Secret council review of City Plan changes after shock departure of senior Gold Coast planners

Councillors have been shocked to learn about a secret review being conducted of City Plan amendments and the departure of senior planners, with one insider warning of more “shock changes”. READ THE FULL SAGA

THE shock departure of senior bureaucrats amid revelations of a secret review of City Plan changes has put the spotlight on the council’s powerful planning department – and tensions are already rising.

Two respected strategic planners abruptly left the department on Friday, stunning colleagues, while a contract will not be extended for another senior Office of City Architect employee.

Many councillors were unaware of the multiple departures - revealed by goldcoastbulletin.com.au on Monday - and were shocked to learn of a confidential review by consultants of City Plan changes to be sent to the State Government.

Planned building height changes being considered in Labrador under changes to the Gold Coast City Council's City Plan.

Angry developers who argue the City Plan amendments will stop more development during the COVID-19 economic downturn were complaining to council, council insiders say.

A council insider said: “I think that at this next planning committee meeting we will see some unexpected changes (to the City Plan amendments). There will be blood on the streets, with the expectation of the community, three times ratified and now not going ahead.”

The staffing shake-up follows a report late last month on a controversial Burleigh twin towers project which for the first time highlighted divisions between the City Architect office and planning office. The Office of City Architecture complained wanted reductions on the size of the buildings, while planners considering City Plan objectives and how a five-star resort could operate won out with their recommendation for slight height and shape changes.

GOLD COAST’S TOP JOB ADVERTISED

A council insider said: “The news of it (the staff leaving) on Friday was a complete shock to most councillors. Some of them (the councillors) will want to get to the bottom of this.”

A Gold Coast urban development source said the officers were extremely well respected and their work acknowledged for progressing the City Plan changes supported by the community.

“They are experienced, in mid-career — they must be totally shattered,” the source said.

A council source added: “One of the officers in City Planning is details driven. She has impeccable attention to detail. She is one of the most senior persons there.”

The secret review follows a shock closed door decision to go to the market for council’s top job and “commence a process for the appointment of a chief executive officer”.

Gold Coast City Council planning chair Cameron Caldwell looks at proposed changes to the City Plan.

The City Plan amendments saw extensive community consultation which led to tougher measures to stop approval of increased site coverage and density for new apartment towers.

COUNCILLORS DELAY CITY PLAN CHANGES

Council CEO Dale Dickson confirmed “several personnel changes” within the planning directorate had been “decided and actioned”.

“The actions have been taken after very careful consideration of a range of issues, and as is the case with any staffing matters, and so as to protect the privacy of individuals, I will not be commenting further,” he said.

Asked about pressure on planning staff, potential changes to the City Plan amendments and a push by to developers to ease restrictions, he said: “A peer review of the City’s internal City Plan amendment work was recently undertaken by well respected, independent planning consultants.

Council planning chair Cameron Caldwell addressing residents at a City Plan meeting at Labrador.

“This is a well-established ‘quality assurance’ measure often deployed as a final check of important, complex, technical work,” he said.

“If any person has concerns regarding the efficacy of the above actions, I urge them to refer those concerns to the appropriate watchdog body – for example, the Queensland Ombudsman or CCC. I am absolutely confident the actions will withstand independent and objective scrutiny.

PALM BEACH RESIDENTS PACK COMMUNITY MEETING

“Any suggestion the changes have been made, or peer review commissioned, to disrupt or diminish due planning process, or achieve an outcome that is not in the public interest, is rejected.

“Arrangements are in place to ensure the council has continuity of technical capability and service in its important decision making role going forward.”

Mayor Tom Tate announcing proposed changes to the City Plan. Pictured at the Gold Coast City Council chambers at Evandale during press Conference. Pic Mike Batterham.

The Bulletin understands the confidential City Plan review is a lengthy document with sources suggesting some of the focus will be on Palm Beach which faces a wave of development.