Debate sky high at council about cableway as Mayor quizzed about connections

Mayor Tom Tate says he is “astounded” that councillors believe he might be conflicted in the cableway debate due to his chief of staff’s previous involvement in the project.

MAYOR Tom Tate says he is “astounded” that councillors believe he might be conflicted in the cableway debate due to his chief of staff’s previous involvement in the project.

In a tense stand-off at full council today, hinterland councillor Glenn Tozer and Nerang-based councillor Peter Young questioned the Mayor about his discussions with his chief of staff Wayne Moran and Mermaid Beach MP Ray Stevens.

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Wayne Moran and Tom Tate. Picture: Jerad Williams

Both Mr Moran and Mr Stevens were heavily involved in the company which attempted to launch the Naturelink skyrail in the late 1990s. The project stalled after a massive protest campaign by hinterland residents.

Councillors today were asked to tick off on an economic investment portfolio which will include council undertaking an assessment or pre-feasibility study on the benefits of a cableway for the Coast’s tourism industry.

“I just don’t believe there’s any conflict,” Councillor Tate told Cr Tozer.

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The cableway protest victory back in 2000. Pic Adam Ward.

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“The company the chief of staff was with, a cableway 17 years ago, is defunct, deregistered — haven’t spoken about this matter with him, and to have a perceived conflict — I’m astounded.”

Cr Tate reminded Cr Tozer that councillors at a previous committee meeting determined that he did not have a conflict and if one was there it was remote.

“It’s not even remote, it’s not there,” Cr Tate told Cr Tozer.

Cr Young backed Cr Tozer explaining that councillors had recently been advised by the Office of the Independent Assessor that they must examine potential conflicts of interest involving colleagues on the floor of the chamber.

“The perception could exist in the community and I think that Councillor Tozer is interrogating that area, there is no finger pointing involved,” Cr Young said.

Only Cr Young and Cr McDonald backed Cr Tozer’s motion which was lost. Cr William Owen-Jones and Cr Paul Taylor were absent from the chamber, and Cr Tate did not vote.

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Ray Stevens MP at the Parliament House Annexe. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

Cr Young then asked the Mayor whether he had met with Mr Stevens to discuss the cableway project.

“I may have met with Ray, I may have — to the extent of where we are at, I don’t recall,” Cr Tate said.

“He may have had a discussion. He had a dream … many years ago. On the information in front of us (in the agenda), no discussion,” the Mayor added.

The council meeting was told the cableway was one of the key items on Destination Gold Coast’s management plan and council CEO Dale Dickson, in an email, had mentioned it as an item in council’s economic investment portfolio.

Cr Tate told the meeting the cableway project offered the highest standard of accessibility and inclusiveness for tourists in the hinterland.

“That really is the key for us that people with a disability get a chance to enjoy the green behind the gold,” he said.