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Wednesday, August 26, 2015
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Mareeba Annuals set to captivate
MAREEBA’s hallmark racing event is almost upon us once again, with the highly anticipated ‘Mareeba Annuals’ set to deliver on and off the track on Saturday, September 5 at the Mareeba Turf Club. Among those excited are Wendy Rutherford and Gemma Quigg, who attended last Saturday’s ‘Pink Ribbon Garden Party in their finest fashion. TURN TO PAGE 5 for the ‘Annuals’ preview.
TRC’s darkest hour By Justin Fris
THE Tablelands Regional Council officially hit rock bottom during last Thursday morning’s meeting, in yet another painstaking blow for progression-based governance in our region. Two councillor walk outs and a councillor initially denied participation via videolink outlined how fractured relations have become between councillors; and for all TRC ratepayers, it’s a sizeable slap to the face. Councillor Marjorie Pagani – who was unable to attend the meeting in person – had organised to appear via videolink, with technology set up in
the room ready to go. Deputy CEO Matthew Hyde (filling in for CEO Ian Church) said: “Cr Pagani contacted me via email on August 19 and requested to attend the meeting remotely,” he said. “I advised all Councillors of her absence and request late Wednesday afternoon and provided the legislative requirements for attending a Council ordinary meeting. “TRC Councillors attending a meeting remotely is a discretionary matter, as we did not have a policy position on remote attendance at that time.” Despite this, TRC Mayor Rosa Lee Long
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deemed Cr Pagani’s rationale for absence was unsatisfactory, and suggested that her videolink representation in the meeting be denied. Prior to vote, Cr Geoff Stocker said: “I believe the Council has the discretion to enable it to decide whether the circumstances are appropriate for a teleconferencing event. “I certainly wasn’t notified and I don’t know whether other councillors have been notified directly; except, perhaps, Cr (Shaaron) Linwood. “The first notification I had of this was late yesterday afternoon, in an email from the acting CEO. And in the absence of an adequate Council policy regarding which circumstances we would
make in this situation, I’m afraid I cannot support this motion.” Mayor Lee Long added: “I think we should consider whether the extenuating circumstances are valid; we don’t have a reason, we don’t know whether Cr Pagani is even on the Tablelands, Brisbane or the Gold Coast. “We don’t know where she is or why. And if this gets approved today, it means at our future Council meetings, any Councillor can ring in and say they wish to appear remotely.” Cr Linwood then outlined her disgust at these sentiments. CONTINUED PAGE 3
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