An outspoken councillor has called for consistency from staff after a report recommended letting a developer off the hook over sealing a road.
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In 2011, Rocky Point Quarries (RPQ) was given approval to expand its Euberta operation, but one of the conditions was to prepare and seal 5.4 kilometres of Tooyal Road.
In a report presented to council on Monday night, it was revealed a former director gave a verbal agreement to seal the road in May 2010.
“Although there were apparently witnesses to the then director of infrastructure making the commitment, there is no record on file of the commitment being made, nor was it reported to council or the cost of sealing included in any subsequent budget estimates,” the report said.
“It would not have been in the power of the director to make this commitment on council’s behalf.”
It was recommended council pay $300,000 to seal Tooyal Road itself, delaying works on Mitchell Road for another year, because enforcing the conditions would “cast council in a very poor light, potentially damaging its reputation”.
Councillor Paul Funnell was furious about the report, slamming the recommendation to foot the bill as “utterly ridiculous”.
“This suggestion of using ratepayers funds to fix a road that was meant to be sealed by a developer is crazy,” Cr Funnell said.
“If the conditions are on there enforce them, don’t expect ratepayers to subsidise a private business.”
Other councillors were also concerned by the report of a “handshake agreement”, which Cr Tim Koschel suggested could set a precedent for developers. Cr Kerry Pascoe said he was concerned by the report and wanted to see someone tick off all of RPQ’s development conditions.
Despite the reported risk to council’s reputation, Cr Funnell said there was a greater risk if there was no consistency in applying the rules.
“What message does this send to the community, that council will act depending on which way the wind blows?” Cr Funnell said.
“I think it’s great there’s a quarry there, it’s an industry that provides jobs what we need and we need more of it, but compliance needs to be consistently applied to everyone.
Councillors unanimously rejected the recommendation to pay for the sealing, putting the onus to comply with all conditions onto RPQ.