Councillor accused of murder refuses to resign, leaving division in chaos
As Gold Coast’s Division 7 councillor faces murder charges, Mayor Tom Tate has been announced as his replacement which would be a boon for developers.
ANGRY GOLD COAST residents of Arundel, Parkwood and Labrador have demanded that the councillor accused of murder, Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden, resign immediately from his position as councillor for Division 7 due to a lack of representation of the area in council.
Bayldon-Lumsden was charged with murdering his stepfather, Robert Lumsden, in August this year and while on bail has been suspended from all council duties, with full pay.
Under State Government regulations, a replacement representative, former Division 7 councillor Margaret Grummitt, was appointed (also with full pay) until the March 2024 local government elections. However, as a replacement, she has no voting rights in the council chambers and can only be a conduit between residents and council officers under certain conditions.
This non-representation has quickly become an issue as there are two major development projects in the division presently seeking approval from the Council. However, there is no one representing the residents of…
