Friday, 3 November, 2023
There is only
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Top nomination for legendary Ron West
Leigh puts her hat into council ring
Tough match for Thunder
24-page liftout Property Guide
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INSIDE
PR OP ER TY
Formal fun for seniors With only weeks remaining of the school year, exams and formals are uppermost in the minds of Noosa seniors. Last week Good Shepherd Lutheran College Year 11 students celebrated their formal in style, including Thomas Haddrill, Oscar Humphreys and Benji Griffis whose cycle arrival was impressive. See more photos on pages 12 and 13
Trust trumps plan By Margie Maccoll A packed Noosa Council gallery applauded when councillor Amelia Lorentson proposed a motion to defer the draft Noosa River Catchment Management Plan (NRCMP) until July 2024, saying the issue wasn’t even the river plan, it was public trust. It was an emotion-charged council chamber at last Thursday’s Ordinary Meeting in which councillors were set to decide on the proposed NRCMP that had undergone years of planning and consultation, had already been deferred a month to enable more information and consultation to be obtained, particularly surrounding a proposed establishment of a Conservation Park, and was recommended by staff for approval. Pivotal to the decision outcome was the
exclusion from the meeting, following his conflict of interest declaration, of Cr Brian Stockwell who had voiced his support for the NRCMP at council meetings last month. Councillors questioned Cr Stockwell on his declared business relationship through his consultancy, Watershed Australia, with Healthy Land and Water which had provided input into the plan. The decision for him to remain in the room was heavily debated, the vote was 3:3 and lost on a casting vote by the chair, Cr Clare Stewart. Cr Stockwell told the meeting in his consultancy his work included catchment management planning, town planning and river restoration. Cr Joe Jurisevic said he believed it was in the
public interest to have someone with such experience in this area in the room. “We all offer advice, knowledge and experience to council when we have the relevant experience,“ he said. Cr Karen Finzel agreed all councillors brought expertise to the table and contributed to decisions made but said she had concerns about disclosure around Cr Stockwell’s business arrangements. “My issue is the perception of public trust,“ she said. Cr Tom Wegener described the issue as “preposterous“. “He has done his job and he is being punished for doing his job well and for working with staff on the river plan and anything to do with water,“ he said. Cr Frank Wilkie said no link had been drawn to Cr Stockwell benefitting in any way by
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staying in the room. “This is not democracy in action. it’s an improper use of conflict of interest laws,“ he said. “The important thing is Cr Stockwell has been open and transparent and declared that in a packed room. “Yes, he did some work for Health Land and Water, Healthy Land and Water is mentioned in this report. I don’t know if his work with Healthy Land and Water has anything to do with this report - he’s saying no. “This is a tenuous, shadowy link being drawn here and an easy one to sell because the emotion is so high.“ Cr Lorentson said the test was “whether a fair minded, reasonable person on the street would think he’d be impartial“. Continued page 4