Shock as senior planning staff depart City Hall
Staffers are in shock after two senior staff parted ways with council amid tensions in the city’s powerful planning department.
Gold Coast
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STAFFERS have been shocked by news that two senior Gold Coast strategic planners have left council.
The Bulletin can also reveal a contract will not be extended for a senior employee in the Office of City Architect.
The tensions in the city’s powerful planning department occur against a backdrop where many developers are complaining about the restrictions in new City Plan amendments while trying to progress high density projects during the COVID-19 economic downturn.
The staffing shake-up follows on from a report late last month on the Burleigh twin towers project which for the first time highlighted serious divisions between the City Architect office and the planning office.
BURLEIGH TWIN TOWERS PLAN SPARKS COUNCIL DIVIDE
The Office of City Architecture complained about bulk and wanted reductions on the size of the buildings, while planners considering City Plan objectives and how a five-star resort could operate won out with their recommendation for slight height and shape changes.
Several sources have confirmed the two female planning staffers left the council offices on Friday in a move which stunned fellow staffers.
Both council insiders and development industry sources contacted by The Bulletin today expressed strong praise and respect for the strategic planning staffers
A council source told The Bulletin: “One of the officers in City Planning is details driven. She has impeccable attention to detail. She is one of the most senior persons there.
COUNCILLORS DELAY CITY PLAN CHANGES
“The other officer is a leader in environmental planning. The City Architect’s office — that is all about amenity and more often than not environmental sustainability.”
Another council source said staffers were surprised and demanding answers about the decisions made by the council administration.
“The news of it on Friday was a complete shock to most councillors. Some of them will want to get to the bottom of this,” the council insider said.
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A Gold Coast urban development source said the officers were extremely well respected and their work acknowledged for progressing the City Plan changes supported by the community.
“They are experienced, in mid-career — they must be totally shattered,” the development industry source said.
Council CEO Dale Dickson, in a statement said:
“I can confirm that several personnel changes within the Economy, Planning and Environment directorate have been decided and actioned last Friday, 7 August 2020.
“The actions have been taken after very careful consideration of a range of issues, and as is the case with any staffing matters, and so as to protect the privacy of individuals, I will not be commenting further.”
Originally published as Shock as senior planning staff depart City Hall