“I think there have been members of the community who felt that democracy was better served with a contest”

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates made a clever move to ensure she wasn’t caught out by the last-minute appearance of a challenger for her seat.

DEPUTY Mayor Donna Gates was so convinced she would face a candidate her signage was put up days before the ballot closed for nominations.

Councillor Gates, who was unopposed in the 2016 campaign, thanked her volunteers for putting out her signage four days before the nomination deadline despite only rumours of her facing an opponent.

Volunteers quick to put up Donna Gates’ corflutes.

Construction and tourism industry worker Wayne Purcell was one of the last-minute candidates to sign on just before nominations closed at midday on Tuesday.

Asked by the Bulletin if the last-minute nomination was a surprise, Cr Gates replied: “No. I think there have been members of the community who felt that democracy was better served with a contest. I’m proud of what I delivered, and look forward to the contest.”

Cr Gates promised a full audit check on roads and parks across the new division “for better lighting and cameras, and a full green audit to see where we need more shade trees and shade sails”.

Mr Purcell, a father of two who moved to the Coast from Redcliffe in 2005, has previously worked in construction, tourism, water supply and natural resource management. He said the changes to the City Plan had been the “tipping point” for him on deciding to nominate.

Wayne Purcell running in Division 3.

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“The majority of my career has been in the planning, assessment and delivery of infrastructure projects and ensuring they are completed taking into consideration local environmental and social site constraints,” he said.

“Some major changes to residential zoning and building heights are being proposed that will significantly impact the amenity and liveability of the Gold Coast. Unfortunately, I found communication from council to residents has been poor, with councillors providing little information and assistance to residents in preparing submissions.”

Mr Purcell believes ratepayers in the new division, which includes Wongawallan and Maudsland west of the Pacific Motorway and Coomera to the east, were suffering from the “growing pains” in the city’s fast-growing north.

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates officially opens the new bridge at Pimpama allowing direct access to Gainsborough Greens. Picture: Tim Marsden.

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He accused the council of neglect in service delivery and the opportunities for residents to live more locally.

“We’ve got the houses and the people, but not the things that bring people together. Being a place for people to sleep is not enough. I want to see local services and civic places created to foster community and local identity,” he said.