South Burnett councillors band together against social media attacks

South Burnett councillors have spoken out to address a growing wave of public criticism following a series of controversial decisions, including the approval of a battery energy storage system.

Most members of the South Burnett Regional Council have spoken out against a wave of abusive and aggressive comments and posts levied at them on social media regarding recent planning decisions.

Members of the South Burnett Regional Council have spoken out against a wave of abusive and aggressive comments and posts levied at them on social media regarding recent planning decisions.

A renewable-energy project voted on and passed by the council, and a music and arts festival approved by the council’s planning department, both received negative reactions from the community, with angry locals taking to social media to air their frustrations.

A battery energy storage system that was approved during a special meeting of the South Burnett Regional council on April 3 came under fire when one local man called out the councillors for letting the project go ahead after they voiced their own objections to the development.

In a lengthy post on a popular community Facebook group he said, “What a bunch of sheep our councillors are. If (Mayor) Kathy Duff says jump they all ask, how high Kathy and when can we come down.”

The post garnered hundreds of reactions and comments, with some people defending the council and many others saying they felt they had been failed by their representatives and echoing the sentiment of the original poster.

Councillor Linda Little hit back at the “keyboard warriors” during her councillor divisional update at the April 16 council meeting, and became emotional as she spoke about the aggressive online behaviour.

“To all the keyboard warriors who have attacked us over the decision to approve the BESS at Ellesmere, I went and looked over the agenda and I had a look at the three objections that were lodged against this development and I didn’t see your names on any of those objections,” she said.

“It’s all well and good to be unhappy about decisions after the event but everyone had the opportunity to object to the development during the notification period.”

At the special council meeting, multiple councillors said they did not want to approve the BESS project but they felt that they did not have strong enough planning reasons to be able to fight a rejection in court.

Kellie Moody hires PI in search for missing son Jack McLennan

Qld government gives Bunya Mountains National Park $6.4 million facelift

During the same Wednesday meeting, Cr Heit said many commenters were “uninformed” and had no idea what they were talking about.

“There were some very unpleasant Facebook anonymous comments, which were uninformed, offensive and derogatory,” she said.

“And in fact, the keyboard warriors make themselves look like fools because they haven’t read the information, they have absolutely no idea what they are talking about, mostly.”

“There is nothing hidden and secret in what we do – if you want to know about the battery (energy storage unit) you can read everything about it (on our website in the meeting agenda). Then make your comments.”

Mayor Kathy Duff responded directly to the post, clarifying she voted against the battery storage energy system and described his claims as “totally inaccurate”.

“I voted against this battery storage and only got the support of Cr Heath Sander. This post is totally inaccurate and I have been misrepresented,” she said.

Neighbours and residents of Stonelands in the South Burnett have also been vocal about their objection to the Rabbits Eat Lettuce music festival being held in their area, which was approved without community consultation as a temporary event.

A neighbour whose property shares a border with the private bush camping and cattle property where the festival will be held, has been outspoken about how she believed the council ignored her concerns and called out Mayor Duff specifically in several Facebook posts.

“ANY SUGGESTION THAT OUR CONCERNS about the Rabbits Eat Lettuce Festival HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IS AN OUTRIGHT LIE!!,” she said.

“I am a neighbour and you have not indicated even a hint of respect for our lives, livelihood and personal safety.”

Ms Kidd posted on social media a response she said she received from the South Burnett Regional Council, which explained that due to the permit being temporary and only for one event, the approval was handled by the planning department. Picture: John Gass

In a post on his own Facebook page, Councillor Heath Sander called out the online abuse he and his fellow councillors were regularly receiving, and said the behaviour was uncalled for.

“I never thought I would see the abuse some of my colleagues are receiving on Facebook,” he said.

“It is uncalled for and doesn’t help anything.

“It is not an easy thing to be told that your damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

“Think about this for a minute and put yourself in the seat.”

Councillors Deb Dennien and Jane Erkens also took to social media to respond to the flood of negative comments and posts.

Ms Dennien said the council did their best to navigate what their constituents wanted, and their legislative responsibilities.

“We all try so hard to navigate the legislative responsibilities and it seems that people do not understand or choose not to even consider the situations,” she wrote.

“The majority of people really get it but there are just a few that really have no clue and they are very sad individuals that I just can’t fathom.”

Ms Erkens, who is also an admin on the Around the Town Nanango community page, said the online abuse could be “very demoralising”, and it could be difficult to deal with people who continued to “go on and on” about the same issues that had previously been addressed.

“I have friends and family checking on me because of this continued harassment,” she wrote.

Mr Sander encouraged people with an issue to reach out to the council directly through the customer request system or to email or call their local councillor instead of posting on social media.

“I was elected to make change and we are working collaboratively to do that, but attacking Council on Facebook is not the answer or constructive.”

Originally published as South Burnett councillors band together against social media attacks