Gold Coast City Council: Cameron Caldwell’s replacement as planning boss revealed

Mark Hammel has replaced Councillor Cameron Caldwell as the Gold Coast’s powerful new planning boss, with Mayor Tom Tate praising his “capacity”.

First-term councillor Mark Hammel has been named Gold Coast City Council’s new planning boss.

Mr Hammel has been tapped to replace long-serving planning committee chairman Cameron Caldwell who is contesting the safe northern Gold Coast federal seat of Fadden for the LNP.

Mr Caldwell, who has been head of the powerful committee since April 2012, remains a councillor but on Thursday stood down from his committee responsibilities and was removed from his long-time post of back-up acting mayor.

Cr Cameron Caldwell. Picture Glenn Hampson

Mayor Tom Tate made announcement and said Mr Hammel was the logical choice.

“Cr Hammel currently serves on the committee and has demonstrated his capacity to take on this role seamlessly in the best interests of the city,” he said.

“Cr Hammel represents the fastest growing area of the Gold Coast in the north of our city where we are currently undertaking a significant strategic planning review of our industrial land availability and where the Coomera Connector will have a major impact on both our strategic and transport planning.

Councillor Mark Hammel. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Beyond his own division, Cr Hammel has made an excellent contribution at committee and full council on significant whole of city planning matters and I have no doubt he will do an excellent job through to the 2024 election.”

If elected to federal parliament at the July 15 by-election, Mr Caldwell will automatically be disqualified from the council.

Expressions of interest will open after that for councillors to appoint his replacement, with no by-election required because it falls within 12 months of the next election.