Remember when: Alderman Vic Kearney resigned in protest over plans for ocean boulder wall

ALDERMAN Vic Kearney declared he would not attend a council meeting at Coolangatta after announcing his intention to resign from office.

Gold Coast History: Gold Coast Bulletin 1967, December 8. Front page.

Gold Coast Bulletin, Friday December 8, 1967

ALDERMAN Vic Kearney declared he would not attend a council meeting at Coolangatta after announcing his intention to resign from office.

He said he would continue to carry out his civic duties as one of the five Southport Aldermen, operating mostly from his home.

Ald. Kearney had announced his intention to resign as a protest against the council’s anti-erosion policy, claiming that the $4.7 million boulder wall scheme would “completely wipe out the beaches”.

He then invited the Mayor, Alderman Sir Bruce Small, to follow up with the mayor’s own resignation and “let the public be the arbiters.”

“We could have either a referendum or a mayoral election,” said Ald. Kearney.

“But the main thing would be to test public opinion by an official vote.

“I think the whole affair is so momentous, the issue so far-reaching and vital that only the electors should decide what should be done. To prove what the people want, I say there should be a vote.

“If the Mayor isn’t frightened of the consequences, he should agree to this. Let us be put to the public test.

“After all, we have a referendum to decide whether or not such and such area should have a pub. Isn’t the vast, crippling expenditure of $4.7 million also important enough to be decided by public franchise.”

Ald. Kearney said his resignation would not come into effect until he gave the town clerk a letter outlining his intent.

He planned to do this in February 1967.

Sir Bruce did not resign and the boulder wall was eventually built