Minister called to fill gap in suspended councillor’s seat

The Local Government Minister has been called on to fill the seat of a councillor suspended more than nine months ago, after a 12th adjournment in her court case related to theft charges.

Spikes were used on the road to stop the ute before police used a taser and then apprehended the driver in Bethania on Sunday.

A PETITION has been launched calling on Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe to appoint an administrator for the seat of a Logan councillor suspended more than nine months ago.

● Former mayor wants donors declared

● Dirty water plagues school

The seat was left without a full-time councillor when Stacey McIntosh was suspended in May while she faced charges related to the alleged theft of $180,000 from a previous employer.

Suspended Logan City councillor Stacey McIntosh leaving the District Court in Brisbane after an appearance in November. AAP/Darren England

She was charged in December 2016 and on Friday had her case set down for mention on Wednesday, February 27, making it the 12th adjournment.

More than 200 Division 6 residents gathered on Saturday to discuss hoons, dirty water, a high-rise hotel and the lack of council representation.

Acting mayor Cherie Dalley who is temporarily filling in for Ms McIntosh and as the mayor, is due to travel to Taiwan for five days next month.

Cr Darren Power said he made an offer to chief executive Silvio Trinca who put the bid before Cr Dalley.

“I spoke to the chief executive in person and offered to take on the role because I knew Cr Dalley was going to find it hard to carry out the mayor’s role, and the responsibilities of both Divisions 8 and 6,” Cr Power said.

“But I never heard back because, I believe, I was not one of the Fab 7 and my offer was not given proper consideration.”

More than 200 people attended Saturday’s meeting to discuss hoons, dirty water and the lack of representation in Division 6.

The change.org petition was launched a day after students at Bethania Lutheran were told not to drink the tap water following a burst water main in the area, which affected 30 houses.

Four other mains burst in the area in the past month.

Green-coloured water filters, presented to the meeting, were sent for testing.

Green-coloured water filters from Bethania.

A day after the meeting, police were called to Montrose Ave after a ute crashed through the front fence of housing commission home around 8am.

The crashed ute in Bethania on Sunday.

Road spikes were deployed on in nearby Station Rd and police used a taser before detaining a man. The hooning incident followed noises of explosions on Friday night when it is believed pipe bombs were exploded in vacant land between the old cemetery on Church Rd and Ridgewood Reserve North.

The site of the pipe bomb explosion on Friday night.

Town planning issues were also raised at Saturday’s meeting with residents hearing from Holmview Shopping Centre developer Laurence Lancini, who told the crowd K-mart was going to be the anchor tenant in his newly developed centre, which would come with cinemas.

Forde MP Bert van Manen told the crowd he would be calling an urgent meeting with Logan councillor Phil Pidgeon who is also the city’s road and water chairman.