Council’s vote to refuse the extension request wasn’t unanimous – two councillors (bottom left) opposed the motion.
Redland City Council’s recent news release about Cleveland Power’s legal appeals includes an untrue statement by Mayor Karen Williams that a council vote in March 2017 was unanimous.
Council’s news release, published on 23 February, said the Council had agreed to settle two appeals in the Planning and Environment Court with Cleveland Power Pty Ltd, relating to their Mount Cotton biomass project first proposed in 2004.
The Council news release included the following statement which is factually incorrect.
“Council unanimously opposed the request in March 2017 and the developer appealed to the Planning and Environment Court,” Cr Williams said.
Council’s decision was not “unanimous”
The word “unanimous” means that everyone is in agreement, of one mind.
If councillors had “unanimously opposed” the request, as stated by Mayor Williams, then the meeting minutes would show that all councillors voted the same way.
But publicly available Council records show that this decision was not unanimous.
The Council’s 22 March 2017 meeting minutes record that two councillors voted against the motion to refuse a request for extension to the biomass plant’s “relevant period”. They were:
- Paul Gleeson (Division 9)
- Peter Mitchell (Division 2)
Seven councillors voted to refuse the extension:
- Deputy Mayor Wendy Boglary (Division 1) chairing the meeting in the Mayor’s absence.
- Paul Golle (Division 3)
- Lance Hewlett (Division 4)
- Mark Edwards (Division 5)
- Murray Elliott (Division 7)
- Julie Talty (Division 6)
- Paul Bishop (Division 10)
Mayor Karen Williams and Cr Tracey Huges (Division 8) were not present for this vote.
Check the video
The Council makes video recording of its meetings. This is the result of an initiative by Redlands2030 in 2015.
The 22 March 2017 meeting video recording clearly shows how councillors voted on this motion, at about 2:06 hours.
Crs Gleeson and Mitchell can be seen raising their hands to oppose the motion.
We should not have to fact check Council statements
The Council employs many communications staff at significant cost to ratepayers.
The community should be able to assume that information prepared and published by the Council is factually correct.
Any errors made should be corrected, as soon as they are brought to the Council’s attention.
Redlands2030 report on the biomass project
Here’s a link to Redlands2030’s comprehensive story on the Mount Cotton biomass project, published on 25 February 2018.
Chicken poo power project is unappealing
Redlands2030 – 28 February 2018
Please note: Offensive or off-topic comments will be deleted. If offended by any published comment please email thereporter@redlands2030.net
2 Comments
Re Biomass project better known to locals as ‘chicken poo incinerator’ requiring tonnes of litter trucked in to produce electricity… it was to be expected that Crs Gleeson & Mitchell being close to the mayor, would vote for extension of the project.
I’ve never viewed the project personally, but being member of a community group in support of local residents, was stunned when informed we were to be fined $2000 for giving our support. To raise funds suggestion was to hold garage sale & offered a small financial contribution..which was returned.. since enough money was raised to pay the fine. It seemed fitting to me to use the money to plant a tree with help from group members & Council parks workers that today is thriving by bus shelter on Finucane Road side adding to line of trees first Mayor of Redland Shire Council agreed to in creating a pollution barrier between Finucane/Elmhurst St intersection & Crotona Rd just short of 4-way intersection late 1980’s and have photo of first watering of the young plants that am happy to say Council parks & conservation workers are taking good care of today in not over-reducing trees as happened too often in past years by various groups hacking into them.
In any event, good to know the Biomass project has at long last been rejected, with pollies realizing power plants and growing residential communities don’t mix.
Can’t see facts!
Can’t count!
Can’t report!
Can’t govern!
Solution….
Don’t govern…just resign!