Gympie Council: Plan to name Theebine bridge after poet sparks debate

A councillor’s pitch to name a small, untitled bridge 31km north of Gympie after a community stalwart and popular poet has become embroiled in 40 minutes of red tape. Read what happened

Does Gympie Regional Council have a bad case of policy paralysis?

The question raised its head Wednesday when councillors debated for more than 40 minutes whether to rename a small bridge at Theebine after a poet and community stalwart.

Councillor Dolly Jensen had asked for the unnamed Scrub Rd bridge about 31km north of Gympie to be named after Warren Dakin, who died in April.

Mr Dakin’s widow Kathy has only a number of weeks left to live, Mrs Jensen said, and the Division 2 councillor wanted to speed things along.

She told the council a petition supporting renaming the bridge had drawn more than 300 signatures in only four days.

It began a lengthy debate over how long it takes for the council to make decisions and how beholden to policy and red tape the council is.

Gympie Regional Council is exploring whether to name a small bridge at Theebine after community stalwart Warren Dakin, but only after a 40 minute debate about policy.

Bruce Devereaux said making a decision on any naming was “urgent” given Mrs Dakin’s ill-health and the council’s track record when it came to making decisions in a timely manner.

“Have a look at how long it took for the seat at Tin Can Bay (named for Ron Jensen, no relation to Mrs Jensen) to happen,” Mr Devereaux said.

“One thing the council is very good at is slowing things down.

“This isn’t saying do it, this is saying let’s start the process … to give the family comfort.”

Mrs Jensen said naming the seat took almost 27 years, with the fight first taken up by Ron’s wife Eve and then their son Steven when Eve died.

“I’d rather not put the brakes on this,” Mrs Jensen said.

Councillor Bruce Devereaux said it took more than two decades for the Jensen family, including son Steve, to have a seat at Tin Can Bay named in honour of his father Ron.

Jess Milne said it was difficult to support renaming the bridge after Mr Dakin without having guidelines in place.

Mayor Glen Hartwig agreed, flagging the council had a naming policy for structures but not bridges.

“If we do create a precedent (with this), where do we go?” Mr Hartwig said.

Mrs Jensen urged the council to do it in the name of empathy and amend the nuances of a policy later.

“Surely we can make a decision for a tiny little bridge?”

Dan Stewart said it was sad about the wife’s illness but “sometimes you need a bit of time” to consider options.

“To do something in the heat of the moment is not really the best time,” Mr Stewart said.

“It just seems to be a rushed process.

“This name could last a long time, it’s too soon with all due respect to the family.”

Councillor Dolly Jensen said she had a petition carrying more than 300 names had been signed in support of naming the bridge after Warren Dakin.

Mr Devereaux pointed to inconsistencies with this in the past like the naming of a Kilkivan Equestrian Centre building after Vern Berry in 2019.

He pointed to a claim he attributed to former deputy mayor Bob Leitch that he had “come off football fields and had a beer with the guy the field is named after”.

“If the local community wants something named after something, let them,” Mr Devereaux said.

Councillors (except Bob Fredman and Warren Polley, who were absent) voted unanimously to start the ball rolling on naming the bridge after Mr Dakin, beginning with community consultation.

A new naming policy will also be created with the first draft expected to be tabled at the November council meeting.