Camilleri skate park mural: Mackay mayor says sorry for role in backlash

The Mackay mayor has apologised for a social media post, which he says led to a barrage of vitriol, abuse, and threats against his colleagues.

Mackay mayor Greg Williamson has apologised for a social media post and any role it played in raising furore against his colleagues over their decision to remove a controversial skate park mural.

It comes after eight councillors rejected repealing a council motion which sealed a move to paint over an unfinished artwork at the Camilleri St park in Eimeo.

The artist, who designed the piece in response to the death of popular Mackay teenager Will Baker, had not received the appropriate approvals before starting the painting.

Mayor Greg Williamson, along with deputy mayor Cr Karen May and councillor Michelle Green, had unsuccessfully tried to halt the mural’s removal – which was not strictly a memorial piece – until further community discussions could be had.

After their appeal was denied, Cr Williamson posted to his mayoral Facebook page expressing his disappointment, a move which he says caused harm to fellow councillors.

The mural was in memory of Eimeo teen William Baker, who died after the motorbike he was riding and the Blacks Beach Tavern courtesy bus collided at the Blacks Beach Rd and Hancock St intersection on May 28, 2022.

This included a barrage of abusive phone calls and emails, as well as death threats.

“I do acknowledge that my social media stance regarding the democratic decision by council to remove the unauthorised artwork at the Camilleri St park has unintentionally caused personal and reputational damage to the eight councillors in particular who didn’t support the repealing of the previous resolved motion of the council,” Cr Williamson said during a mayoral minute he presented on Wednesday.

“My post was never intended to cause anxiety but it unfortunately drew inappropriate responses from some members of our community.”

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson apologised during a Mayoral minute over a social media post about the Camilleri St skate park. Picture: Duncan Evans

Cr Williamson said he acknowledged comments on his Facebook post were not moderated in a “timely manner” and he would ensure this would not happen again.

His Facebook post has since been removed.

“As I publicly stated, the vitriol and offensive comments that councillors were subjected to should not be a consequence of fulfilling an elected role … so councillors I am sorry,” he said.

Councillors unanimously accepted the apology.

Councillors who had previously voted not to send the final decision on the artwork back to community consultation included Martin Bella, Fran Mann, Alison Jones, Pauline Townsend, Justin Englert, Russell Seymour, Laurence Bonvaventura, and Belinda Hassan.