Paul Weston: What went on behind closed doors before the Bruce Bishop car park sale

ONLY eight councillors were left to vote on the Bruce Bishop car park sale. Here’s how and why they decided who could remain — and who couldn’t.

WHAT is the background story on the Bruce Bishop car park sale? The vote by councillors was delayed. The delay was not about the sale but sorting out their personal conflicts.

As full council started at 1pm on Tuesday, it was predicted the meeting would finish between 3pm and 4pm. The inside joke was Councillor Cameron Caldwell was watching the clock. He had tickets to the Celine Dion concert at Boondall.

After rushing through the agendas, councillors went into closed session. For almost two hours, all they talked about were “declarations”.

The Bruce Bishop carpark in Surfers Paradise. Picture: Jerad Williams

Councillors have to fill out a form that says they may have a personal interest which they recognise as a perceived or real conflict.

Spaces are provided for the name of the person or entity that triggers the concern, the nature of the relationship and value of the benefit.

Under the new State Government reforms, more information is required. If councillors decide to stay, their colleagues now have to vote on whether they remain.

If a councillor fails to raise a potential conflict of interest and a colleague perceives one, they must speak up.

Surfers Paradise Transit Centre site: Supplied by: Gold Coast City Council

So this debate behind closed doors, like the Celine Dion Titanic song, is just going on and on.

Finally, the chamber door is opened. Their “conflict’’ forms start appearing on screens.

We learn Gary Baildon chooses to leave because his son Andrew is a potential buyer of city-owned land but not at the site.

Paul Taylor and Donna Gates join him.

They have a Star Platinum card. The Broadbeach casino resort is a joint venture partner in other projects with one of the companies in the consortium buying the car park.

Bob La Castra leaves because the car park sale helps fund the cultural precinct and he is council’s representative on the HOTA board. Hermann Vorster, as his back-up for meetings, joins him.

Peter Young removes himself because Mayor Tom Tate has taken defamation action against him and the legal issues touch on the Mayor’s development group’s bowls club interest across from the car park.

Cameron Caldwell declares a Star Platinum Concierge Card and Commonwealth Games entertainment of more than $500 and seeks to stay. Councillors vote in support.

William Owen-Jones declares he has attended shows as a guest of The Star which totalled more than $500 and also wants to remain. Councillors again agree.

Daphne McDonald, Gail O’Neill and Kristyn Boulton declare movie passes at the Arts Centre. Again, no problem.

Surfers Paradise, showing Bruce Bishop car park and the former Surfers Paradise bowls club. Photo: Supplied

Mayor Tate makes two declarations. The first relates to being part owner of three sites and having a commercial unit that is a nearby neighbour of the car park.

“I however only have a similar level of interest as approximately 1000 other nearby property owners to the Bruce Bishop car park site involved in the item before Council today. I feel I can vote in the public interest as I do not have any interest greater than any other citizens in the city,” he wrote.

Cr Gates then tells the Mayor: “I think that perhaps today, given all of the (new tougher reporting) legislation that we’ve been looking at, in an effort to protect you, we’d rather you out of the room.”

A majority of councillors, for the first time, votes. Only Paul Taylor supports the Mayor staying. Peter Young abstains from voting.

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The Mayor also declares a Star Platinum Concierge Card and on that conflict decides “I will now leave and stay away from the meeting”.

He joins the others outside.

Eight councillors remain. The vote is 6-2 to sell.

Some are now asking why others used some lame excuses to dodge such an important debate. Cr Caldwell drives off to see Celine Dion.

Near, far, wherever you are, this debate will go on and on.