A TWO-HOUR showdown at Redland City Council ended with councillors voting 7-4 to reject Mayor Jos Mitchell’s bid for another audit of the $100 million Heinemann Road Regional Sport and Recreation Precinct.
Mayor Mitchell’s Mayoral Minute, tabled just a day before the meeting, sought a comprehensive internal audit into the project’s governance, procurement, financial oversight, and project management, with findings to be made publicly available.
The motion sparked fierce debate, with several councillors questioning the need for another review given that an internal audit had already been completed by BDO.
“Given that the Heinemann Road project was reviewed in an internal audit by BDO, with findings presented in April last year – which were brought to the Audit Committee, which you sit on, in June – and then noted in the following General Meeting, what consideration have you given to that report?” Deputy Mayor Julie Talty asked.
The Mayor said the audit would provide benefits to councillors and community.
“I believe councillors should now all understand the benefits that an internal order can bring to Council projects in terms of gaining any insight into project management, feasibility, determining the standard of governance applied, financial impacts, and it is a very good mechanism for making improvements in project management and delivery,” Mayor Mitchell said.
“Transparency is also another very important issue … an audit does not just look backwards; it informs the project for the future, and it may help the future process for this project.”
Cr Talty again challenged the need for another review.
“Including the Heinemann Road Project, which was workshopped in August – you were provided full financial expenditure, a full project timeline, you’ve provided all the answers to your Mayoral Minutes, and it has been audited.
What information could possibly go into another?” she asked.
Mayor Mitchell confirmed that internal discussions had taken place the day before the meeting but could not provide an external cost estimate.
Cr Paul Golle raised concerns about the potential waste of public money.
“We’ve been here for two hours, but we’re being asked to approve public money on another audit when there’s already ample information,” he said.
The debate grew heated, with Cr Golle receiving a formal warning.
Mayor Mitchell said she was disappointed.
“It was hotly contested – as the Mayoral Minutes that I bring always are,” she said.
“I don’t know what the problem with transparency is.”
