Chris Pearse refuses to withdraw tower development comments

A council candidate who has been an outspoken critic of a controversial 21-storey tower development at Hervey Bay has reacted to the news he could potentially be barred from voting on the issue if elected.

Chris Pearse, standing for Division 6 for the Fraser Coast Regional Council, had been an outspoken opponent of the 21-storey tower development proposed for Torquay.

A Fraser Coast council candidate campaigning against a proposed high-rise development at Hervey Bay has spoken out against what he believes to be a heavy-handed effort from the council to silence him.

Chris Pearse will contest Division 6 at the March 2024 local government election and has been leading the charge against the 21-storey towers at Torquay.

He said he was shocked at a letter sent out by acting council CEO Gerard Carlyon, which warns his advocacy might disqualify him from voting on the project should he be elected to council.

The proposal for the hotel at 408-412 the Esplanade at Torquay has divided opinion across the Fraser Coast, with more than 1500 submissions put forward by residents.

“The possibility that I would not be able to vote if I became a councillor, I cannot see how that would be possible in a democratic system,” Mr Pearse said in response to the letter.

“All councillors have opinions, which is fine as long as we still listen to the community and hear what they have to say.”

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Mr Pearse has travelled up and down the Esplanade talking to residents about the proposal.

He estimates he has met more than 150 people from “all walks of life” who have signed the petition against the towers.

Chris Pearse is running as a Fraser Coast council candidate for Division 6.

He believes an alternative exists for both the builders and protesters to be satisfied but “only if the developers comply with the existing town plan”.

He staunchly refuses to retract any of the comments he has made about the towers.

“I speak on behalf of the community and will continue to do so, if that means I cannot vote on the issue then something is wrong.”

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The letter sent out by Mr Carlyon said:

“Under the Local Government Act, if a councillor was to express an opinion now either for or against the application, it may mean they would then have a conflict of interest and may be unable to vote when the formal report comes before council in the next three to six months”.

When queried about the legality of those word, a Local Government Department spokesperson said:

“In keeping with transparent and effective local government, Fraser Coast Regional Council is entitled to publicly release information regarding development application processes”.

“A councillor or candidate would need to consider, at the time of decision making, any interests which may conflict with the public interest.”

The 2024 Local Government elections will be held on Saturday, March 16, across Queensland.