Council vote: Gold Coast City will not be home to Mount Tamborine residents

Councillors have voted on the suggestion that Tamborine Mountain become part of the Gold Coast – with a unanimous decision made. WHAT DO YOU THINK? VOTE IN OUR POLL

GOLD COAST councillors have given short shrift to the suggestion that Tamborine Mountain should join the city – punting the issue back to the Scenic Rim Regional Council.

Scenic Rim councillor Derek Swanborough in January this year emailed Mayor Tom Tate regarding a “plebiscite” conducted in his division.

More than 64 per cent of Tamborine Mountain residents who responded supported a review of Scenic Rim Regional Council boundaries with a preference for “belonging to the Gold Coast region” and transferring to the City of Gold Coast.

Crowds at Gallery Walk. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

On Friday, Gold Coast councillors were expected to vote on one of three recommendations put forward in a report by city officers.

● Direct the CEO to conduct a detailed review of the matter, including formal information request from SRRC if required, so council can make a more informed decision.

● Agree to the transfer of Tamborine Mountain to the City, subject to further information and analysis and the opportunity to make a formal submission on the matter.

● Don’t agree to the transfer of Tamborine Mountain to the City, regardless of any future Change Commission determination and write to SRRC, Cr Swanborough and the Local Government Minister accordingly.

However when the matter was raised at the meeting Deputy Mayor Donna Gates put another recommendation to councillors.

“On this one Mr Mayor I have a changed recommendation that reads: That the matter not be further considered until the Scenic Rim Regional Council has taken a clear position on the matter and formally notifies the City of Gold Coast of that position,” Cr Gates said.

“This is a matter that has been raised by the Scenic Rim and needs to be dealt with by the Scenic Rim prior to our involvement.”

Cr Tate said he agreed with his deputy’s comments, questioning why the matter had come before council.

“I agree,” he said. “And they (Scenic Rim Council) may decide not. What are we doing talking about it?”

The recommendation put forward by Cr Gates was unanimously agreed to in a vote by councillors.

Councillors vote in favour of the recommendation that the matter not be further considered until the Scenic Rim Regional Council makes their position clear.

The decision to change local authority boundaries ultimately rests with Deputy Premier and Local Government Minister Dr Steven Miles. Cr Swanborough previously issued a report to Dr Miles asking for a referral to the Local Government Change Commission so all stakeholders could give feedback.

Dr Miles in a response to Cr Swanborough said he would not consider a referral without an indication of support from the affected local governments.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen has previously poured cold water on the idea, saying “people come to the Scenic Rim to escape the artificial world the Gold Coast has become.”

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