Wanneroo councillors’ push to stop Quinns Rocks glamping…

A controversial glamping site will go ahead despite a motion to revoke the decision over limited access to information and refusal to allow open debate.

Wanneroo councillor Phil Bedworth moved a motion to revoke the December 12 approval of the 20-year lease for a glamping site on the Quinns Rocks’ foreshore.

The motion argued the decision should be revoked because of late access given to councillors of the lease documents as well as the blocking of open debate against the project.

After hour-long discussions at Tuesday’s council meeting, the motion to reverse the glamping site approval lost 6-8, meaning the construction of the 26 tents on the 1.9ha site will go ahead.

In the December 12 meeting, councillors were blocked by mayor Linda Aitken from speaking against the glamping site because there were no councillors speaking in favour of it.

Cr Bedworth said on Tuesday that the blocking of debate went against council protocols.

“Given the level of attention that this matter had garnered previously, any decision by council (should be) arrived at in a manner that would ensure the confidence in the legitimacy and credibility of that decision,” he said.

“When people express their opinions openly, honestly and respectfully, it provides much more clarity around how decision-makers have arrived to their decisions and actions.

“It may have been that something stated by a councillor could have had a material effect on the voting choice of other councillors and hence a different outcome. Possibly not, we’ll never know.”

Cr Bedworth pointed to the Department of Local Government’s guide to council and committee meeting document, which states that all councillors are given a fair opportunity to speak and express different points of view to promote a diversity of opinion.