Paul Taylor: Long-serving Gold Coast councillor announces retirement after eight years in office

A retiring Gold Coast city councillor who once told anti-development protesters “we’re building a city, damn it” has taken a parting shot at NIMBY activists.

A RETIRING Gold Coast city councillor who once told anti-development protesters “we’re building a city, damn it” has taken a parting shot at NIMBY activists.

Long-serving Broadbeach councillor Paul Taylor will retire at the March 28 council election after eight years in office.

He said his departure was motivated by health reasons after advice from doctors this week.

Despite criticism from some sectors of the community for his strongly pro-development views,

Councillor Paul Taylor. Photo: Jerad Williams

Cr Taylor said he had nothing to apologise for to NIMBY (not in my backyard) critics.

“I don’t apologise for anything I’ve done at all, because when you are a leader you have to make decisions,” he said.

“If we just listened to (NIMBYs) we would get absolutely nothing done, nothing would ever change.

“Just look at the buildings which are going up. You need to have vision for the future.”

Cr Paul Taylor helped fundraise for many causes. Photo: Kit Wise

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Cr Taylor was first elected in 2012 and returned again in 2016.

Until recently he had staunchly maintained he would contest the election in the new super division which will cover the tourist centres of both Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

Cr Taylor said he had no plans to endorse a successor in the seat.

During his years in office he has long been a close ally of Mayor Tom Tate and supporter of controversial proposals such as the offshore cruise ship terminal and the Hinterland cableway.

Cr Taylor praised his colleagues. Photo: Jerad Williams

Cr Taylor yesterday told the Bulletin he was proud of council’s efforts to cut city hall’s debt, pay for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and the upgrade of the Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club.

During his terms in office, Cr Taylor has long been famed for his bold ideas, including his push to install traffic lights in the footpath for the safety of mobile phone-using pedestrians and calls for a travelator across the Gold Coast Highway at Broadbeach.

Yesterday, he reaffirmed his support for both.

Councillor Paul Taylor has copped criticism over development on the Gold Coast Picture Glenn Hampson

“Broadbeach is a suburb divided – divided by the Gold Coast Highway. We really need to get a travelator built across it someday, somehow, this is really important,” he said.

“I also thing we need to build a new car park – I would like to see an underground car park with room for 3000 or 4000 cars under Kurrawa-Pratten Parklands.

“This would allow us to get rid of the car parks which are there and have the parks extended to cover the whole area.

“Obviously this will be a decision for future councils to look at doing.”