Councillor joins side of boaties

LABRADOR’S newly elected councillor has broken ranks with the Gold Coast City Council over its controversial move to evict tinnies from Labrador and Biggera Waters foreshores.

Cr Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden said his “personal” view was he hoped a solution could be found so the “little boats” could stay in a compliant manner.

Boat owners have until today to remove them after council put eviction notices on tinnies following several complaints about them being left “unlawfully along the foreshore”.

“As the new councillor I have the opportunity to take a fresh look at these very old rules. I’ve already asked city officers to develop a set of proposals to strike the right balance between safety, the environment and boaties. And

I hope council will have an opportunity to consider options soon. It’s a tough situation for those who have been caught out – but council is forced to respond to complaint.”

A council representative said the boats were causing pedestrian and safety hazards and interfering with the natural regeneration of the area.

It’s understood if owners fail to move the vessels the council may remove them and store them at a council facility where they can be collected for a fee, if they’re not collected they’ll go to auction.

In a desperate bid to buy some more time, tinnie owner and Labrador local Wayne Hayes has been at the foreshore with a petition since yesterday asking for signatures of support. Mr Hayes said of the nearly 1000 people who signed the petition only a dozen were against it with one “elderly” woman saying “she thought it looked like rubbish and they should be removed”.