VIDEO: Protest staged as dysfunction and disunity rocks latest ordinary meeting
DIVIDED
A man determined to ensure Daintree residents and more broadly those right across the Shire have reliable future access across the Daintree river presented a united front during a peaceful protest in front of Mossman’s Council chambers this morning.
Long time Daintree resident Lawrence Mason and around nine or so other locals, including business owners held placards and utilised strategically positioned posters to reiterate the message the region needs a concrete reliable option, whether it be a new ferry or a bridge.
A media release peculiarly issued by Douglas Shire Council at 6.15am this morning noted “maintenance work will begin mid-October and run over six weeks to modify four davits which are used to raise and lower the ferry’s ramps”.
It’s understood works will start on Sunday, October 15.
Meantime, inside the chamber, in yet another explosive Ordinary Shire meeting – which proved to be the longest of the year to date, Mayor Michael Kerr started proceedings with two extended mayoral minutes.
In a stunning turn of events Cr Kerr’s descriptions based on the two matters lasted 51 minutes.
The first, centred around Daintree Ferry discussions, returned a unanimous vote.
The second by Cr Kerr ‘that Council notes response to recent out of order motions and (a) vote of no confidence motion by Councillors’, proved highly contentious and triggered stern conversation, side chat, debate, disagreement and ultimately resulted in Cr Noli choosing to abstain from the vote, after finding the matter “quite humorous”, then saying, I’ll “demonstrate my disdain” (by not voting) and “won’t give it any (further) dignity by speaking about it”.
This specific Cr Kerr minute Cr Noli suggested, was “simply blame shaming”, while Cr Zammataro said the motion was “hypercritical rhetoric”.
Today’s controversy centred around Cr Scomazzon’s want to put forward a Councillors’ travel policy, which would aim to ensure accountability and transparency by the Mayor and Councillors when travelling outside of the Shire for Council business.
Further, Ms Scomazzon mentioned she had learnt more about Cr Kerr’s recent movements and his ongoing whereabouts outside of the Shire for business at today’s meeting than anytime over the past three years – a comment directly pointed to her perceived view that the Mayor has not been forthcoming or has lacked ongoing transparency about where he is or who he meets with when representing ratepayers from outside of the Shire.
Cr McKeown also noted it was paramount Cr Kerr is transparent and that he keeps Councillors up to date with the issues he is discussing with others, and where he is travelling to when outside of the Shire.
Unsurprisingly, this mayoral minute didn’t pass, with Cr Zammataro, Cr Scomazzon and Cr McKeown voting against, and Cr Kerr voting for it.
Cr Noli expressed her disdain for the minute by choosing not to take part in the vote.
Cr Zammataro said the mere fact a travel policy needs to be discussed “shows a lack of transparency from the Mayor”.
Cr Kerr in starting part two of his mayoral minute said he had noticed “deep seated hostility” between Councillors which hasn’t allowed for proactive debate or discussion in recent times.
In the end it was determined, much to the frustration of the majority of Councillors, that a future Council workshop would be held to discuss the nuisances of any future Travel Policy.
