the developer meant approval was once again left to the CEO”.
On February 1, 2018, I wrote to the State Government requesting their intervention with the decision by the Townsville City Council to approve the demolition of the Criterion Hotel. One of my supporting arguments to this request was the decision making process used by the council.
Why bother electing a local government council when such an important decision such as this is left to the unelected council CEO? Would there have been a different outcome if a vote had been taken by councillors? These councillors represent the community. The general community would overwhelmingly support the Hive development with a renovated Cri included.
In late 2016, the Townsville City Council undertook a lengthy consultation process with the community on whether or not the building remained on the Townsville heritage register list. Nearly 60 per cent voted against removal from the local register as proposed by its owners.
At the council meeting on December 14, 2016, only three councillors voted for removal of the Criterion from the Local Heritage Register ( Schedule 7).
Townsville deputy mayor Les Walker was quoted in the Townsville Bulletin on December 14, 2016, as saying in part that “I trust the developers recognise the potential in retaining not only the old Queens Hotel and the Lilac Court units, but also the Criterion as distinctive features of the development”.
I have no issue with Mayor Jenny Hill or her council. In fact, I have been generally supportive of their general direction, but I