Sparks fly over casino plan

A MOTION demanding “no further action” be taken to progress Mayor Tom Tate’s ambitious plan for a second Gold Coast casino at Southport has been voted down at a rowdy council meeting.

Southport councillor Dawn Crichlow, who proposed the motion, was twice told by Mayor Tate to sit down while arguing against the proposal.

The motion was lost six votes to nine after a debate that saw impassioned contributions from many councillors.

Councillors Glenn Tozer, William Owen-Jones, Gary Baildon, Daphne McDonald and Peter Young all voted with Cr Crichlow.

The move comes after Mayor Tate last week announced he had written to the State Government to propose locating a casino on a site currently occupied by the Southport Bowls Club, Queens Park tennis centre and Carey Car Park. The bowls club and tennis courts would be relocated a short distance away under the proposal.

Cr Tate wrote to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk regarding his plan after it was backed by an informal meeting of councillors.

Cr Crichlow argued the decision to write to the Premier should not have been made without a report having first been prepared.

“We are all just shooting from the hip,” she said.

She was also critical of the fact that the decision was made at an informal meeting rather than a public council meeting.

Robina councillor Hermann Vorster, in opposing Cr Crichlow’s motion, said the proposed integrated resort development would kickstart efforts to make Southport the city’s CBD.

“Southport is a joke by any stretch of the imagination,” he said.

Cr Vorster said the suburb had been made a priority development area for a number of years but was still unable to attract commercial development.

He said an integrated resort would change that.

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates said it was clear from the councillors’ informal meeting about the proposal that a majority were in favour.

“I am disappointed that this is where we are at,” she said.

Crs Crichlow, Baildon and McDonald all requested Cr Tate provide a copy of the letter that he sent to the Premier.