Conduct report called a sham, riddled with errors

Yesterday's sitting of Cairns Regional Council will go down as an historic occasion. It will long be remembered by those present, and the minutes will record it in posterity.

But it will be for all the wrong reasons.

Yesterday, the Council dealt with a Code of Conduct case against Councillor Diane Forsyth. It turned out to be nothing more than a group of Councillors mounting a vengeful political and personal assault on another Councillor of a different political persuasion.

The Conduct inquiry masqueraded as upholding Councillor's ethical standards, but as observers will see, it did nothing of the sort.

It also calls into question the role played by the Council CEO, Noel Briggs, and the way the investigation of Councillor Forsyth was conducted.

It was an appalling charade that aimed to silence Forsyth and discredit the Yacht Club-climbing politician, who clearly acted on an issue that the same Council failed to deal with following its own resolution to engage in talks with the Premier.

The CEO failed to carry out the resolution of the Council to get the Mayor and Premier together, and halt the planned demolition of the historic waterfront Yacht Club building.

Noel Briggs, instead of supporting his Councillors with sound advice and the voice of a mentor, as our most experienced public servant, appears to have acted in a way that demonstrates he had pre-judged Cr Forsyth and had embarked on a course of action himself, designed to silence and discredit her.

On Monday October 13th, a hastily-called press conference was held, just two hours after Councillor Forsyth scaled the building in protest. The Mayor did not take part. Confusion reins to this day why she didn't get to it. It was a mixture of other priorities and the plain embarrassment of talking publicly against the Mayor's own Cairns 1st Councillor. There was also the pressure from the Labour party for Val to remain silent on the issue of protecting the old Yacht Club building, as it was a State-sanctioned Labor decision to clear the site.

The October 13th media conference was the beginnings of what was to become a long-drawn out, kangaroo court. The CEO set himself up to be a self-appointed judge and jury. Instead, his comments to the media that morning,, and his anger condem him rather than Cr Forsyth.

"Let me make this perfectly clear, Councillor Forsyth was not representing the Cairns Regional Council. I want to make that perfectly clear," he told the media.

Yet he spent the next five months conducting a shameful and incompetent inquiry - carried out by political mates on the Tablelands - in an attempt to prove that Councillor Forsyth was in fact acting in her capacity as a Councillor that morning.

Briggs needed to prove this, so a breach of the Code of Conduct could be found.

"No, I have received no complaint, but if one were to come forward, I will investigate it," Briggs told the 11am media briefing, as a clear invitation.

This single ill-thought through media event was, on the morning of 13th October 2008, the beginning of a litany of unprofessional and politically-motivated actions, directed from the CEO's war-room.

It was sanctioned and had the support of the Deputy Mayor, who helped dig out the complainant, needed to kick-start a Code of Conduct enquiry. As quickly as the next day, former Holloways Beach Harcourts owner, Niki Johnston, along with her partner, local artist Robin, fired off their email complaint to the CEO. The Johnston's have supported Cochrane's election camapigns.

"Councillor Forsyth's behaviour exceeded the bounds of both professional and responsible ethical standards to her position as an elected representative of this city," Johnston wrote. The words were spoon-fed to Johnston, and her partner, who has a history of writing unsigned negative letters to Council, asking for Val Schier's resignation.

Only two other complaints came forward. One was anonymous, refusing to be interviewed, nor identified.

The third was from the Port Authority's own demolition contractor, Martin Anton. He cited $1,500 costs as damages sought. "She shamelessly put her personal interests before those of Council or the general public interest," Anton said. "This is a blatant breach of the Code of Conduct for Councillors." Evidently, our city's most famous building-wrecker knows local government rules and regulations inside out and feels he is competent enough to dish out advice across this complex field.

A month or so later, Briggs commissioned his former Mareeba Council mate, Colin McDowall, a Mareeba accountant and Returning Officer for the seat of Cook, to investigate the compliants and report back.

It's clear that McDowall's brief from Briggs was to construct a damming, biased and one-sided outcome. Inevitably, the report found no less than six breaches of the Code of Conduct, however it was flawed from the outset. As a measuring stick, he used an outdated Code of Conduct. The report was leaked, and embarrassed those behind it, including its author, as it exposed its real motivations.

I happily release this report publicly today. Few have seen this document, and when you read it, you will see why it was a sham report, and all those behind it should be ashamed. You can download Colin McDowall's report here.

Forsyth was angry and disturbed at the tone of the report and its unprofessional nature, and that she was not given any fair or proper hearing.

Briggs soon learnt that he had to discredit the report in its entirety, and even the Mayor said that it would "never be seen again." A second report was then promised on the Forsyth incident, but rather than a new report, only a review of the initial report was produced. The review was written by a firm called Far North Investigations, headed by a Tony Walsh. The review was produced just hours before yesterday's sitting of Council.

No Councillor was to see this second report or review, until Cairns Post journalist Thomas Chamberlin asked the CEO on Tuesday afternoon how were Councillors able to make a decision without seeing the review. Bryan Law then sent out an email to all Councillors at 2pm, demanding the CEO provide the report to every Councillor, as a matter of urgency.

I also called for the release of the documentation on Wednesday morning. The CEO hurriedly copied the document, which one Councillor informed me was "only typed up in the last 24 hours on a Council computer."

You can download the first five pages of the 32-page $3,548 'report' - that's $236 an hour. I will provide the rest later.

In an astonishing revelation, 'Far North Investigations' recommended that none of their documents be given any public release, and went so far to say that Councillor Forsyth should also not see them.

"We would suggest that a letter from the Mayor or CEO detailing the investigation findings would be sufficient to convey the outcome to Cr Forsyth."

They also made reference to the unauthorised release of the first report.

"The previous report was provided to Cr Forsyth and this led to it becoming available to certain individuals who have proceeded to subject the report and the investigative process to scrutiny and ridicule.

God forbid, the public should scrutinise such a report! It deserved all the ridicule it got. Following today's release, I dare say there'll be a lot more.

And the majority of Council followed like vengeful sheep to try record a breach of the Councillors' Code. Yet at the meeting there was utter confusion as to which Code they were referring to.

A new Code of Conduct was adopted in May 2008, however both the original McDowall report and the FNI review based their findings on an earlier February 2008 Code, which forbids specific actions of public protest when it seems clear that the Councillor could be representing the Council. The amended version, allows such freedom of expression, making yesterday's ruling 'a sham', as Councillor Leu said.

Furthermore, the Local Government Act does not define/limit the time when a Councillor is on duty. The Code of Conduct applies to Councillors only in the performance of their duties – when he or she is engaged in business or activities relating to Council business.

A Local Government law expert told CairnsBlog that the sit in protest on the Yacht Club building was in relation to a State Government decision - a failure of the State Government to acknowledge or recognise a community petition of 11,000 signatures, asking for the Cairns Yacht Club to be saved.

"I don't remember ethical principle breaches being investigated when a former Mayor Kevin Byrne, not on Council business, dressed himself up as Arafat - days after his death - and caused a commotion and terrible embarrassment for the Council and himself,"

Only Councillors Leu, Lesina and Pyne said there was no breach to answer for. There's more to tell in this saga, but there's enough for the average bear to consume in this sitting.

After the CEO returned to his Level 3 office following yesterday's meeting, some Councillor shared their displeasure with Briggs over the way in which the Conduct enquiry was handled, and how it has discredited the Council.

Some Councilliors told me he fucked up on this one.

I think he did indeed.

Councillor Forsyth found guilty, reply granted

Cairns Regional Council's Finance and Administration committee, this morning found Councillor Diane Forsyth had committed a minor breach of Council's Code of Conduct.

Deputy Mayor Margaret Cochrane moved that no further action be taken, and that the breach simply be noted. Forsyth will not be suspended from any Council meetings, but asked to present a written response to the next full Council meeting.

Councillors Leu, Pyne and Lesina voted against the resolution.

There was much confusion about what Code of Conduct was being used as the basis of the two reports. Now clear answer was given however the CEO said that after seeking legal advice, the reports findings would not be any different. Councillor Leu told the meeting the Council had a different Code and called the CEO's report a sham.

A full analysis, with details of the second report commissioned by Council CEO Noel Briggs, will be published later today on CairnsBlog.

A new Cairns festiVAL

Following the abandonment of the annual Cairns Festival - or the European version 'Festival Cairns' - by local Toyota car sales businessman John O'Brien due to his financial woes, the new Mayor is keen for some big changes.

Val Schier has been a vocal critic of the former festival, however failed in a vote last year to open up Council's tender process to other parties to take over manage and the annual event. Many criticised the lack of organised local events. The events calender was largely a collection of things going on already from the SportFest, films at the Botanic Gardens, or plays at the theatre. It was a lack-lustre, tired and needed and wake up, no matter what which you looked at it.

You had to question the event management experience of the previous organisers - they may have been well-meaning, but the final product was a big yawn. There's no doubt we could have done it ten times better, and it's not all about money.

However, Val Schier's plan to reform the festival as a signature local event on our calender is getting another step closer to realisation. Under her direction, an advisory group has been formed to create an 'innovative vibrant vision for festivals and celebrations.'

"This group will give advice and feedback to Council on the development of festivals throughout the region,” Mayor Schier says. “The committee will look at how festivals are funded by Council and seek to develop new and alternative events across the region.”

Schier will chair the committee that includes Olive Tau Davis, Sarah Collins, Tony Hillier, Chris Pascoe, Ursula Lyons, Fred Lizzio, Jillian Causer, Ken Dobbs and David Hudson. All come with experience in festival organising and planning. Councillors Alan Blake, Linda Cooper, Diane Forsyth and Julia Leu, are also on the committee, that will meet monthly.

"The former festival has not reflected the talent and diversity in this region," says Tony Hillier. "It's time for a change and I'm delighted to contribute."

Hillier, who was the former editor of Cairns' street press Barfly and columnist for London Evening Standard among others, is also an accomplished local musician with well-known local bands Snake Gully and Kamerunga.

The committee's formation comes as Council adopt a new Cultural Plan. Themed ‘Strengthening our Cultural Vitality’, it sets a direction for future cultural development in the community and identifies the assets of the newly amalgamated region, according to Val Schier.

“After amalgamation, the Arts and Cultural Plans from the previous regional bodies needed merging and revision,” the Mayor said today.

“The input from public engagement on specific areas has given Council a clear idea of the community’s values and aspirations and the issues currently surrounding cultural life in the broader community,” the Mayor said.

“We want to create and promote cultural tourism, redevelop the School of Arts Building, produce a city heart strategy and identify an agreed use for the Sugar Wharf in line with the Port Douglas Waterfront Plan.”

Is CEO Noel Briggs policeman and jury?

There have been many questions raised at all levels, about who is the policeman, judge and jury of Cairns Regional Council's Code of Conduct - the policy which is meant to form the over-riding guidance for elected officials and staff.

Bryan Law has been following this debate from the day Council's CEO Noel Briggs called a media conference, minutes after Councillor Diane Forsyth climbed off the roof of the now destroyed Cairns Yacht Club building, last October. Forsyth was protesting at the State Government's lack of action on the building's protection.

Bryan Law presents the case that the Forsyth investigation is flawed and serious questions need to be answered. He also raises grave concerns for the on-going actions of the CEO, that appear to undermine our democracy and that of publicly-elected Councillors.

THE CRC CODE OF CONDUCT –
WHY CEO NOEL BRIGGS OUGHT BE SACKED

On 26th February 2009 Councillor Diane Forsyth pleaded guilty in the Cairns Magistrates Court to a single charge of trespass. That charge arose out of her act of civil disobedience in October 2008 when she climbed on the roof of the Cairns Yacht Club to focus public attention on the unjust and inappropriate way it was being demolished.

The Magistrate clearly viewed Councillor Forsyth’s action as being at the very lowest end of the scale of criminality, and he made several references to a citizen’s right in this country to engage in political agitation. He decided that no conviction would be recorded against Councillor Forsyth, and that her only punishment would be a six month good behaviour bond which, if breached, would result in the forfeiture of $300. The magistrate noted Councillor Forsyth’s excellent record of behaviour, and expressed confidence that she would discharge the bond without difficulty.

As far as the criminal law is concerned, that’s the end of the matter.

However because Di is also an elected representative on the Cairns Regional Council, she must face what presently amounts to an unfair, even perverted, system of punishment that some people are using to try and harm Councillor Forsyth. The process they are misusing is a complaints system under the Code of Conduct that was adopted for Councillors in April 2008, at the first meeting of the newly elected Council.

The Code of Conduct was initially raised by Council CEO Noel Briggs, at a media conference he conducted on 1th October 2008 - the very morning of Councillor Forsyth’s civil disobedience action. CEO Briggs gave the media and the public a little lecture on how elected Councillors ought behave, and he then invited members of the public to make a complaint about Councillor Forsyth’s behaviour. He did this with no knowledge of civil disobedience, and outside his authority as CEO.

Surprise, surprise. Two complaints duly arrived from political foes of Councillor Forsyth. One was from the demolition contractor seeking financial compensation outside the processes of civil law. The other was from a political activist associated with Councillor Margaret Cochrane.

On receipt of these two complaints, CEO Briggs began Kangaroo Court proceedings against Councillor Forsyth – proceedings in which he acted in a most irresponsible and unethical manner.

CEO Briggs contacted an associate from his days at Mareeba Shire Council and commissioned a report into Councillor Forsyth’s actions. The terms of reference for that report are not public. Cairns ratepayers have paid an undisclosed sum for this report.

There was no real “investigation” of the complaints. No factual information was sought from the Police, the Port Authority, People Against the Demolition of the Cairns Yacht Club (PADYC) or the protest organisers, or any witnesses to the event. The principles of natural justice were flouted. There was no cross-examination of the complainants or their outlandish claims. The investigator relied on the complainants’ uncorroborated story, plus a single report published by the Cairns Post.

The Council report itself was a shambles of uninformed prejudice, lacking any semblance of objectivity or balance. The report pretended to find that seven breaches of the Code of Conduct were committed by Councillor Forsyth – including one that “would have” happened through the protest actions of people unconnected with Councillor Forsyth. In fact such actions did not happen. The report was defamatory and inaccurate. Its production on behalf of Cairns Regional Council was a disgrace.

At the heart of this problem lies the unprofessional administration of Noel Briggs as CEO of Cairns Regional Council, and the misuse of the Code of Conduct by Mr Briggs and some Cairns regional Councillors.

Contrast, for example, the process that CEO Briggs said would be necessary to investigate and report on the leaking of tender material to the Cairns Post by persons unknown in 2008. A complaint about the leaking was made by Mayor Schier and Councillor Forsyth. CEO Briggs estimated that any investigation would require formal interviews with all relevant staff and Councillors, and would cost at least $10,000. The complaint against Councillor Forsyth, on the other hand, could be whipped up quickly by an old mate without bothering about any “formal” nonsense.

Di Forsyth is not the only Councillor to suffer at CEO Briggs’ hands.

Councillor Julia Leu has been the subject of media comment twice now in terms of either the Code of Conduct, or of some undefined standards that CEO Briggs believes elected Councillors ought adhere to. In 2008 Julia was castigated for telling a public meeting of her constituents that she would work for a reversal of the amalgamation of Cairns and Port Douglas. Recently she was again made the object of media comment for putting an anti-amalgamation bumper sticker on her car.

Councillor Kirsten Lesina a couple of weeks ago was publicly criticised by CEO Briggs for constructing a face-book site that contained material Mr Briggs thought inappropriate. Favourite movies and political thinking. Shocking!

Let’s see, Julia Leu, Di Forsyth, and now Councillor Kirsten Lesina. There a pattern emerging. Could it be that CEO Briggs is uncomfortable around assertive and powerful women – or that he thinks they should be put back in the kitchen to get on with cleaning and child-bearing? Surely not. Not in the third Millenium.

In relation to Di Forsyth, CEO Briggs was eventually forced to have the first report withdrawn and disregarded. It was so awful it will never be made public, although it’s still unclear whether the author has been paid by Cairns ratepayers. We will be asking for a full disclosure to see what, if anything, was paid to it's author.

Now that the criminal matter has been dealt with, CEO Briggs plans to conduct a fresh investigation into Councillor Forsyth’s action under the Code of Conduct.

It would be nice to think that CEO Briggs will have this investigation conducted with some regard for the principles of natural justice, or even according to an agreed and publicly available protocol recognising the purpose of the Code and its operation. Alas, there’s no indication that any such approach will be taken.

I’m afraid that CEO Briggs and the Cairns Regional Council are acting in a sloppy and unprofessional manner when it comes to the Code of Conduct, and that the best we can expect will be a kangaroo Court in which politics prevails.

Welcome to Cairns. Put your watches forward one hour, and your mind back two centuries.

De-Amalgamate Briggs Now

It's amazing how the Chief Executive Officer of Cairns Regional Council has so much time on his hands.

In between missing the boat on the Dengue outbreak, he finds time to criticise issues that are not within his job description.

Noel Briggs' role, as the CEO, is to manage his staff and implement the policies as decided by the elected Councillors. Nothing more.

However, he has the Cairns Post on speed dial, only to waste time, trying to yet again put a Councillor in their place. It is not the CEO's job to be involved in politics. Let me repeat that: It is not the CEO's job to be involved in politics.

His sights are again aimed at Julia Leu, for the grand felony of putting a 'De-Amalgamate Douglas Now' bumper sticker on her Council-funded car. Amazingly the sticker has graced Julia's vehicle for nearly a year, yet all of a sudden a 'Council staffer' complained.

This Councillor is doing what she said she'd do, when she took the mighty oath - to represent the people. It's a sad day when a Councillor or MP stops doing this. I wish Mr Briggs would get on with the job we all pay him the massive salary to do. He has around 900 staff and a myriad of pressing issues from appalling environmental management to killing some damm mozzies.

Soon after Councillor Forsyth jumped on the roof of the historic Yacht Club building late last year, Noel Briggs spent thousands of ratepayers dollars to commission one of his mates on the Tablelands to write a 10-page report on why the Councillor was guilty of the Code of Conduct. It was not objective nor balanced. I've seen this so-called investigation, which is the most poorly written documents you could ever set eyes on. We will be asking how much was spent of this report. It is also believed that the Mayor is not keen to pay for this trashy piece of deliberate dirt digging by the CEO.

This morning we see yet another 'investigation' by Briggs, this time into Councillor Lesina's Facebook profile. You can post all kinds of things here, it's a digital scrapbook. The Cairns Post reported that Kirsten is a 'member' of online groups like "come the f--- on bridget" and "1 million strong against Labor".

"I wonder why the Cairns Post would think that [I'm] in a group called 1 million strong against Labor when [I'm] in about 600 other labor fan groups," Kirsten Lesina said this morning on her profile page.

CEO Briggs says he will suggest Lesina change her profile to private. Kirsten should not take her marching orders from the CEO, someone paid three times that of the first term Councillor. She dragged this Council into the online era and is making strong in-roads for young people having access and involvment in local government.

I find the Mayor getting dragged into this latest debate about car stickers, on the coattails of the CEO's statement, is awkward, odd and a little dis-loyal. Julia, along with Diane Forsyth, are both on the same political leanings as our Mayor, and such attacks do little to strengthen and cement her position and the agenda of politics she so proudly and passionately stood for just over a year ago.

Someone's watching

Someone was watching the story last week on CairnsBlog about the beach dumping.

After huge loads of vegetation waste was dumped in beach car parks, north of Palm Cove, I published photos of the illegal dumping. It undoubtedly had to be a commercial operation, given the size and amount of waste.

Paul from Palm Cove telephoned me today and reported that the entire lot has been removed. By whom, we don't know. Maybe Cairns Regional Councillor Rob Pyne took up the challenge and asked his road gang to deal with it. Whoever did, thank you. Next time, I hope someone catches and prosecutes these blighters.

And in other pleasing news, the Fearnley Street drain mess that Molly helped me publicise back in October, has also been attended to. "Fearnley Creek Drain is no longer a shame," Molly says. "It's all beautifully repaired, safe and ready for back to school. A very smooth ride now." Council has been back to the site on at least three occasions, cleaning up the city eyesore.

Finally, I'm very happy to report that after numerous reports and videos exposed on CairnsBlog, a number of measures have been installed to prevent or limit sediment run off at Phil Hartwig's massive steep development at the top of Foley Road, Palm Cove. I know Councillor Paul Gregory took a particular interest in this one, as did Councillor Julia Leu.

Along with the Fiona Tulip and the Combined Beaches Residents' Association, Terry Spackman and myself spent a great deal of time monitoring this site late last year. This development went under the Council and EPA radar for more than a year. Even though the Residents' Association wrote to the State Government and communicated it to the Federal False Cape inspection team, nothing was done. It was only after we filmed run-off in October, following a small rainfall, that the unfolding disaster got the attention. Channel 7 ran the footage, that was first aired on my YouTube channel.

Council has subsequently sent staff to the Foley Road site and now initiated a new fine regime for developers and land owners that cause sediment run off with no preventative measures in place.

Rod Davis doesn't give a toss

I bet that former Douglas Shire Councillor Rod Davis is glad that he lost his bid to be the new Division 10 representative.

Rod's sailing Panama’s Pacific Isles, in the Caribbean.

"There comes a time when one needs to take the temperature of the world, via its sphincter, armpit and under its mouth, albeit not necessarily in that order," Rod writes on his travel blog. "In god knows how many days, or months, for that matter…hell, even years. Who cares," he says. "Every grand journey starts with a single step.

Rod says who needs a postcards when you have instant uploads, downloads."

"This is deeply philosophical and spiritual site," he says of his Blog. "There are three types of people here on earth, those who are good at maths, and those who are not. Pick a location in the index, and cancel ya National Geo subscription. Welcome to the World according to Rod."

You can read his unique and infamous travel ramblings here.

Why didn't he take Julia Leu with him? I think she deserves a good holiday after the last few months.

Leu and Hanan on Douglas Advisory Board

Robert Hanan, who heads the anti-amalgamation lobby group, Friends of Douglas Shire, is on the new Douglas Advisory Board to feed locals' concerns to Cairns Regional Council.

Councillor Julia Leu, who confronted the Premier when she visited Mossman last month, and has been a consistent fighter to air the residents' concerns from the former Douglas Shire, says that the board has a great range of skills and expertise. "It is well placed to advise Council on issues impacting the community,” she says.

Michael Bolt will chair the group which will meet every three months. Linda Jackson, Hazel Douglas, Robert Hanan, Ken Dobbs, Gerard Puglisi, Sonja Pritchard and Anne-Marie Clarke, are also on the new group.

Hanan and Friends of Douglas Shire, has led a large number of Division 10 residents around Port Douglas and Mossman to with-hold part or all of their rates over recent months, in protest at the lack of consultation from the new Council structure and rating regime that was forced on them.

The next ordinary council meeting of the Cairns Regional Council will be held next Thursday 27th November, and the meeting agenda will be available online from today. Friends of Douglas Shire will present to this meeting about their objection to increased rates and charges. You can contact Robert Hanan on 4098 8280 or Michael Gabour on 4099 3667, for more information about this meeting.

What teeth this new advisory body has, if any, is yet to be seen.

BBS

It's been a busy week for me, so apologies for less blogging.

With the State Government in town, and so many drinkies to hob knob off to, however there's a lot to share.

I had a session with Mayor Schier in her private chambers on Wednesday. It was a rather interesting chat, to say the least. This was the first formal interaction we've had since a telephone call we had two days after her March election win. Gotta say, I wish I had worn my surgical gloves before the chinwag.

I also had the delight to talk with various mobs protesting outside the Parliamentary sitting. Very few pollys bothered to engage and talk with them. In fact, as we know the Fire Service were banned from entering the building. Even Springbored [sic] hardly defended their right.

I also had a good natter with Telstra's Wally Donaldson about his plans to put up another mobile data receiver at Clifton Beach, which got voted down by Council today. I'll share more on this separately as the two sides of this debate need a good airing.

And today, the new lad on the block who is challenging Desley Boyle for her luke-warm seat, LNP's new wonder boy Joel Harrop, bribed me with a Mocha at the Corporate Tower coffee shop. The only thing in common with Kevin Byrne, whom many thought would be running, is his army background. However, Joel needs to get at least three defamation cases under his belt to match KB.

This morning I went to the Cairns Courthouse to support Cairns Regional Councillor Di Forsyth's appearance on her trespass charge of the Yacht Club building three weeks ago. Dianne is a rare politician who stood up to be counted. Fellow Councillor Robert Pyne was also there to share some words of support about democracy in our fair city.

Hopefully, sometime Friday, former Val love child, Councillor Julia Leu and I are hoping to sneak off for a catch up. She's really been the surprise in this new Regional Council. I'm sure most locals north of Cairns are delighted Julia is representing the good folk of the Douglas Shire.

Oh, and look out for tomorrow's regular Friday cartoon by Circusmouse. It's a shocker.

Councillor Forsyth in Court Thursday

The recent public campaign to highlight the demolition of the Yacht Club building culminated when Cairns Councillor Forsyth scaled the roof, attracting national coverage.

Her actions were remarkable in a modern politician for two reasons. Firstly Councillor Forsyth was actually doing to the best of her ability what her constituents were asking for. In July and August 11,000 citizens (more than 9,000 residents of Cairns and districts) signed a petition to save the historic building. Thousands of these are resident in, and vote in Di’s division.

In September, Councillor Forsyth used her Council-bestowed powers to create a resolution that Cairns Regional Council would seek urgent talks with Premier Anna Bligh to achieve the preservation and adaption of the building for a sustainable Cityport development. Premier Bligh never even had the decency to reply to our Cairns Regional Council.

Councillor Di Forsyth could have, like all the other Councillors, given up in the face of the Premier’s contempt. But Di didn’t give up. Instead Di stuck up for the people who elected her. You don’t see that often enough.

Secondly Di Forsyth showed remarkable personal courage. The roof onto which she climbed was six metres above a concrete laneway. It was wet and dirty and uncomfortable. Di had a safety team, harness, safety rope and hard hat. Her biggest risk was the way security staff employed by the Cairns Port authority attempted to push the ladders and a safety team member off the roof. It took physical courage for Di to climb onto the roof and stick up for her constituents.

More than that, it took intellectual courage and moral integrity for Di to get on the roof. Di knew that she would be attacked for breaking the law. Di also knew that Cairns Ports and the Queensland government were lying to the people of Cairns and treating us with contempt. Di knew that sometimes democracy can only be defended with civil disobedience – like the suffragettes, the civil rights movement, and the union movement. Nonviolence. People Power.

An online CairnsBlog poll showed that the overwhelming majority supported Councillor Di's actions. An equal number asked why wasn't Mayor Val making public comment on the issue. 10 said that it was a stupid thing to do, whilst two wished she had done the protest naked.

Di Forsyth has been savagely attacked for her actions. Mayor Val Schier and Council CEO Noel Briggs have allowed themselves to be railroaded into an “investigation” as to whether Councillor Forsyth has breached the “Code of Conduct”. The nature of this “investigation” is so secret that the media, the public, and Councillor Forsyth aren’t even allowed to know how it’ll be conducted.
The reality is that Noel Briggs, Val Schier and the Cairns Regional Council have no business conducting any kind of “investigation” until the current Court proceedings are completed.

The reality is that Councillor Forsyth will plead guilty to a misdemeanour that is much more trivial than a traffic ticket – although it is marginally more serious than a parking fine.

If Councillor Forsyth is sentenced in the same way that Terry Spackman and Wendy Davie have been, there will be no conviction recorded against her, and not even any fine for her conduct. Wendy and Terry were given good behaviour bonds of between $150 and $300, for between 3 months and six months. This isn’t even a slap on the wrist. It’s certainly no trigger for an “investigation”!

And you know why? Because the behaviour of Terry, Wendy and Di aren’t against any code of conduct. They don’t bring the Council into disrepute. They bring the Cairns Regional Council into credit. They exemplify a code of excellent conduct – a code in which people create justice and democracy by putting their own interests on the line, and by standing up for the interests and rights of those around them.

As citizens of Cairns we now have a choice. Do we accept the infantile politics, and the slick PR lies of Desley Boyle, Steve Wettenhall and Anna Bligh? Or do we get behind Councillor Di Forsyth – and insist that all politicians begin to act forthrightly in meeting the will of their constituents? I bet you can tell what I think.

Councillors Julia Leu (Division 10) and Robert Pyne (Division 3) will be attending the Rally in support of Councillor Forsyth, and will say a few words about the condition of our democracy.

Let’s get two hundred more citizens to the Cairns Courthouse to show our support for Di Forsyth on Thursday 30 October, 8.30 am.

Premier Bligh in Mossman

A welcoming road sign, north of Ellis Beach

They flagged going to Sunday church services in Port Douglas and Mossman today, so they could pray to Anna.

The embattled Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, trekked north to the spiritual heart of the former Douglas Shire, torn apart by the Labor State Government after 152 Councils were amalgamated in March. Around 600 gathering at the local Mossman community hall, to say their piece to the State's top politician. And speak they did.

The Premier encountered an angry group of people, but she stood and endured two and a half hours listening to every one who wanted to raise issues. The State Member for Cook Jason O'Brien was at Anna's side, holding her hand below the lectern.

Even new Cairns Regional Councillor Julia Leu fronted up sporting a 'De-Amalgamate Douglas Now!' Tshirt.

Their hope is that their collective voice was heard and something actually gets done.

Councillor Julia Leu, with Robert Hanan of Friends of Douglas Shire, about to present Premier Anna Bligh with the 2500 signature petition.

Locals were instructed by Police to leave placards outside, so goes the democracy under Labor in Queensland. Maybe Sir Joh was hiding under the floorboards somewhere. They read...

• 'Anna Jason, listen to the people'
• 'Kiss our votes bye bye Anna Bligh'
• 'A Bligh T on our community'
• 'O'Brien out, Democracy in!'
• 'We can't wait to De-Amalgamate'

Professor calls for archelogical dig

When you reflect on the adjectives used around the Yacht Club building, it makes for some interesting analysis.

It wasn't until the building was stripped back, and she sat alongside a number of full rubbish skips of debris that Port Authority chief Neil Quinn admitted there was some 'historic' parts of the old building. This was in contrast to his defiance over the last four years that the building had no history that needed to be preserved.

Almost every protester who stood before a judge at the Cairns Courthouse over the last three weeks, was told they were disrupting the 'demolition'. It was a sad, but accurate description.

However local Labor politicians never expected such fallout. Barron River's Steve Wettenhall and Cairns' Desley Boyle genuinely believed that they were 'saving' the old building for posterity by 'relocating'. "It's better than demolishing it," Wettenhall said.

History and Heritage professor at JCU Jan Wegnar has been very critical of the way in which the Port Authority has undertaken the move. None of the interior was kept, and historic hand-painted lettering was chain-sawed through and thrown in the rubbish skip, as the rush to clear the site reached fever pitch.

It was the early removal of the roof, to stop protestors climbing on top, that encouraged the Port Authority to remove the roofing, without any plan to protect the Black Bean dance floor. Waterproof tarps were left rolled up for the secrurty gards to unravel. They never did.

Professor Wagner also asks about the slatted ceiling. "It was a major heritage feature of the building," she says. "I automatically expected it would go to JCU with the rest of the place but I've just queried them and found they weren't expecting the ceiling to come at all."

John Mickel, now minister of Transport and a director of the Cairns Port Authority, was Minister for Heritage not that long ago. In his new role, he had a vested interest to clear this site. As Heritage Minister he was apparently copping a lot of flak from developers who were annoyed by people putting in Heritage Register nominations on the properties they were about to demolish/develop. Mickel started a secret inquiry into heritage processes in Queensland and then brought in an Act which has had the effect of putting the State's heritage processes more under the control of government.

He's well-known as a hard-liner and unsympathetic to heritage.

"I suspect that a lot of the government's non-responsiveness over the Cairns Yacht Club building comes from Mickel being the minister in charge of the Port Authority," says Professor Wegnar.

Jan Wegnar has called for an archaeological dig on the Wharf Street site now laid bare. "Who knows what is buried below that site. After nearly 100 years there will be numerous items that made their way below the floorboards," Wegnar says.

"At the very least, an archaeological inspection should occur."

Cairns Regional Councillor Julia Leu says what has happened is absolutely outrageous. "Their days are definitely numbered up here," she says.

Councillor Leu was sorry she was unable to physically be at the Yacht Club protests, living north of Port Douglas at Daintree. "Fitting everything is a nightmare," Councillor Leu said. "Di [Forsyth] knows that I fully support her, I rang her the day she was arrested - outraged by the response by most Councillors," Leu said. "However, not unexpected. What a gutless mob!"

However, given the way the Cairns Port Authority, with the blind support of the State Government and local politicians has acted towards retaining this old building, it's unlikely they will entertain such an exercise.

When Rusty Market was redeveloped five years ago, two months of digging unearthed many remnants of Chinese workers and various items that dated back to the early settlement of Cairns.

So this whole Yacht Club saga was not a relocation at all. It was destruction and demolition. Not by any other word. Many have lost their faith in the political process through the demolition of the old Yachtie.

So where to from here? The waterfront is the next battle line.

Cairns architect Mark Buttrose says that we need to put pressure on the Premier Anna. "We need to ensure our waterfront becomes an asset to the community and not a liability," he says. Bligh has finally rejected the waterfront scheme opposite Southbank in Brisbane.

The State Government have just announced that they have canned the North Bank Development after spending $5 million and six years pondering about. Deputy Premier Paul Lucas said it had nothing to do with the credit crisis, but it might have a lot to do with developers going belly up everywhere and the State's $50 billion debt.

"The Government always indicated that we wanted people to have a say," Lucas said. What an insult to the people of Cairns. This is the same Government that didn't listen to 11,500 residents. Lucas went on to say that people had a say in almost 2,300 submissions; 93% were against the development. This is supreme political two-facedness, when there was five times more objectors in Cairns.

Even former Mayor Kevin Byrne wants to throw up when he hears of Captain Bligh in a hat hat spouting about all things South East Queensland.

Bligh infamously said that she was "going to govern equally for all Queenslanders" when she took over from Beattie.

We now know this is not the case.

Bloggy Janine

Look what I started!

Janine Aitken, who ran for the Northern Beaches division in the March Council elections, has launched a Blog.

Janine was unsuccessful in her bid for Division 9 in the Cairns Regional Council, however she says after watching "broken promises and unacceptable rate rises decided it is again time to stick up for Cairns and question those in authority."

In her first post, she discusses the antics of Councillor Di Forsyth. "It has prompted me into speaking out about what is going on in Cairns," Aitken says. "Cr Forsyth is not the only member of Council who ran on a platform of heritage preservation, yet she is the only one who stood up (or climb up as the case was) to be counted on the issue."

Aitken asks where is the rest of the Council is on the important issues and that only three Councillors have really stood up to be counted in the first six months of this new Council.

"We have heard from Councillor Julia Leu who stood up for her division over amalgamation. We heard from Councillor Rob Pyne on his opporsition to the Council rate rises. We know we have three Councillors that are willing to stand up and be counted," says Janine.

"Where does that leave Councillors Gregory, Lanskey, Lesina, Blake, Cooper, Cochrane, Bonneau."

In a final swipe at her former running mate - or leaflet deliverer - she questions Val Schier. "Let's not forget our leader Mayor Schier. I would love to hear your stances on any of the issues you campaigned on."

It's genuinely great to have another blogger, join the stable of indeppendant writing here in the far north.

Who would have thought a few years ago, we'd all have a mobile phone, an email address, a profile online somewhere. Now everyone seems to have a blog. Who needs the ol noospaper anymore!

You can find all local blogs and websites on my 'links' list in the right-hand sidebar of CairnsBlog.

Councillor calls for formal report of Foley Road

Following my three reports and a number of video filmed over the last month at the Foley Road, Palm Cove development site, Councillor Julia Leu has now ordered an urgent report.

"This morning I received an email about sediment plume at Palm Cove and possible connection to Foley Road," Councillor Julia Leu told CairnsBlog.

"At 7.54am yesterday, I requested a full report about this situation from Council staff as a matter of urgency."

I have to record that a big part of the problem in this development, like False Cape, is the Council officials themselves. They are not policing developments and ensuring controls are being adhered to. This Foley Road mess has been going on for months. The drive from Council's plush planning offices in Spence Street is a mere 20 minutes to Palm Cove. Why don't they get off their arses, put some waist-high fishing waterproof trousers on, and march on up Hartwig's hill.

The debacle unfolding at the top of Foley Road, mirrors that of False Cape. It wasn't until the Federal Minister got involved that there was a resolution. However, to date the State Government haven't done a thing about False Cape, following the directive and intervention from the Federal Environment Minister.

Mark Buttrose, who led the campaign for the cessation of work at False Cape, believes that the Cairns Regional Council is still in denial. "This excavation at Foley Road is a major breach, it is on a huge scale and so potentially damaging," he says.

"I challenge the Council to produce the Erosion Sediment Control Plan for this development. Does it exist?" Mark Buttrose asks.

A strong advocate for proper hill slope protection, Buttrose says that every development must have a Erosion plan. "They need to produce this and satisfy the community why such standards are clearly not being upheld at this massive excavation [at Palm Cove]."

"This is False Cape all over again," he says. "Same thing, but now they don't have [Kevin] Byrne to hide behind."

Meanwhile, the Combined Beaches Community Association, who have been corresponding with the EPA for months over this development, have today written to State member for Cook, Jason O’Brien. They have requested a full investigation into the sediment run off into the creek system at Foley Road. O'Brien has been asked to get the EPA to investigate this development, maybe he might wake them up?

In a footnote to this story, a week ago a local Clifton resident was caught red-handed by the developer Phil Hartwig at the bottom of his property taking photos.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Hartwig bellowed. "I'm recording the mess on this land. Do you know the damage you're doing?"

The resident was told to mind his own business. "Don't you mind, I'll look after this. Why don't you leave," Phil Hartwig said in an aggressive tone.

I strongly encourage any concerned resident to go for a drive, and have a look. Foley Road is on the left hand side of the Captain Cook highway heading north. Park your car at the top, near the new sub-division on the right, and walk up the hill. You'll be shocked at the sight. Don't be to perturbed if Hartwig has his red and white plastic 'safety' tape across the road, as it's public road up to the newly constructed bridge culvert around the corner. There you will get a bird's eye view of the total devastation going on.

You would think, that in the wake of the False Cape decision to halt works for a year and stabilise the site before the wet season, Council would be all over rogue developers like Phil Hartwig. When are they going to take some action?

Another Council communications disaster

Hot on the heels of Councillor Alan Blake's rude email reply to a resident, and yesterday's revelation from Cairns Regional Council employee Meredith Wilsch, who is our 'Community Relations Engagement Co-ordinator'.

Wilsch told me she did not subscribe to my email mailing list and did not give consent to receive unsolicited messages.

Today I can reveal yet more stunning emails coming out of the hallowed halls of Council.

Rob Reilly, Council's Senior Revenue and Collections officer wrote in a 19 September email to a Port Douglas resident asking for an explanation about her 50% rate rise said:

• "I have supplied answers to your latest email below. It should be noted that the Revenue Statement and Annual Reports are listed on Council's website.
  
  Please note I have over 76,000 ratepayers that I deal with and I believe that I have given you and your issues sufficient coverage, therefore, I wish to advise that I will not be entering into any further correspondence regarding the issues below.
  You may refer any concerns regarding same direct to your elected member."

That's the way, push your rightful duties onto Councillor Julia Leu to deal with! Isn't that your job Mr Reilly?

However, it got a whole lot worse than this. Just three days prior, Brett Grosser, the general manager for Corporate Services at Council, got wind of emails going back and forth between upset and irate Port Douglas residents and Council's finance department. He sent an email to Cairns Regional Council CEO, Noel Briggs.

Look at the contempt the Cairns Regional Council are showing towards our northern residents. In this email excerpt, this is how rate payers are being talked to, in this internal leaked email:

• From: Brett Grosser
  Sent: Tuesday, 16 September 2008 4:50 PM
  To: Noel Briggs
  Cc: Rob Reilly
  Subject: RE: Rates
  
  Noel,
  
  I think we should simply stop communicating with her and block her email adress [sic] from the system.
  What are your thoughts?
  There is no way of satisfing [sic] her and any further dialogue will simply add more fuel to the fire.
  
  Regards
  Brett

Minutes after this message was sent to the original complainant, Rob Reilly realised what he had done in sending an internal email outside. He then sent out two 'recall notices' to the original recipient.

Now this was rather silly. You don't have to be an 8-year-old to realise that this is totally in-effective. Recalling emails sent in error is a system for internal LAN or WAN networks, not when you send an email to someone out there in cyber land.

A lobby group, formed in opposition to the Cairns/Douglas amalgamation called Friends of Douglas Shire, that was behind recent public meeting to protest what they call a 'takeover' of thier Shire instead a managed and respectful mutual working relationship.

"There have been a lot of incoming emails inquiring as to the rates situation," said co-ordinator Michael Gabour, who also hosts a morning show on Radio Port Douglas.

Friends of Douglas Shire believe that approximately 200 people have withheld all or part of their rates to Cairns Regional Council, as they have been frustrated with lack of adequate explanation for substantial rate hikes in July.

"We have had feedback that more people will be withholding their rate payment when the next rate bills are received in early 2009," Gabour says. "The Rates Tribunal has seemingly not provided any acceptable explanations to those that attended the Douglas Shire Council offices on the 10th September."

It's now obvious that this type of communication style is symptomatic of our Council management. There is a serious breakdown in the way communication is carried out by Cairns Regional Council with it's ratepayers.

The systemic and dismissive attitude by the Council towards the Douglas residents shows a culture of arrogance and one that is totally out of touch with their responsibilities to serve the people that pay their salary. These highly paid officials are public servants.

How many more examples do we need of an organisation out of control like this?

An open letter to Val Schier

Bryan Law pens an open letter to our Mayor... and asks her to act now on behalf of the community that elected her.


Two weeks ago I wrote to Val Schier about the Yacht Club building in Wharf St, and Council’s responsibilities. I received no reply.

I got positive replies from Linda Cooper and Julia Leu. Councillor Di Forsyth is engaged with PADYC, and is coordinating a Council response with assistance from Paul Matthews and Wendy Richardson.

Last week I wrote again to Mayor Schier and her Councillors, and spoke to her personal assistant. I was asking for an opportunity to discuss the Yacht Club building with her. I found out that Val was going to be absent for the relevant meeting on 11 September. I got an e-mail response from Val on 9 September.

Deputy Mayor Margaret Cochrane chaired the 11the September meeting of the Cairns Regional Council's Planning and Environment Committee. Margaret allowed Di Forsyth’s motion to be put forward, seconded by Linda Cooper, and after wide debate that motion was put and carried by 6 votes to 4:-

• CAIRNS YACHT CLUB BUILDING
  
  Moved Cr. FORSYTH / Seconded Cr. COOPER
  
  1. The Council communicate with the Premier of Queensland, the Transport Minister, the Treasurer and Chairman Cairns Ports as a matter of urgency requesting the proposed imminent demolition or removal of the Yacht Club building be put on hold.
  
  2. That a meeting be convened between Council, State Government, Cairns Ports, Indigenous and community representatives to identify planning issues, ongoing management and funding in relation to the retention of the Cairns Yacht Club Building on it’s current site to preserve and adapt the Cairns Yacht Club building for cultural and heritage tourism ventures as part of the waterfront development.
  
  3. That Council recognise the petition of more that 10,000 Queensland citizens, including around 8,000 residents from the Cairns Region requesting the retention of the Cairns Yacht Club building on its current waterfront site.
  
  Motion carried with Councillors Blake, Bonneau, Gregory and Lansky voting against.

What follows is an open letter to Mayor Val Schier, where I respond to her e-mail of 9th September, and encourage her to advocate successfully for a favourable resolution of the Yacht Club building/Cityport development issues.

From Mayor Val Schier to Bryan Law 11th September 2008.

• Bryan,
  
  I monitor the comments going back and forth can assure you that I am working quietly to plant seeds and make a difference environmentally (sustainability, energy reduction targets, bike lanes etc).
  
  You know that I do not have a majority that supports my vision for the region the only option is to tread carefully and gradually get a change agenda up. Happy to talk further next time our paths cross. Val

From Bryan Law to Mayor Val Schier, 14th September 2008

Val,

As much as any human being I appreciate the quiet planting of seeds, and the evolution of culture in ecologically sustainable ways. I see evidence all around me that visions such as yours are now mainstream, and can be successfully acted upon. I expect everyone will act as best they can.

I’m asking you to act effectively now in seeking to preserve and adapt the Yacht Club building. As a community activist, I need to point out to you that in the matter of the Yacht Club building in Wharf St you are NOT in a minority. Think of yourself as part of the majority.

More than 10,000 residents of Queensland have signed the PADYC Petition. Some 8,500 of these reside in the Cairns municipal area. Their voices make a difference. A majority of your own Councillors have already resolved that Cairns Regional council intervene into the issue and seek a negotiated outcome with the Queensland government.

As Mayor, you have a golden opportunity to build support for your leadership and your vision by demonstrating how you can bring about solutions through skillful organising. Your job as Mayor is to organise with stakeholders, and bring them and their views before the Premier, Anna Bligh – and to bring Anna Bligh in front of the people of Cairns. We need to involve the Gimuy Idinjie. We need to convince Anna that a change in government plan is a GOOD thing.

Out of this process we’ll negotiate a solution that meets the legitimate needs of all stakeholders, including the substantial number of citizens who want Cairns heritage preserved on our town waterfront. It’s a pretty simple thing to do (and we can make the Port Authority pay for it).

You’ll remember that when you first ran for election as mayor in 2004 I questioned your ability to advocate for community groups against ALP political interests. I ran as an independent candidate against you and got 6.7% of the vote.

In 2008 I supported your election and took on faith an expectation that you would perform creditably (plus I just couldn’t stand Kevin Byrne any more).

Now you have an opportunity to live up to your side of the electoral bargain and put in a sterling effort at bending the will of a Queensland Premier. PADYC will support you. We can get 1,000 citizens to a meeting with the Premier.

Can you get such a meeting organised? We can help.

Now is the time Val. If you can’t get this done you’ll have lost my confidence as Mayor. You’ve got the job you wanted, and the office you wanted. Use it.

Cheers,
Bryan

The Libs will allow Douglas to go it alone

The newly formed LNP plan to allow Douglas and Noosa, two of the strongest opponents of amalgamation, to go their separate way, if elected.

They say that it is designed to "rebuild relationships between state and local governments" that they cite as being diminished under Labor.

They will fund de-mergers by those towns and communities who wish to govern alone.

This follows the heated meeting in Mossman two weeks ago when 500 locals voted to de-amalgamate from Cairns Regional Council, the move represented by their Councillor Julia Leu.

LNP's leader Lawrence Springborg said that local government is "an organisation of people elected to govern an area smaller than a state." He cites international research that confirms local governments are best with populations of up to 80,000 people. There is around 165,000 under the new CRC catchment.

Sunshine Coast Regional Council represents 290,000 people with a 5% p.a. growth rate. The old Noosa shire has around 50,000, who strongly opposed amalgamation. Like Douglas, they wanted their unique beachside nature to have a strong local political voice.

Spokesman for the Friends of Noosa, Bob Ansett says that the Beattie/Bligh promise of no employee redundancies for three years isn't working. "There are now examples of three people doing the same job. How efficient is that?" he asks.

I'm all for Douglas going their own way, under a new management. In the first four short months, we've seen a disparate sense of planning an d stretched resources, let alone the dis-parity of water charges, rates and even rubbish collection.

The new CRC's first budget, was poorly received by the majority of residents, and will be the hardest reputation to claw back to gain some credibility and respect from those that they seek support from in 2012.

A small victory for democracy

Bryan Law writes about this morning's Regional Council Planning and Environment meeting...


The Cairns Regional Council today supported a resolution about the Cairns Yacht Club building presented by Di Forsyth, Councillor for Division 7.

The Resolution recognised the Petition of 10,000 collected by PADYC, and the strong public interest in this building. The resolution expressed support for retaining and adapting the building on its present site, and directs the Council to begin talks with Premier Anna Bligh and relevant Ministers about achieving a successful re-design of the stale Cityport project.

Mayor Val Schier was not present. Margaret Cochrane took the chair. The Resolution was carried by five votes to four. Di Forsyth, Julia Leu, Linda Cooper, Kirsten Lesina and Robert Pyne voted in favour.

Alan Blake, Sno Bonneau, Nancy Lansky and Paul Gregory opposed the motion.

Those who opposed the motion had two lines of objection. “It’s none of our (corporate) business” led by Councillor Gregory, and “It’s a lost issue so let’s ask for crumbs” led by Councillor Lansky. Three alpha males and Nancy Lansky... could this be our basic anti-democratic faction?

Those who voted in favour all referred to the petition – to the cogent and legitimate expression of public interest by some 8,500 residents of Cairns. They all acknowledged a duty to advocate on behalf of resident’s interests. Our Council believes in the democratic principle by a margin of 5 to 4.

As Chair, Margaret Cochrane didn’t vote and Mayor Val Schier was away – so the real democratic vote on Cairns Regional Council might be 7 to 4. Now that’s better than it was under Kevin Byrne, but it’s a long way from the levels of commitment and competence that I’d like to see in local government.

Still I must not grumble too much. The Cairns regional Council has come on side with preserving the Yacht Club building.

This is a golden opportunity for Val and her council of independents to put some runs on the board and score big - by persuading Anna Bligh to get real and preserve her electoral chances in far north Queensland by giving the people what they want. Val’s the gal who can do it.

PADYC will continue its independent campaigning, and is conducting a workshop on non-violent direct action on Saturday 20 September at 298 Fearnley Street, Cairns, 10am. Bring a plate to share for lunch.

PADYC intends to assist Val and Di in taking on and winning with the George Street State mafia.

CairnsBlog cartoon by Circusmouse

Councillor for Division 10, Julia Leu has called for a "divorce" from the Cairns Regional Council, as her residents learn the lack of compatibility following the forced amalgamation of Douglas and Cairns.

Sno: Butt out of Palm Cove camping ground

The northern beach communities of Cairns have come under a lot of scrutiny recently. Almost every beach suburb is under the microscope from developers and commercial interests, greedy to do their worst without consulting local residents.

Clifton Beach has one of the most active community resident organisations that has been challenging and questioning what local developers are attempting to do in their back yard.

This tale comes from a northern beaches resident, who is closely involved on the battle to protect the golf course and wet tropics land that surround the Paradise Palms development.


Last Monday, a northern beaches resident nearly ran off the road whilst listening to the John McKenzie's radio talkback show. Who was on? You may well ask. What were they saying that nearly caused this accident?

Sno Bonneau, the former Divisional Councillor for this area, was on talk back about the Goldfinch Caravan Park, at Palm Cove.

This is the very much loved public camping and caravan park on Palm Cove's Esplanade.

Here is a bit of background.

This site has a long history and one, the Palm Cove-ites are proud of.

In the beginning, it was private land that was bequeathed to the State Government years ago by the owner for it to remain a public camping area. The Cairns Regional Council have management rights on behalf of the State Government.

In 2005, the then Council came up with a most ridiculous plan for re-development. Sno tried very hard to sell the concepts on offer but the locals would have none of it for very good reasons.

It took years for the Council to decide (in May 2007) to scrap their silly plans and just spend the money on upgrading the facilities, which is what the locals were screaming out for at the time.

So on Monday here is what Sno was saying in essence.

Cairns Council have run out of money and can’t afford to do the work, so are putting it out to private enterprise/developers to re-develop with of course, an opportunity to develop a commercial enterprise on the vacant land opposite the car park.

Sno emphasised that it was no longer his Division, but he had 13 years of work in that area.

It is Julia Leu’s division now but he had a very good working relationship with Julia Leu.

He implied that he gave her a lot of help and advice.
I wonder if this is Julia’s take on the situation? I rather think that the two views would be worlds apart.

Sno also said that he really missed working for Palm Cove and Clifton Beach. This is where the listener nearly ran off the road.

This councillor must be truly insane. He lives in a world of his own. It gets worse because people actually believe the crap that comes out of his mouth, particularly John McKenzie, it seems.

The residents of Clifton Beach northwards, are all enjoying a breath of fresh air in having Julia as our new representative. She is communicative, has come to several community meetings already, and is always polite and genuinely interested in resident’s views.

The Gold Finch Caravan Park issue, and Sno ‘s underhanded actions, were just one of several issues that the residents of the northern beaches put in an official complaint to Council earlier this year.

Here are the specifics of that complaint involving this Caravan Park...

1. There was a conflict of interest involved. At a closed session of Council, an amount of $25,000 was provided by Indigo Ocean’s Edge Resort for an Options Report. They wanted to include a boardwalk from their property down to the jetty at Palm Cove beach. The Options Report was duly done and guess what, on the two options which were almost identical to one another, there was a board walk in-situ, Option 1. – boardwalk sited straight through the middle of the camping area, and Option 2. – boardwalk sited to the back of the camping area but close enough so that walkers talking etc would have disturbed the campers/holiday makers. Both ridiculous options and no real alternatives.
   
   
2. The Ocean’s Edge advertising brochure was released before the matter came to Council for consideration and the boardwalk was mysteriously insitu without approval.
   
   
3. The Council released the Options Report and advertised like mad for community input, literally a few days before Christmas of 2005. The consultation process closed Jan 2006. The local community association complained via Council and nothing happened so then Jason O’Brien intervened because of the state interest, and then all hell broke loose. Council were then forced to extend the consultation period to end of Feb 2006.
   
   
4. Literally, hundreds of people put in submissions on this one, and then it took over twelve months (May 2007) for the Council to come up with the fact that they could not find the money for this grandiose plan (around $9 million), so at that meeting it was decided just to upgrade facilities. Obviously, Ocean’s Edge were not willing to cough up any extra dollars either.

There are some strong reasons why residents were strongly against what was on offer. The facts were that public space (camping area) was being significantly reduced, to make way for other vested interests, such as the Ocean’s Edge boardwalk. The commercial facilities that would border the Esplanade, a new and bigger public car park to appease Palm Cove traders.

Also the fact that a new road was being created around the circumference of the camping area to give a land owner on the southern side of Buchan Point, access to his property, which he currently did not have.

Imagine just how quiet the camping area would be with all those tourist buses and cars driving past your tent or van on their way to and from the jetty everyday?

Then there was also removal of the boat ramp. It is the only one north of Trinity Park. The lack of proper community consultation, and the underhanded way the original community engagement process was carried out, is of great concern. The fact the two options presented were almost identical to one another, except for the placement of the boardwalk, giving no real alternatives.

One alternative should have been the upgrade of facilities only.

So, according to Monday’s Cairns Post, the re-development of this much loved public space is back on Council’s agenda for a re-development not just a facelift.

The very fact that Sno Bonneau is involved again, and has gone out of his way to be involved in this issue, should raise public scrutiny of what is going on.

He should not be allowed anywhere near this project, not with his track record and the amount of animosity that most residents feel for this man who consistently failed in his duty as our elected representative.