Corruption watchdog calls for probe into Black Swan Lake decision, conflict of interest claims

THE decision by Gold Coast City councillors to fill in Black Swan Lake will come under the microscope of corruption investigators. But will it stop the fill-in?

Protests continue over the body of water being slated to become a carpark.

QUEENSLAND’S corruption watchdog has ordered an investigation into the controversial decision by Gold Coast City councillors to fill Black Swan Lake.

The Gold Coast Turf Club yesterday confirmed it would start earthworks this week, having placed construction fencing around the 5.7ha catchment area in Gold Market Dr at Bundall.

Black Swan Lake at Bundall. Picture: Jerad Williams

Club CEO Steve Lines late yesterday maintained all appropriate approvals had been granted and the club was “fully compliant for construction to go ahead”.

Documents obtained by the Bulletin show the Crime and Corruption Commission in late September first received a complaint about the conduct of councillors in the council’s decision, which enables the club and the Gold Coast Show Society to create horse training facilities and a car park.

FIGHT TO SAVE THE LAKE

Birds at Black Swan Lake. Photo by Richard Gosling

The CCC was also alerted to an incident in which residents saw alleged poisoning of the lake “by unknown persons”.

In its response, the CCC wrote: “Essentially you have concerns that seven councillors are board members of the Gold Coast Turf Club and while they declared a real (or perceived) conflict of interest they still voted on issues pertaining to the Gold Coast Turf Club and the area known as Black Swan Lake.”

CCC investigators reviewed the relevant council minutes, the register of interests for councillors, checked the Gold Coast Turf Club website and Local Government Act.

COUNCILLORS VOTE TO FILL IN LAKE

The fencing Picture: Jerad Williams

“Based on all the information currently available to it, the commission is of the view that a number of councillors may have a material personal interest in this matter,” the CCC wrote.

The initial complaint was limited to nine of the city’s 15 elected representatives but the CCC “raised a further concern” that another two councillors failed in their register of interests to declare honorary membership of the club.

MINISTER REVIEWS LAKE DECISION

“You further raised a concern that unknown persons were pumping a white liquid into the lake, you believed this was toxic liquid,” the CCC wrote.

The corruption watchdog decided the best way to deal with the complaint was for the Director-General of the Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning to deal with the allegations.

The fencing around Black Swan Lake.

“The commission considers that it is appropriate in this circumstance for the Director-General, DILGP to take responsibility for dealing with your concerns regarding the councillors’ actions with respect to Black Swan Lake and their registers of interest,” the CCC wrote.

“The commission has directed that the DILGP investigate the matter. Due to the nature of the concerns, the CCC has also decided that the matter will be reviewed by the commission at the conclusion of the DILGP investigation.”

Black Swan Lake yesterday. Picture: Jerad Williams

Asked by the Gold Coast Bulletin about the department’s investigation, a council spokesman yesterday said: “Council only became aware of the complaint last Friday and will provide assistance when required.”

Neither the complainant nor protest groups would comment on the investigation.

“A complaint has been made and we are waiting for feedback from the department,” a resident said.

Birdlife at the lake Picture: Jerad Williams

Residents yesterday launched a last-minute advertising campaign calling on Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe and federal MP Steve Ciobo to intervene to protect the lake.

In the campaign, residents claimed three laboratory water tests had shown the water in the man-made lake was not toxic to bird life.

They said at least 53 bird species were identified and no bird had been rescued due to toxicity in the past 10 years.