THE most recent Scenic Rim Regional Council meeting, charied by Deputy Mayor Duncan McInnes, saw Councillors voting an advocacy plan, NBN for Beechmont, and the adoption of a largely similar media policy.
NBN for Beechmont
Councillors voted in favour of a lease for NBN Co for the installation of a 45 metre monopole radio network base station facility on land owned by Council at The Old School Site.
This has been a divisive issue for Beechmont, with Division 3 Councillor Stephen Moriarty stating when the matter was first raised in November 2024, he said Council would be “damned if they do and damned if they don’t with this proposal”.
“Nothing since that time has changed my opinion.”
He said the lack of connectivity on Beechmont has long been an issue and years of advocacy at a State and Federal level resulted in this option being offered.
“I acknowledge that many people would prefer the tower to be located at another site, as would I myself,” he said.
He advised that other sites would not be as effective and it could be years before another option became available.
Both Division 2 Cr Kerri Cryer and Division 1 Cr Amanda Hay spoke against the lease.
“Rarely has there been such a divisive suggestion for Beechmont and whilst it is not in my Division we are elected to represent the entire region,” Cr Hay said.
“I’m concerned we very rarely have petitions that have such a vast number of people against what’s being proposed and that the percentages are so close.”
While she felt that connectivity was important, the dissent in the Beechmont community caused her to speak against it.
Councillors voted four votes to two to approve the lease, with Cr Hay and Division 2 Councillor Cryer voting against.
Advocacy
The revised Scenic Rim Advocacy Plan, which has been prepared in the lead up to the Federal Election, appears to take the Canungra bypass off the table.
The Advocacy Plan has been designed to distribute to candidates in the upcoming Federal election.
It is understood that the Canungra bypass has been left off the plan as it is State issue.
Items added to the plan include a proposed road from Kooralbyn to Boonah, Coulson Road upgrade, PCYC Beaudesert and better social and supporting infrastructure for tourism.
Can Councillors talk?
SCENIC Rim Regional Councillors voted to maintain the status quo for their media policy, despite promises from Mayor Tom Sharp to the Canungra Times and other local media organisations that there would be sweeping changes.
Mayor Sharp, who was overseas when the policy was voted on, had openly criticised Council’s communication policies prior to his election.
His ‘Pathway to Transparency in the Scenic Rim’ policy dated October 12, 2023 described Council’s management of information as “draconian” and said it “effectively gags councillors from speaking about anything that hasn’t been considered in an Ordinary Meeting of Council”.
Under both the old and new policy, the Mayor remains the principal spokesperson on regional issues, with the Deputy Mayor authorised to speak in the absence of the Mayor.
Councillors may speak on matters relevant to their divisions or portfolios, however media comments are to be facilitated by the Communications team.
If Councillors do not seek input from the Communications team, they must express that they are conveying their personal viewpoint.
Councillors are at risk of a complaint to the Office of the Independent Assessor should they speak publicly on an issue and express an opinion dissenting with the majority decision of Council.
This is in line with the Queensland Government’s Code of Conduct for Councillors.
The question for residents of the Scenic Rim is whether this policy allows a Councillor to adequately advocate for their constituents.
A Council spokesperson said the policy had been discussed by all Councillors in briefings and workshops prior to the meeting.
“Mayor Sharp has been an active supporter of implementing and endorsing this new policy,” the spokesperson said.
Division 2 Councillor Kerri Cryer, also owner and Editor of local newspaper, Tamborine Bulletin, did not declare a conflict of interest in the matter.
The Canungra Times was unable to contact Mayor Sharp for comment.
