Today Deputy Mayor Donna Gates accused local LNP politicians of spreading fear in the community.
‘I hear residents say it’s the council that’s causing fear by approving more and more highrise buildings, and now proposing to extend the areas where multi-storey buildings are allowed.’ Mayoral candidate Mona Hecke said.
‘It’s Mr Tate and his councillors who approve the high-density highrise applications with excessive relaxation of design code provisions like site coverage and setbacks and car parking. Our local state politicians are simply responding to broad community concerns.’
The councillors and senior planning officers should attend the community-led forums being held across the city to hear and feel the passion in the community over the City Plan.’ said Ms Hecke.
‘Instead of throwing stones at local state politicians and blaming others, Councillors Tate and Caldwell, the Chair of the Planning Committee, could get in there and fix the terrible mess they have created over the past eight years.”
The council avoids genuine engagement with ratepayers when tough issues are in the public domain, to the point of refusing to allow council planning officers to attend the local community forums.
‘This is not the way to treat residents who have invested their lifesavings in the largest asset they own, their home.’
Ms Hecke said, the level of frustration, disappointment, anxiety, fear and determination of Gold Coast residents reminds me of the Kerrigan family in the famous Australian movie The Castle, and we all know how this ended for the building inspector and the local council.’