Gold Coast development: Backflip on decision to ban Hermann Vorster banned from debate on tower project after row with Sunland boss

Several Gold Coast City councillors have done a stunning backflip on a decision to toss one of their own out of a meeting.

SEVERAL Gold Coast City councillors have done a backflip on a decision to toss one of their own out of a meeting to approve a high rise tower application because of his clash with one of the city’s leading developers.

Robina-based councillor Hermann Vorster in late August criticised a proposed four-tower development on a 1.3ha site at Varsity Lakes which he believed would impact on surrounding residential streets.

Councillors had voted 4-2 earlier at a planning committee meeting on Wednesday to remove Councillor Vorster from the chamber when discussing a tower development at Varsity Lakes planned by a consortium which included the Sunland Group.

Councillor Hermann Vorster. Picture: Richard Gosling.

The nine and ten storey buildings formed part of a development application at Capital Court by a heavyweight consortium including Homecorp, Sunland Group and Condev Construction.

Sunland’s Soheil Abedian, who built the iconic Q1 and Palazzo Versace, later blasted Cr Vorster accusing him of “re-election motives” after the councillor asked the State Government to forcibly seize the land.

The application is before full council today, and a report from Wednesday’s planning committee meeting shows Cr Vorster declared a personal interest which he indicated could be a real or perceived conflict of interest.

“The nature of the interest is — two members of the proposed consortium have publicly criticised me for my fitness of office after I suggested the State Government acquire the subject site in the public interest — Ron Bakier and Soheil Abedian, Homecorp and Sunland,” he wrote, in detailing the conflict for the meeting secretary.

But Cr Vorster told colleagues he had considered his position and believed he could participate in the vote.

He argued that it was not in the public interest if “those part of a powerful consortium may, at no cost, open the possibility of a local councillor being excluded from a significant planning decision by criticising their electoral prospects or character”.

Artist impressions of a proposed four-tower development put forward by a consortium including Condev, HomeCorp and Sunland Group for Capital Court, Varsity Lakes. Picture: Supplied

Gary Baildon, Gail O’Neill, Paul Taylor and committee chair Cameron Caldwell had supported the view that Cr Vorster had a real or perceived conflict of interest and “will not be able to make a decision solely on planning reason”.

Cr Caldwell today asked Cr Vorster whether he had an “open mind” on the application and could be persuaded in any debate about it.

Cr Vorster replied that “the answer is yes” because his earlier comments or criticisms were about State interests on the site rather than the project itself.

Today councillors allowed Cr Vorster stay in full council meeting and vote on a development application where he had a clash with the developer.

Councillors Baildon, O’Neill, Taylor and Caldwell changed their position by supporting a motion by Councillor Glenn Tozer backed by Peter Young that Cr Vorster stay in the room.

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The Capital Court project. Picture: Supplied.

Cr Vorster successfully moved amendments which put stronger traffic regulations including the parking of vehicles for site employees and delivery vehicles should be prohibited from the Varsity Lakes traffic area.

In supporting the application, he said the code assessable development was always going to be approved but he thanked colleagues for the opportunity to put forward parking concerns on behalf of residents.

The vote was unanimous in favour of the project. Mayor Tom Tate, Deputy Mayor Donna Gates and Councillor William Owen-Jones did not vote after leaving the room having declared personal interests.