Dear editor,
Even if I lived on the other side of the island I would be actively objecting to the method of ‘behind closed doors’ planning that has taken place as it has the appearance of creating development opportunities for the two councillors who ran for and were elected to council in 2011. Their recent resignations appear to be an example of personal planning trumping any vestiges of service to the constituents of Bowen for whom they had purported to want to serve by running for council.
“Conflict of interest” hardly describes what now appears as their possible business intent to bid on Lot 2, of the “community lands” so development, possibly under their control, could happen. How does that contribution to decision-making that involves those lands and the rezoning of them, not suggest manipulation of the democratic process?
Addressing only one aspect of seemingly planned intent will not adequately hold to account any inappropriate influence over development outcomes on community lands. What has been lacking is total transparency and open and accessible opportunities for the citizens of Bowen to hear and participate in discussions for the use of those lands. Understanding how all the parts work together to produce an end result is critical to homogenous island living. However, that “end result” in the case of the “Community Campus” design, appears to have provided a possible open door opportunity for these developers to bid on land they will have made ripe for the bidding.
Participatory democracy is not just an ideal to be ignored it is the basis for our very way of life.
Proposed changes to the OCP to accommodate the density that the “community campus” design requires is just one questionable element in this “process.”
The two other parts to be examined are both the number of times conflict of interest by the developers required them to leave the council chambers; and also the formation of community ‘advisers’ some of whom might possibly be sympathetic to such planning due to benefits to be accrued in terms of secondary (to the developers’ interests) interests being realized.
Wise and careful recognition of the incredible value of Bowen’s community lands to future ongoing benefits for this island should have been, and still should be, open to discussion by the whole community of Bowen.
Sincerely,
Edna Thomson
