Tate: No needle in this haystack

an accusation Cr Tate engineered council decisions to secure personal gain.

The watchdog is looking into whether Cr Tate and Deputy Mayor Donna Gates both failed to declare an interest and partnership in race horses; decisions around the filling in of Black Swan Lake; the sale of the Bruce Bishop Carpark; mayoral directives to council CEO Dale Dickson; a Surfers Paradise Bowls Club deal; a new contract for the CEO; the Mayor’s privately funded trip to China and whether he failed to declare a conflict of interest into the building of the Surfers Paradise super tower Spirit.

A CCC spokesperson yesterday said: “The CCC’s investigation ... remains ongoing. It would not be appropriate to release an interim report while the investigation continues.”

Cr Tate’s comments have divided some councillors.

Helensvale-based councillor William Owen-Jones admitted “there are no short cuts”.

“The appropriate regulatory authorities need to take the appropriate amount of time needed to complete their investigations into any allegations,” he wrote on Facebook.

Hinterland-based councillor Cr Glenn Tozer said allegations of corruption should be subject to “comprehensive investigation without interruption”.

“Allowing the CCC and or other outlets to conclude any investigation without unnecessary criticism of time frames augments a perception of professionalism and, frankly, transparency,” he said.