Sparks fly at final Whitsunday Regional Council meeting





No truce was reached between Mayor Mike Brunker and his main challenger, Councillor Jennifer Whitney, before the final council meeting of the term, held in Bowen on Thursday.

Whilst Cr Brunker began the meeting by thanking Council staff for their work over the last four years, Cr Whitney succeeded in steering attention towards the controversial Airlie Beach Main Street Project.

Cr Whitney submitted a notice of motion calling for Council to hold a public meeting at the Airlie Beach PCYC within a month to provide a community update on the project.

"Walking around the streets of Airlie, there’s still a great deal of confusion," Cr Whitney said. "Businesses are struggling to survive week by week."

Cr Brunker was critical of the suggestion.

"Putting something like this onto a new council has never happened in my lifetime," Cr Brunker said. "We may as well set the budget now, too."

Despite Cr Whitney claiming that "people are very anxious to have a community meeting," the motion was defeated.

The second motion submitted by Cr Whitney requested Council to advise of the total debt following the funding of the Water and Sewerage Infrastructure.

Cr Brunker claimed that the figures had been available since 2011.

"In two days you could be mayor, and you don’t know that information," Cr Brunker said.

After the two motions were debated, Whitsunday Regional Council CEO John Finlay praised the achievements of the Mayor and Councillors.

"This isn’t something you can learn by reading a textbook," Mr Finlay said.

Mr Finlay acknowledged Council’s achievements, among them the Bowen PCYC, front beach development, sewerage treatment and water treatment facilities, the Whitsunday Coast Airport upgrades, extensive road upgrades, and the "tackling of inherited deficit from the previous council."

"This council has set the bar for the next," Mr Finlay said.

Cr Mark Gaudry, who chose not to recontest his position as Division 6 representative, used his final meeting to deliver a light-hearted speech, thanking council staff, his colleagues and his constituents.

"Thank you for your friendship, help, advice and support," he said.

"Council is a cross between the Commonwealth Bank and Vinnies," Cr Gaudry said. "You’ve got to run an efficient business, while also being the first port of call for support and donations."
Cr Gaudry expressed his faith in the local government system, and wished current and prospective Councillors well.

Proserpine voter receives blank ballot paper from ECQ

A completely blank ballot paper has one local resident concerned just how many more bungled papers have been delivered into letter boxes this week.

Proserpine resident Graham Wilson opened the envelope from the Electoral Commission Queensland (ECQ) yesterday afternoon to find his Division 3 paper completely blank.

“The mayoral paper is okay, but there is absolutely nothing on the second piece, it’s like it’s the end of the printing role or something,” Mr Wilson said.

Far from a conspiracy theorist, Mr Wilson said he understood it could well have been an accident but worried how many more were out there like his.

“A lot of people wouldn’t give a stuff and probably wouldn’t bother to vote after receiving something like this.”  

 “And also … how many people would leave it to the last minute to fill it out only to realise there’s nothing to fill out!”

Mr Wilson will be either calling the electoral commission or visiting the returning officer in Cannonvale, which is precisely what mayor Mike Brunker suggested yesterday.

“Get hold of the electoral commission and get it sorted. He probably doesn’t want to be trundling off down to Cannonvale - and nor should he have to - so yes everyone check their papers and if there are any problems call the electoral commission right away,” Mr Brunker said.

A spokesperson from the ECQ said initial investigations revealed the blank paper was a human error.

“Ballot papers are printed out of books of 50, and what normally happens is the backing paper is torn off before the books are put into the printer, but this hasn’t happened and it appears Mr Wilson has received a backing paper,” the spokesperson said, believing the error was a one off.

Anyone with questions about their ballot papers are encouraged to call the ECQ voting hotline on 1300 881 665.

Boom time for Whitsunday Coast Airport

Virgin Australia has announced 10 extra flights for the Whitsunday Coast Airport which is sure to impress the city-bound traveller.

 Five early in the morning from Proserpine to Brisbane and five returning each weekday afternoon will be added to the flight schedule bringing the number of flights to 24 every week.

Mayor Mike Brunker hinted at the exciting announcement during his cocktail party at the airport on Saturday night, but couldn’t elaborate on the details.

Whitsunday Coast Airport’s business and marketing manager Scott Waters said it was a real shot in the arm for tourism and mining.

“We are currently working with two private companies for the lease of the land at the airport which have an aviation scope but in the broader sense include mining,” Mr Waters said.

“What this means for the region is jobs and diversification utilising the airport to achieve that.”

Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt said she was proud of the final product that is the redeveloped Whitsunday Coast Airport terminal.

“It’s a fresh, modern welcome mat to our region that allows visitors and locals to travel more comfortably and more efficiently.”

“This significant investment sends a signal to the airlines that we are a serious player in the tourism sector.”

“This region bats well above its weight and I expect to get the details of new flight commitments from Virgin Australia very soon.”

New Airport Manager for the Whitsunday Coast Airport

An early morning flight from Proserpine to Brisbane, and returning that evening, will be one of the top priorities for the airport’s new business development manager Scott Waters when he steps into his new role next week.

 Whitsunday Regional Council announced Mr Waters’ appointment early last week, with Mayor Mike Brunker saying he was thrilled to secure one of the state’s most experienced marketing executives for such a vital role in the Whitsundays.

 The high Australian dollar, a massive decline in tourists flying into the Whitsundays, and upwards of 50 businesses closing their doors across the region over the past few months prompted council to seek the services of an experienced networking manager to start building relationships that could potentially secure the economic future of the region.

 Mr Waters’ role begins on September 19, but he has already started a conversation that could take the Whitsundays to a whole new level in tourism.

 "My key priority will be to secure an early morning flight – perhaps two – from Proserpine to the capital city. I just have to help the airlines understand the strength of the market here, show them how many passengers are leaking to Mackay or Townsville for their flights. But our scope is far greater than this. With the help of the community, I plan to work in with the industries that are booming, like the mining industries and economic interest from China, and start conversations there.

 "There is such a huge amount of potential on the business events side of things with the Chinese plus the possibility of offering R&R getaways for miners. Our possibilities are endless."

 Mr Waters has extensive experience in the aviation, travel and tourism industries and more recently as general manager of destination marketing and development with Townsville Enterprise.

 Enthusiastic about his role and particularly inspired by the opportunity to return home, Mr Waters met with the Guardian to talk about his new role.

 "I grew up in the Mackay/Whitsunday region, so coming home is a huge attraction for me and my family," he said.

 "I know this industry very well and I have a lot of contacts. Its important for the airport to be a part of the community and that will be one of my key focuses," he said.

Mayor Mike Brunker and Cyril Vains in court over alleged assault

 Whitsunday Regional Council mayor Mike Brunker has denied provoking a fight at the Bowen races last August, which made headlines across the nation.

 “I’m not a fighter,” Mr Brunker told defence barrister Terry Collins yesterday.

 Mr Collins is appearing for Cyril Alfred Vains, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of common assault.

 During the first day yesterday of an anticipated three-day hearing, Mr Brunker was the first in a long line of witnesses due to be called.

 Mr Brunker told Bowen Magistrates Court yesterday he’d gone to the Ben Bolt Cup meeting last August both to have a day out and be seen by racegoers as he was the Labor candidate at last year’s election.

 He’d placed signs at the track’s carpark and the entry gates and was having a beer with council deputy Rogin Taylor and his campaign manager, when Vains told him to remove the signs and leave the track.

 An argument followed during which he called Vains a “dog” and a “low, mongrel dog” but didn’t consider that serious abuse.

 Mr Brunker also said that Vains called him a liar and a thief, terms he was familiar with during his long time in politics and which no longer upset him.

 He said Vains three times challenged him to a fight but he put his hands on his hips and tried to reason with his protagonist.

 Going to the carpark after he’d been banned, Mr Brunker said Vains again challenged him to a fight, and “king hit” (got the first punch in), “making me see stars and popping the blackheads on my nose”.

 However, the blow wasn’t forceful enough to knock the hat off his head, Mr Brunker said.

 Mr Brunker said he’d swung his arms around in an effort at self-protection and couldn’t say whether he connected with Vains’ face and couldn’t comment on how Vains sustained a graze to his nose.

 “I had no intention of fighting. I went to the races to enjoy myself and have a punt,” Mr Brunker said.

 The hearing is continuing.