Why murder-accused councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden has been scrubbed from city
Murder-accused Gold Coast councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden has received a warm welcome from the community he is barred from representing.
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Murder-accused Gold Coast councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden has received a warm welcome from the community he is barred from representing.
Bayldon-Lumsden, who is suspended from duty until at least the March election, appeared at the annual Chirn Park Street Festival on Saturday afternoon.
Arriving shortly after the event began at 4pm, he was pictured walking through the event with his mum Katrina, shaking hands with wellwishers and chatting with locals.
It is the latest step in renewed activity for the 30-year-old, who was arrested in August for allegedly killing his stepfather Robert Lumsden.
Bayldon-Lumsden has returned to social media, promoting events in the community in a limited capacity.
His lawyer Jason Murakami of Behlau Murakami Grant has said Bayldon-Lumsden will be pleading not guilty to murder.
Police arrested Bayldon-Lumsden and charged him with murder on August 23.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles later suspended him from office on full pay including a six-figure salary.
However he remains the sitting councillor for Arundel, meaning he cannot be directly replaced.
Former Gold Coast councillor Margaret Grummitt was formally appointed to stand in for Bayldon-Lumsden.
Ms Grummitt will be an “adviser” to the council but will not sit in the chamber or have the power of a councillor.
Despite still remaining a councillor, his name and signage has been removed from the Division 7 office in Parkwood.
A council spokeswoman said: “As Cr Bayldon-Lumsden is not currently permitted to operate as a councillor, the decision was made to remove his name and image from the building and website to avoid confusion for the community.”
Revealed: Why murder-accused councillor has been scrubbed from city
Murder-accused councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden has been scrubbed from his office building and City of Gold Coast website as he keeps an active community presence.
His picture and name now no longer appear on signage at the Olsen Ave, Parkwood office and his details have been wiped from a list of councillors on the council’s website.
A council spokeswoman said: “As Cr Bayldon-Lumsden is not currently permitted to operate as a councillor, the decision was made to remove his name and image from the building and website to avoid confusion for the community.”
Bayldon-Lumsden attended a council-run tree planting event with his mother at the weekend.
“Over the weekend my mum and I joined other dedicated Gold Coasters to help plant 300 new trees in the Arundel Wetlands,” he posted on his Facebook page alongside photos.
“These will grow up to provide valuable habitat to our native fauna and help make our city greener.”
He made the post on the same official council Facebook page he rebranded as “Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden, Gold Coast” last week.
The 30-year-old was charged with murdering his stepfather Robert Lumsden in August and suspended from office on his full $160,000-councillor salary until the March 2024 election.
His lawyer Jason Murakami of Behlau Murakami Grant has said Bayldon-Lumsden will be pleading not guilty to murder.
Former Gold Coast councillor Margaret Grummitt was formally appointed to stand in for Bayldon-Lumsden as an adviser to the council.
Last month, Local Government Minister Steven Miles said he had sought advice on the suspended councillor’s promotion of council-run events.
“Of course, until he is found guilty or not guilty, he’s presumed to be innocent and while suspended as a councillor, he cannot perform the duties of a councillor (but) that doesn’t mean he can’t attend events or participate in the community,” Mr Miles said.
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