75,000 reasons mayor didn’t vote on huge project

The vote on the Twin Waters development was the most crucial decision for the new council yet and the mayor’s move left others surprised.

FILE IMAGE: Mayor Mark Jamieson pictured with plans for the new sport and recreation precinct in Meridan Plains.

More than $75,000 in electoral donations to Mayor Mark Jamieson were tied to businesses that gave feedback on Stockland's controversial Twin Waters West development.

Cr Jamieson said it was because of these donations that he could not take part in the most crucial decision for the new council yet, if Stockland's Twin Waters West project should go ahead.

He said he received advice from Local Government Association Queensland and law firm King and Company that donations from submitters to a development application could prompt a conflict of interest.

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There were 417 submissions made in response to the application, 132 supporting and 285 against.

It is rare for a donation from a submitter to raise questions of potential conflicts of interest.

Cr Jamieson said until recently it was not something he had ever contemplated.

He said while he had not received formal advice, he would not be involved in deliberations.

Division 8 councillor Jason O'Pray, who put successfully put forward the motion to reject the development application, said the discussion was "absurd".

 

PLANS: Designs for the Twin Waters West development.

 

"It's quite disappointing that councillors are finding this out on the floor of council," he said after Cr Jamieson left the room.

"This is the first time I've witnessed this and I find it quite bemusing that we are dealing with a situation where someone has an association with a submitter.

"We're going to be doing this every meeting."

The vote was delayed until the end of the meeting to allow councillors to see if they had received donations from any submitter.

Councillors David Law and Maria Suarez said they could have a perceived conflict of interest for similar reasons to Cr Jamieson.

Cr Law said Keith Campbell was a submitter on the application and was a fellow division 10 candidate during the March elections.

Mr Campbell and Cr Law exchanged preferences.

Councillors voted Cr Law did not have a perceived conflict of interest.

Cr Suarez said she received donations, worth just under $1500, from businesses and organisations that made submissions.

They voted that she did have a perceived conflict of interest, but agreed she could stay and vote on the matter.

Peter Cox was the only councillor who voted against Cr Suarez staying in the room.

Cr Jamieson has not responded to questions sent by the Sunshine Coast Daily.

The Local Government Association Queensland said it did not set a precedent.

"There is nothing unusual about a mayor or councillor declaring a perceived conflict of interest relating to election donations or other forms of support and removing themselves from a decision," CEO Greg Hallam said.

During the live-streamed meeting Cr Jamieson declared these electoral donations he received from companies and organisations between 2012 and 2020.

The businesses and organisations also made submissions into the Twin Waters West application.

$1800 January 17, 2012 from Shadcivil

$5000 January 20, 2012 from Shadforths

$5000 February 28, 2012 from Shadforth Civil Engineering

$5000 April 13, 2012 from Shadforths

$5539.89 April 28, 2012 from Shadforth Civil Engineering

$25,000 October 19, 2015 from Shadforth Civil Engineering Contractors

$1800 January 17, 2012 from Pumicestone Passage Development Proprietary Limited

$5000 April 10, 2012 from Pumicestone Passage Development Proprietary Limited

$5000 December 23, 2015 from Pelican Waters Heart

$2000 February 4, 2016 from Pelican Waters Heart

$200 February 19, 2016 from Caloundra Chamber of Commerce

$200 January 29, 2016 from Michael Shadforth and Caloundra chamber of commerce

$5000 January 23, 2012 Hall Contracting

$5000 April 24, 2012 Hall Contracting Proprietary Limited

$2000 October 21, 2015 Hall Contracting Proprietary Limited

$2000 January 22, 2016 Cameron Hall, Hall Contracting

Total: $75,539.89