Malanda Pavilion inquiry into Tablelands Council rejected by Local Government Minister
The local government minister says she has no power to intervene into a Far North council’s matters, after allegations of misconduct over a prized and historic pavilion.
The local government minister has responded to a petition calling on her to investigate a Far North council which had self-reported to Queensland’s corruption watchdog.
Ann Leahy told 856 petitioners she would not order an investigation into the Tablelands Regional Council, following allegations of misconduct over its actions linked to the Patrick English Pavilion at Malanda.
The historic building was the subject of a tussle between the council who wanted to dispose “The Igloo” and replace it with a multipurpose centre after engineering assessments reported the structure was unsafe.
Those plans did not go ahead, but the local government still had plans to demolish the historic building, as recommended by a May 2024 engineering report.
The distinctive curved corrugated iron and timber building was built in the 1940s and countless Malanda residents have happy memories of weddings, concerts, balls, and community gatherings at the venue.
An upset Malanda public questioning how the historic asset suddenly arrived to a point of disrepair last year, accused the TRC of various forms of misconduct including failing to maintain the structural integrity of the ageing site.
The venue was permanently closed prior to the Malanda Show last year.
In his request to the local government minister, principle petitioner Matt Lachlan called for an inquiry to establish whether the council had been providing misleading or false information and whether TRC had failed to maintain the venue.
But Ms Leahy responded last week, stating she was “without power to intervene” in the matter.
“It is the Office of the independent Assessor who manages all complaints about councillor conduct in Queensland, including misconduct,” she said.
“Allegations and investigations into corrupt conduct falls under the jurisdiction of the Crime and Corruption Commission.
“The Department of Local Government will continue to support and monitor the matter and will keep me informed of any issues which may need attention.”
TRC chief executive Dr Nikola Stepanov earlier this year defended her organisation’s handling of information surrounding the pavilion, stating it “vehemently” rejected allegations of misconduct.
“We have provided the CCC with our corrupt conduct assessment report regarding previous allegations, which were found not to be substantiated,” she said.
“The CCC acknowledged that TRC had exhausted its complaints management process and advised it would take no further action in relation to the matter.
“We understand it can be hard to accept facts that may be contrary to a personal position or view members of the community may hold strongly, even in the face of incontrovertible evidence.
“It is a natural response for some.”
A TRC spokeswoman said an earlier tender for the demolition of the pavilion was unsuccessful and the council was investigating options for securing a contractor in the near future.
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Originally published as Malanda Pavilion inquiry into Tablelands Council rejected by Local Government Minister
