GCCC approves Chevron development

Matthew Killoran   |  November 6th, 2012

THE council has unanimously voted to approve a $50 million, 16-storey apartment and office block on Chevron Island.

The development, dubbed St Thomas Place, is a five-storey office block that will include an art gallery and cafe, as well as a 60-unit boutique apartment building.

Following the vote the Local Government Association of Queensland gave Mayor Tom Tate the all clear after he voted to approve the development, proposed by his long-time lawyer Tony Hickey, of Hickey Lawyers.

 
Cr Tate declared he could have a perceived conflict but chose to stay in the room to vote.

Under the Local Government Act, councillors and the mayor have to declare if they have a "real or perceived" conflict of interest and must make a decision whether or not to stay in the room and vote.

Cr Tate declared in the meeting that Mr Hickey was his long-standing lawyer and had acted for him "from time to time" but he had determined he could vote in the public's best interest.

LGAQ executive director Greg Hallam said Cr Tate had not breached the Act by voting on the matter.

"He has clearly declared he has a relationship," he said.

"Given his previous occupation, it's only reasonable he would know Mr Hickey.

"He didn't seek to hide that.

"It's not a financial interest, it's just someone he knows."

Mr Hickey has previously suggested the council should build an arts walk of sculptures starting at Surfers Paradise, going past his development and over a green bridge to Evandale.

Mr Hickey will head to China with Cr Tate and other business leaders this month to sell the city.