A TENSE two-hour showdown erupted at Redland City Council today as Deputy Mayor Julie Talty and other councillors grilled Mayor Jos Mitchell over her last-minute mayoral minute calling for an internal audit of the $100 million Heinemann Road Regional Sport and Recreation Precinct.
The mayoral motion, dropped just yesterday ahead of today’s council meeting, sought a sweeping review of governance, procurement, financial oversight, and project management, with findings to be made publicly available.
But critics, led by Deputy Mayor Talty, questioned the need for another audit when a comprehensive review had already been conducted last year 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?” Cr Talty asked, pressing the mayor on why a second audit was necessary.
Mayor Mitchell defended the motion as a procedural step, saying: “This is a motion about seeking a process of review—an internal audit—of the project to date, the complete project. This has been a very long project, with advised difficulties, and it has a great deal of community interest.”
She stressed the benefits of the audit for councillors, the council, and the 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 actually may help the future process for this project.”
During questioning from Cr Shane Rendalls, the mayor also addressed cost and resource concerns raised by councillors, confirming that discussions with officers on internal costs and resourcing had occurred the day before the meeting, though she did not have an external cost estimate.
“Major projects would have, as part of their multi-year budget, project assurance built into it,” Mayor Mitchell said.
“It could be a process of moving funding around within that project’s budget.”
The debate turned even spicier when Cr Paul Golle rose to challenge the mayor, questioning the need for additional public funds.
“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,” Cr Golle said.
Mayor Mitchell shot back sharply: “Councillor Golle, can you, rather than making a statement, please state your question.”
“Look, Mayor, you said that you sought advice yesterday… this has been… prosecuted multiple times now,” Cr Golle pressed.
“As I’ve already answered that question, Councillor Golle…” the mayor responded, cutting him off.
The exchange escalated, with Cr Golle insisting, “You did not seek advice yesterday. And I put it to you that, quite frankly…”
Mayor Mitchell interrupted, calling a point of order and eventually issuing a formal warning to Cr Golle.
Cr Talty continued to press the mayor on the audit’s necessity, noting that multiple Mayoral Directions and prior audits had already addressed key governance and financial questions.
“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 maintained that the audit would provide a “forward-facing view” and ensure long-term governance.
“I believe an audit such as this—an internal audit, as I’ve stipulated many times—will provide that information, that project overview, and any recommendations that we are all seeking,” she said.
“It will be a mechanism of transparency for our community as well.”
The debate paused late-morning as Mayor Mitchell called for a 15-minute adjournment to allow councillors a comfort break.
When the chamber reconvened, Cr Wendy Boglarly unsuccessfully tried to bring the debate to a vote but her motion was defeated.
After some more debate, the motion was eventually put to a vote — ultimately falling 7-4.
The Heinemann Road Precinct, first approved in 2017, has faced years of delays, contract changes, and environmental approvals, making it one of Redlands Coast’s most closely watched — and controversial — infrastructure projects.
