Councillor Cameron Caldwell and Bonney MP Sam O’Connor fall out over Fadden preselection

Key relationships are being lost in the tough LNP preselection race for Fadden. Find out which high-profile bromance has hit the political skids

Key relationships are being lost in the tough LNP preselection race for Fadden.

Bonney MP Sam O’Connor has a genuine respect for quadriplegic doctor and former Queensland of the Year Dinesh Palipana. He has introduced him to members.

But that support for the doctor’s candidacy, according to many sources, has soured his relationship with the leading candidate Councillor Cameron Caldwell. It cannot be mended.

The other leading contender, Fadden FDC chair Fran Ward, ran against Cr Caldwell in his council division in 2016. The wounds from that political fight never healed.

My political sports bet analyst suggests it is unlikely anyone will get a winning 50 per cent of the vote from members on the first round of voting. Cr Caldwell is favourite with Ms Ward likely to run second, my political punters suggests.

This means in the last round, the bloc vote for Dr Dinesh will choose the winner.

New face turns up early in chambers

The first candidate to make an appearance at the Evandale Chambers before next year’s council election is Division 2 hopeful Naomi Fowler.

The award-winning businesswoman who created Ruby Communications was at full council on Tuesday where she introduced herself to several councillors before sitting in the gallery.

Helensvale-based councillor William Owen-Jones two months ago announced he would not contest his division, giving “genuine” candidates time to build a real profile.

This means reach out to the community, beyond a Facebook video or post. His decision to enable a succession plan is a classy final act.

Will Mermaid Ray stay part of that world?

Is “Mermaid” Ray Stevens going to continue swimming on in State politics? Speculation has been rife about political heavyweights quizzing the veteran MP about his future. But those close to the Mermaid MP – arguably the City’s most durable politician – say the leadership group is “100 per cent behind him staying” after next year’s election.

In a new bailiwick

Who is the senior Labor pollie spotted entering the Bundall council offices?

Transport Minister Mark Bailey has built a productive relationship with Mayor Tom Tate as they map out light rail planning, and the mayoral office has worked to nurture dealings with Deputy Premier Steven Miles.

But the surprise visitor was busy Coast-based Senator Murray Watt, where the talks extended beyond partnerships on the trams to other key projects in the city.

‘Strategic property purchase’: Council buys modern office tower

Gold Coast City Council is buying a modern office tower. The location is a secret – but sources confirm it’s at Bundall near its existing Corporate Centre buildings for staff.

This puts a big spotlight on the future of the Southport CBD. Remember, the council along with the state and federal governments are planning the “Towers of Powers” there.

It kicks off another conversation. How long will the council chambers stay at Evandale?

All of this is City Hall’s biggest and most complex commercial office space property puzzle.

There are three themes here. One of them is consolidating HOTA and the cultural precinct at Bundall. The other is keeping the city’s administration and council chambers together.

Finally, there’s ensuring Southport CBD and its commercial office space gets a kick along.

On Tuesday at full council, councillors went into closed session to discuss a confidential item called “strategic property purchase”.

Councillor Brooke Patterson . Picture Glenn Hampson

The report remains confidential, the building not named or the potential cost for ratepayers. But council will soon settle on acquiring the Wyndham at Corporate Court.

Your columnist is yet to find anyone in council who sees this other than a smart investment.

Councillors were unanimous in support. CEO Tim Baker is to finalise the deal once satisfied with “due diligence and external legal advice”.

City governance chair William Owen-Jones, the only councillor in the chamber to comment, said this was a strategic investment given only two per cent of Coast office space was vacant.

“We have over a billion dollars worth of cash through a fairly narrow investment range. It’s sensible to get higher returns. It gives the City all sorts of future options in regards to staffing and investments,” he said.

A City Hall insider estimates the Wyndham is about 93 per cent full. A business arm of council can be created there with staffers centralised from other offices.

Wyndham tower at Bundall near the Corporate Centre on the Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied.

What’s critical here are some councillors believe this purchase closes the door on building the “Towers of Power” at Southport. They won’t entertain spending that much ratepayer dollar.

The “towers’ were first floated in 2018, costed at $380m, for a new precinct at Southport’s Mal Burke car park for more court room, government and council staff offices.

Southport-based councillor Brooke Patterson sees the Wyndham purchase purely as in investment decision which will not impact of progress on the “towers”.

“This is a balance sheet management decision. We are sitting on far too much cash, just like someone got their own asset allocation at home and your money to work for you,” she said.

Cr William Owen-Jones – this is a sensible decision. Picture by Scott Fletcher.

A staffing accommodation strategy under review will be sent back to councillors, she added.

The City insider says: “Brooke would love to see something big in Southport. But you can’t sell the farm to solve Southport’s problems. This will keep us at Bundall for the next ten years. It’s (the towers) a bit of pipedream.”

What’s more likely will be the councillors moving from their current chamber, to a space in one of the City’s corporate buildings.

Think about it. It’s an inexpensive way to convert the existing chamber and building opposite the gallery into an arts hub, something many councillors would put their hand up in support of.

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