Tweed Shire councillors move to torpedo Gold Coast airport’s instrument landing system
INSTALLATION of the Gold Coast Airport’s controversial Instrument Landing System (ILS) has begun but a secret crisis meeting has been held to torpedo it. This is the battle ahead.
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FOUR Tweed Shire councillors have held a crisis meeting to torpedo the installation of the Instrument Landing System at the Gold Coast Airport.
Mayor Katie Milne yesterday led the surprise charge for council to write to Federal Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester and NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton to have work on the ILS stopped due to “serious concerns regarding the clearing and earthworks”.
But the airport said they had complied with all regulations and not gone outside the footprint agreed in the approved development application.
The controversial vote was made during a snap extraordinary meeting, to which three councillors were unable to attend due to prior commitments.
“(The council writes) ... calling for an immediate halt to the works and a full inquiry into the processes of the matter,” the council resolution reads.
TWEED MAYOR WANTS ILS WORK TO STOP
The resolution also claims the construction, which started late last week, had gone outside the agreed boundaries by 150 metres.
“The key problem is (the extra 150m) matches exactly the footprint of the runway extension of the master development plan which was rejected by council,” deputy mayor Chris Cherry said.
“Although they’re saying there will be no runway extension, it appears it is a runway extension by stealth.”
Council was contacted by Tweed District Residents and Ratepayers Association president Lindy Smith who has been a long-time protester against the ILS.
The proposal to stop the construction of the ILS caught councillors off-guard with the extraordinary meeting called late on Friday afternoon.
Those who were able to attend voted three to one in favour of stopping work on the ILS.
Liberal councillors James Owen and Warren Polglase were unable to attend the meeting but both said they would have voted to against stopping work.
“There seems to be some silly games going on here,” Cr Owen said.
“It’s very frustrating.”
Cr Polglase said previous mayor had asked for input when to hold extraordinary meetings to ensure as many councillors as possible could attend.
The Bulletin understands Cr Milne had circulated the same mayoral minute prior to Thursday’s full council meeting but decided not to put it forward until late Friday afternoon.
Work on the ILS will continue until a response is received from the federal or state government.
Cr Milne did not return the Bulletin’s calls.
In a statement yesterday, the airport denied the claims.
“Gold Coast Airport has carefully followed relevant regulations regarding early works for the ILS,” the statement said.
“Incorrect claims have been made about work being carried out on the NSW Crown Reserve, beyond the approved footprint.”
The airport says it is not planning to extend the runway.
ILS FACTS:
HOW IT HAPPENED.
● August 17: Full council meeting. Mayor Katie Milne decides not to put forward motion to stop ILS construction.
● August 18: After 5pm, Cr Milne calls extraordinary meeting about ILS.
● August 22: Council vote three to one to stop ILS construction. Three councillors unable to attend due to late notice.
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