New Maranoa region councillor Meryl Brumpton starts position at WestWind energy
A new councillor has started a new job for a wind energy company which has a big project under way in the Maranoa.
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A likely new councillor has received backlash after she broke news of her new job.
At this stage in vote counting, it is likely Meryl Brumpton will have a seat at the table for the next four years on Maranoa Regional Council. However, when Mrs Brumpton broke news that she was WestWind’s new community liaison and land tenure officer on her private Facebook page, it caused quite a stir in some sects.
A screenshot of Mrs Brumpton’s post was shared by an anonymous source, who raised concerns about potential conflict between Mrs Brumpton’s impending role as councillor, and the new job she has taken on for WestWind.
Mrs Brumpton confirmed her new role with WestWind energy via email on March 25, and said she would declare a conflict when necessary.
“If any decisions are being made in council chambers I will be declaring a conflict of interest as do many councillors for other activities they are associated with,” Mrs Brumpton said.
“I stood on my ethical behaviour and integrity and believe I have modelled this behaviour my entire working career.
“I will be very clear in the community at meetings/discussions which ‘hat’ I am wearing.”
Mrs Brumpton said she applied for the position in December 2023, and accepted the offer in January 2024. Mrs Brumpton said the role commenced on March 18, so she could give reasonable notice to her previous employer, James Cook University.
She said her position will mostly entail community-based activities, including building “positive relationships with Landholder & Community Members,” “collaborating with community to develop the Community Benefit Schemes and Community Reference Group for the project,” and “attending local community events to help share information on the project and gather an understanding of the communities needs and concerns”.
Mrs Brumpton said the issue of renewables was not raised during the campaign period, but if it had been, she would not shy away from that discussion.
“As far as I know, renewable energy was not discussed by anyone during the campaign,” Mrs Brumpton said.
“If I had been asked, I would have answered honestly and openly as it is my character.
“I understand (two) candidates work in the gas sector and one councillor has previously worked with water resources – these are all natural resources, as is wind,” she said.
The issue of renewables in the Maranoa has been one of contention, with the incumbent council demonstrating hesitancy to support renewable projects in the region.
On September 20, 2023 councillors unanimously voted to request a report to find ways to tighten regulation to restrict what land could be used for future wind farm projects.
That report was received and noted by council on March 6, and council unanimously voted in favour of making representations as outlined in the CEO’s report to all relevant governments and agencies.
No resolution has been found yet between council and the wind farm project, and thus debate will be ongoing.
According to the Local Government Act, there are two categories of conflict of interest - general and material.
A general conflict refers to circumstances where a “person’s private interests could result in that person acting in a manner that is contrary to their public duty”.
A material conflict arises when a “person would gain a benefit or suffer a loss depending on the outcome of the matter. The benefit may arise or the loss incurred (a) directly or indirectly; or (b) in a pecuniary or non-pecuniary form”.
Conflicts of interest do not preclude councillors from being able to sit on council, but they must be declared by the relevant person. That relevant person must also exclude themselves from the decision-making process.
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Originally published as New Maranoa region councillor Meryl Brumpton starts position at WestWind energy
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