Donna Gates to be replaced as Gold Coast Deputy Mayor by Mark Hammel
Long-serving Deputy Mayor Donna Gates is to stand down from the position in 12 months, with another councillor to take over the position. Full details.
Council
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Donna Gates is to stand down in 12 months with northern based councillor Mark Hammel to become the Gold Coast’s Deputy Mayor.
Under unprecedented changes backed by a super majority of councillors at their first meeting at the Evandale Chambers on Friday, Councillor Hammel will become Acting Mayor immediately if either Tom Tate or Councillor Gates are absent.
Only senior councillor Peter Young voted against the recommendation.
The revised post-election agenda recommended Cr Gates only being appointed until April 5 next year, when Cr Hammel would assume the position of Deputy to Mr Tate.
The northern-based councillor has been Deputy Mayor since 2012. The changes in the City’s leadership team including committee chairs are the most dramatic in decades.
Cr Gates told the Mayor: “I just want to thank you and the Gold Coast community for the support they’ve shown me. I look forward to the year ahead.”
Mr Tate said the next 12 months would enable Cr Hammel to progress the City Plan and learn the work of disaster management for the role.
“It’s a great opportunity when we have Cr Gates being the Deputy Mayor for 12 years and never stepped a foot wrong,” he said.
Cr Gates will be Deputy chair on the Transport and Infrastructure Committee, where Darren Taylor replaces Pauline Young, who did not contest the March 16 poll.
The new councillors sworn in on Friday include Naomi Fowler (Division 2), Joe Wilkinson (Division 7), Dan Doran (Division 11), Nick Marshall (Division 12) and Josh Martin (Division 13).
Shelley Curtis, who was unopposed in Division 4 after being sworn-in in August last year, adds to six newcomers, with the City confronted with a shortfall in experience.
The departure in the last 12 months of Pauline Young, Cameron Caldwell, Hermann Vorster, William Owen-Jones and Daphne McDonald had forced a rethink about council’s leadership team. Suspended first term councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden also lost Division 7.
Cr Hammel will retain the important role of City Planning chair, with Robina newcomer Dan Doran as his Deputy.
Cr Bob La Castra will continue to chair Economy, Tourism and Events, with new Helensvale-based councillor Naomi Fowler the committee Deputy.
Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach-based councillor Darren Taylor is Transport and Infrastructure committee chair, with Cr Gates the Deputy.
Cr Curtis will chair the Water, Waste and Energy committee. New Arundel-Labrador-based councillor Joe Wilkinson is the Deputy.
Southport councillor Brooke Patterson replaces William Owen-Jones, who retired, as Governance, Administration and Finance chair. Palm Beach-based councillor Josh Martin, elected after Cr McDonald retired, is the committee’s Deputy.
Mudgeeraba-based councillor Glenn Tozer is to be promoted to chair of the Lifestyle, Environment, Heritage and Resilience committee.
The committee’s Deputy will be Cr Nick Marshall, who replaced Cr Young in the Nobby Beach and Mermaid Beach division.
Both Cr Patterson and Cr Hammel will be on the City’s Audit and Risk committee.
Southern-based councillor Gail O’Neill is the new chair of the World Surfing Reserve Local Stewardship Committee. The Deputy chair is Cr Martin.
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