TABLELANDS Division 8 candidate Syd Walker has questioned the Mareeba Shire Council's decision to approve the subdivision of four blocks at Kuranda owned by Mayor Mick Borzi.

Mr Walker said the land formed a crucial part of Kuranda’s "village in the rainforest" environment and public consultation should have been done before the green light for subdividing was given last month.

But a Mareeba Shire town planner told The Cairns Post yesterday the lots were "code assessable", which meant public consultation was not required to split the four lots into eight.

"Consultation in this case would have been done when the planning scheme was signed off," the town planner said.

"And it was adopted on December 21, 2004."

But Mr Walker said the blocks were fundamental to Kuranda’s identity as a tourist destination.

"I am disgusted by the complete absence of public consultation over this subdivision," Mr Walker said.

"I trust the era of this kind of decision-making will come to an abrupt end on the Tablelands, effective March 15."

Before the subdivision, Cr Borzi owned eight blocks, with one of the blocks falling into the Myola zone.

Local Government Minister Warren Pitt last month said Cr Borzi’s admission that he owned land within the Myola Planning Scheme meant recent amendments to it could be
overturned.

A spokesman for Mr Pitt yesterday said the department was waiting for information from the council’s acting chief executive officer before further action was taken.

Cr Borzi referred any questions to his solicitor yesterday.

Solicitor Bebe Mellick said Cr Borzi was not required to declare any interests until the plans reached the next stage. He said a detailed statement would be made later in the week.

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