Black Swan Lake media blackout as councillors encouraged to ignore Bulletin questions

CITY hall has initiated a media blackout on Black Swan Lake as workers prepare to fill in the controversial waterway.

COUNCILLORS were discouraged by the Mayor’s office from responding speedily to questions asked by The Gold Coast Bulletin about the filling in of Black Swan Lake.

A Gold Coast Bulletin report on Tuesday outlined independent scientific testing which showed the water quality of the lake had improved over time and while nutrients levels were high the ‘borrow pit” was not toxic.

The Bulletin later asked all councillors and the mayor if they still agree with the lake being filled in. A majority of them have not responded.

THE TRUTH ABOUT BLACK SWAN LAKE

Fencing around Black Swan Lake. Picture: Jerad Williams

A confidential email to all councillors signed off by Mayor Tom Tate noted the deadline of 4pm and added: “I want to inform you that I don’t march to the Bulletin’s timetable”.

Under existing communications policy at council, councillors can comment on any issue as long as they indicate it is their personal view.

The Bulletin did not received a response yesterday after asking if the mayoral office was suggesting councillors should not respond and “if not, what is the intent of this email”.

Only councillors Glenn Tozer, Dawn Crichlow, Bob La Castra, Peter Young, and Daphne McDonald chose to respond.

Black Swan Lake has new fences around it. Photo by Richard Gosling

COUNCILLORS WARNED LAKE WASN’T TOXIC

Cr Tozer admitted he was reviewing the report after reading a series of articles on the lake.

“The decision relating to the future use of that site included a number of issues beyond water toxicity, which seemed to fluctuate irregularly, as I recall from the report I read,” he said.

“I’ve asked to review that report again since the council decision so I can reconcile it against the other information that has been discussed in the public domain.

“At this time I haven’t changed my position on prioritising equine-related recreational uses in the equine precinct.”

But veteran Southport councillor Dawn Crichlow revealed she had changed her position of support.

Photographs showing the abundant bird life at Black Swan Lake as it is about to be filled in. Picture: Ric Allport

“As far as I’m concerned I will support half the lake to be filled,” she said.

“I had fully supported the lake to be filled to create parking for the Gold Coast Show which has existed for over 110 years but I am disappointed to hear it possibly will not be at the Turf Club any longer. Therefore I believe that only half the lake should be filled in.”

PUBLIC BANNED FROM BLACK SWAN LAKE

Cr La Castra, who spoke passionately for supporting the lake’s wildlife when council debated its future, replied: “My opposition to the filling in of this lake is well documented.”

Black Swan Lake. Photos by Michelle Hare

Cr McDonald, in her reply, wrote: “I did vote against this and my vote still stands.”

Cr Peter Young said councillors were made aware of the independent testing before they had voted.

“Each of these facts was argued to the council by me in November 2016,” he said.

“My position has not changed, the decision should never have been taken to grant control of this public land to the Turf Club.”