Gold Coast councillor to community group: “This is fake news”

Councillor Cameron Caldwell has accused a leading Gold Coast community group of spreading “fake news” in a fiery lead-up to a town hall meeting on the City Plan.

COUNCILLOR Cameron Caldwell has accused a Gold Coast community group of spreading “fake news” in a fiery lead-up to a town hall meeting on the City Plan.

The planning committee chair is understood to be angry about speculation he would boycott a function on the southern Coast where residents are furious about recent council approvals of high rise buildings.

He attended a Labrador meeting about the City Plan and insisted he would at tonight’s meeting.

Gold Coast City Council planning chair Cameron Caldwell looks at proposed changes to the City Plan.

In a Facebook post on January 11, The Community Alliance said the council had indicated only its officers would be attending the meeting despite residents expecting an appearance by councillors Caldwell, Pauline Young, Gail O’Neill and Daphne McDonald.

Palm Beach anti-light rail campaigner Karen Rowles wrote: “Is Caldwell too afraid to show up?”

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Another protesting resident remarked that the council planning chair was probably warned about confronting “those massive 50kg soccer mums with dangerous pieces of cardboard”.

Community Alliance president John Hicks said it was not clear whether Councillor Caldwell was attending the meeting. Picture Glenn Hampson.

In response, Cr Caldwell wrote on the page: “Thanks to whoever it was that tagged me in this thread, and to borrow a phrase, this is a fake news story. I have said I will be there, and I will be there, and I’m sure my council colleagues will too. We will have council officers to assist also. See you on the 21st.”

The Bulletin understands Cr Caldwell’s office had not been contacted about the event and officers had allegedly relayed that it was their understanding councillors were not required to attend.

Cr Caldwell has declined to comment further but council sources suggest he was upset by the comments and believed the group was obliged to correct the record.

City Plan meeting at Labrador – planning chair Cameron Caldwell addressing residents.

The Community Alliance president John Hicks told the Bulletin their inquiries found it was not clear if Cr Caldwell was attending.

“Disagree with the assertion we spread fake news,” he said. “Basically at the time we inquired about the Currumbin meeting it was not clear Cr Caldwell would be attending. Hence we asked the community through our Facebook page what they wanted.”

The town hall meeting is at the Currumbin RSL, 6-8pm.