A current investigation by the State Ombudsman into Cairns City Council’s current code of practice is underway.
In order not to compromise these ongoing proceedings and investigations from the Ombudsman, names will not be divulged at this stage. However, the person that bought the investigation to a head, believes that this information should be presented now, prior to the Council election this weekend.
What can be reported is that a certain Northern Beaches Councillor invited a Trinity Beach resident - a specialist in cultural heritage, to consult to the Cairns City Council on matter pertaining to her area of expertise.
"I was approached some months ago by a northern beaches City Councillor, and engaged to undertake a great deal of cultural heritage work," she says, speaking on the promise of anonymity to CairnsBlog.
In order not to compromise these ongoing proceedings and investigations from the Ombudsman, names will not be divulged at this stage. However, the person that bought the investigation to a head, believes that this information should be presented now, prior to the Council election this weekend.
What can be reported is that a certain Northern Beaches Councillor invited a Trinity Beach resident - a specialist in cultural heritage, to consult to the Cairns City Council on matter pertaining to her area of expertise.
"I was approached some months ago by a northern beaches City Councillor, and engaged to undertake a great deal of cultural heritage work," she says, speaking on the promise of anonymity to CairnsBlog.
"This work was agreed, focusing on Council staff in the works department, in particular. This would allow them to be aware of such issues when working on sites that could be deemed to be of cultural significance," she said.
This engagement was endorsed and backed by the then CEO, David Farmer. Farmer now works for the Woolongong City Council. The corruption exposed there over recent weeks has resulted in the sacking of the entire Council.
The CEO advised the Council department manager in question that the consultant would be in contact.
The department manager concerned instructed the consultant to research, design and deliver a complex project based on the advent of new heritage State legislation. This project would protect Council and its workers from enormous fines, ranging from $1 million+, for an organisation and up to $75,000 for an individual.
At the next meeting with Council's department in question, the consultant brought in another expert to work collaboratively on the project. Council also introduced another manager whose department and particular team would ultimately benefit from the project. The consultant was then given a time limit to produce the project in less than a month.
When the issue of payment was raised by the consultants, they were assured that research and development costs had to be incorporated into the final delivery of the project. This was confirmed in writing. However, the consultants were not paid. Their entire work, information and copyrighted material has retained and never returned by Cairns City Council, to this day.
CairnsBlog has been concerned about this matter for some time now, and is following the outcome of this investigation. The Northern Beaches councillor was contacted by the consultant on a number of occasions, and he made almost no attempt to support the project in any way further, following initially being an advocate.
This engagement was endorsed and backed by the then CEO, David Farmer. Farmer now works for the Woolongong City Council. The corruption exposed there over recent weeks has resulted in the sacking of the entire Council.
The CEO advised the Council department manager in question that the consultant would be in contact.
The department manager concerned instructed the consultant to research, design and deliver a complex project based on the advent of new heritage State legislation. This project would protect Council and its workers from enormous fines, ranging from $1 million+, for an organisation and up to $75,000 for an individual.
At the next meeting with Council's department in question, the consultant brought in another expert to work collaboratively on the project. Council also introduced another manager whose department and particular team would ultimately benefit from the project. The consultant was then given a time limit to produce the project in less than a month.
When the issue of payment was raised by the consultants, they were assured that research and development costs had to be incorporated into the final delivery of the project. This was confirmed in writing. However, the consultants were not paid. Their entire work, information and copyrighted material has retained and never returned by Cairns City Council, to this day.
CairnsBlog has been concerned about this matter for some time now, and is following the outcome of this investigation. The Northern Beaches councillor was contacted by the consultant on a number of occasions, and he made almost no attempt to support the project in any way further, following initially being an advocate.
The consultant believes, that as a Councillor, he failed to get payment. He failed as an elected Council official to take care of his constituents. And he failed as an elected official by allowing Council to act in such a deplorable manner.
When the investigation concludes, we will bring you the outcome.
1 comment:
Umm, is this some kind of a test....
"The consultant believes, that as a Councillor, he failed get payment. He failed as an elected Council official to take care of his constituents. And he failed as an elected official by allowing Council to act in such a deplorable manner."
I give up, cannot think of any male councillor on the Northern Beaches who has consistently failed his constituents!
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