Mon 9 August

Mayor Flabbergasted at accusations

: Warren Entsch has caused Val Schier to be "flabbergasted"

Cairns Regional Council Mayor Val Schier has issued a statement saying she is “flabbergasted” at Mr Entsch’s unsubstantiated claims and unwarranted attacks on a Council officer.

“If he has any evidence he should give it to the acting CEO, Ross McKim, immediately,” said Cr Schier.

“My Council wants to work in partnership to get the facilities this region needs and deserves. I urge Mr Entsch to stop making attacks on Council Officers and to talk to local and state representatives about getting projects up and running".

“Council will not be drawn into discussions such as this in the middle of a Federal election campaign, especially when it involves attacking a very hard working officer who has been with Council for only two months, and who has not been involved with any tendering processes for Council during that time or previously.”

Mr McKim said Mr Entsch’s claims of Council bias against local businesses in relation to the Cultural Precinct project are untrue and unfounded.

“The original feasibility study, undertaken almost two years ago, was arranged by the State Government’s Department of Public Works Project Services Division, and it was that Division which engaged all consultants. Council has not finalised the tender briefs for any significant work to be undertaken on the Cultural Precinct project, nor have we made any decisions on engagement of consultants or contractors,” said Mr McKim.

"We have only just been given the assurance by the Federal and State Labor Governments that funding will be made available for the next stage of the project, so we have certainly not entered into any tendering processes or any other kind of commercial relationships, apart from some initial marketing material, which was produced by a Cairns based creative agency".

“We have not finalised the design brief that will go out to tender, which will be the next significant stage of the project. When this process is undertaken, Council will follow the normal legal purchasing processes which accompany all of our major tendering processes".

Have your say !

Will Devlin, 10-08-10 16:05:

Sadly, Mr Entsch suffers the "Qld Pollies Disease" - also suffered by Barnaby Joyce - which involves only opening hs mouth to change feet. The Cairns Cutural Precinct is well thought out, a very attractive, modern facility and sorely needed in the Region to stimulate building and adjunct industries. I have no idea about the stoush between Entsch, McKim and Schier, but I do know that I would rather support a funded plan than an unfunded, shoot from the hip plan such as Entsch's that has absolutely no backing from the Coalition.

Kevin , 10-08-10 15:54:

Another case of "Should Have Left the Foot In the Mouth". It would be nice to see something Positive or an actual (CORE) promise of doing something to help the electorate. Pardon my cynicism, but I note that Mr Abbott promised $47m towards the new Townsville Cultural Centre but not a cent for Cairns, and I have to ask "Where's Warren?" I am not fussed at having a new Cultural Centre but I would like to see Mr Abbott endorse Warren's promises, with a CORE guarantee of course.