Toowoomba council CEO Brian Pidgeon pens letter to developers over ‘personal attacks’ on staff

The region’s most powerful public servant has teed off at the development industry in a new letter, urging them not to levy “personal attacks” against council staff. Details here:

The CEO of the Toowoomba Regional Council has taken aim at members of the region’s development industry for making staff feel “threatened” while they assessed applications.

In a letter sent to developers, which was obtained by The Chronicle, chief executive Brian Pidgeon urged applicants for new projects to not levy “personal attacks” against council planners, saying it was leading to “anxiety and stress”.

It comes as new stats reveal the TRC’s planning department had more than 25 vacancies just three months ago, although that number has come down significantly since then.

“For some time I have been aware of an increasing level of anxiety and stress experienced by our people in the planning and development group,” Mr Pidgeon wrote earlier this month.

“Unfortunately, they have been subjected to interactions with some individuals within the development industry where they have been made to feel uncomfortable, vulnerable or threatened.

“This is not acceptable and of great concern to council as our employees are dedicated to ensuring policies and directions adopted by the elected members of TRC are observed and explained to our client groups in industry and the community generally.”

Mr Pidgeon urged developers to speak with staff in a “professional” manner.

“When communicating with our people it is requested that interactions are conducted in a professional, courteous and polite manner,” he wrote.

“Personal attacks are to be avoided at all times.

“Our staff may have difference experience, skills, attributes and professional views, which means that they may not always agree with your position on an issue or matter.

“I trust that this letter will be accepted in the positive spirit in which it has been sent.”

Urban Developers Institute of Australia’s Toowoomba branch president Edward Hodge and other key developers were approached for comment but did not respond in time for deadline.