THE war of words between Capalaba MP Don Brown and mayor Karen Williams has escalated, with Mr Brown saying Cr Williams had given up trying to get infrastructure for the city.
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Last week Mr Brown and Redlands MP Kim Richards called for council and the federal government to help fund a business case for Brisbane’s proposed $940 million high frequency bus system to be extended to the Redlands.
Mr Brown said Cr Williams had responded with a letter saying “we will not be paying for upgrades to state infrastructure, or business cases for state infrastructure”.
Mr Brown said Cr Williams had backflipped, given she had promised to fix the state-based Cleveland-Redland Bay road at the last election.
“It is disappointing to read the mayor giving up on infrastructure for our city,” he said.
“We know when councils play (a) part and contribute to infrastructure we are able to deliver projects like Gold Coast Light Rail, Moreton Bay Rail link and shortly the Brisbane Metro.
“More recently, we have seen Moreton Bay (Regional) Council fund a KPMG business case for their university, which has delivered funding from both the state and federal governments.
“We need to start to build a case for infrastructure in the Redlands but this council is not willing to contribute a cent to build that case.”
Cr Williams said she found Mr Brown’s position baffling.
She said she had not given up working with the state or federal government on infrastructure but she would not keep responding to Mr Brown, whose media comments amounted to bullying.
“Every time I have to spend time correcting his social media statements is hours I could spend working on issues as the local government representative,” she said.
“I have a strong record collaborating with governments of all kinds over the past 14 years.
“I hope the fact that I am not a member of any party does not interfere with funding for Redlands projects.”
Cr Williams said Mr Brown put little effort into attending infrastructure planning sessions but she hoped he would call or meet with her to discuss issues.
Projects in which she had played a role included linking of Southern Moreton Bay Islands with Translink, lobbying the federal government to get mobile phone black spots fixed and having work on Redland Bay Cleveland Road brought forward.
Mr Brown said he welcomed Cr Williams moves to have the Capalaba CBD master plan accommodate the metro.
He did not expect council to play a major role in business planning for projects but even a small part would help deliver outcomes.
Cr Williams said she would be keen to see in the state budget some sign that Mr Brown and Ms Richards had been able to get the mothballed Eastern Busway project restarted.
