'I have endured a lot of legal action brought against me for my public commentary, including Facebook posts'

This Gold Coast Councillor said it had not been an easy term but confirmed he would stand again, even after battling a defamation case launched by the Mayor.

PETER Young says it was not an easy decision after a torrid council term but he intends to seek re-election as he stands firm against a cruise ship terminal and protecting Black Swan Lake.

The Pacific Pines-Nerang based councillor is one of the last to flag his political intentions after a stressful period where until recently he was fighting a defamation case launched by Mayor Tom Tate.

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Councillor Peter Young at a protest against the filling of Black Swan Lake at Bundall. Picture Mike Batterham.

“It is not a decision I have made lightly. In the past four years I have endured a lot of legal action brought against me for my public commentary, including Facebook posts, and I have witnessed first-hand and been tarnished with the ‘Council’ brush for what I believe to be incredibly bad decisions,” he said.

The sale of the Bruce Bishop carpark, continued financial expenditure on “the incredibly flawed cruise ship terminal” and destruction of Black Swan Lake at Bundall were prime examples of poor civic decisions, he said.

Cr Young regarded the carpark, Neil Shannon Park and Transit Centre as the most valuable council-owned assets in the tourist heart which he fought to remain in public hands.

“Most of the venue is now closed, costing ratepayers enormous sums of money in maintenance and lost revenue, with no clear or certain future for this strategically critical site,” he said.

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Cr Peter Young talking to residents. Picture Mike Batterham.

Cr Young said he was “aghast” that council was spending $1.5 million on more studies on the CST at Philip Park on The Spit.

“I have read the entire unredacted Business Case and supporting material and I say once more and clearly — I believe that this project cannot possibly work,” he said.

“I would much prefer that money be spent on road improvements, parks, pathways and other infrastructure that I am fighting tooth-and-nail to secure for real people who live and work here, not ‘pretend’ people who ‘might’ come to visit.”

Black Swan Lake was worth millions of dollars yet effectively transferred to the Gold Coast Turf Club on a lease arrangement for $1 per year, he said.

“And if you think there is a solution now in place that guarantees protection of the part of the lake that has not been filled — think again — no guarantee exists. The remaining part of the waterbody is vulnerable to be filled at any time,” he said.

“Despite these and other challenges, I have mostly enjoyed my time on council in this term — I love delivering outcomes to the community and I have focused a lot on improving safety, reducing congestion, providing events and places that people really can enjoy and value and be proud of, and celebrating and supporting our talented young people and their ambitions.”

The 2016-2020 Gold Coast City Council being sworn in at the Evandale Council Chambers. Councillor Peter Young. Photo: Jerad Williams.

Cr Young said he had a strong team of about 60 election-experienced people so far and at this stage no other candidate had announced their intention to stand.

Robina-based councillor Hermann Vorster has also announced his intentions to stand again. Like Cr Young, he is not facing an opponent.

Candidate nominations opened on February 22 and close at midday on March 3 for the poll on March 28.