Appalling is how Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig has labelled a Facebook boast by a person claiming to have 100 photos of his car parked outside his partner s home on the Sunshine Coast. The post, made by someone identifying themselves as Richard Cronium, appeared on a Facebook page on March 8, following a question about which councillors lived in the Gympie region. Mr Cronium said he knew of one councillor who did not live here, and had not since 2019. I have about 100 photos of their car parked there sent to me by one of their old work colleagues, the post said. The account is one of several that have been heavily critical of Mr Hartwig and the new Gympie Regional Council, particularly on the council s own Facebook page.
Deputy Queensland Premier Steven Miles says he has been assured by Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig of the councilâs commitment to koala protection as criticism mounts over its decision to remove two environment planning laws late last year.
The Deputy Premier and Planning Minister has been urged by environmental groups to step in and overturn the repeal of the two temporary planning instruments last December.
The decision sparked protests and outcry, including an online petition with more than 44,000 signatures asking Mr Miles to use his powers under the Planning Act to intervene.
This week the Wide Bay Burnett Environment Council renewed the push for State involvement, whether by reinstating the laws or expanding the governmentâs own southeast koala habitat protection laws.
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Subscriber only THE 40 per cent rise in demand for gold fossicking permits near Gympie could be even higher and the activity an even bigger drawcard for tourists if more state land was made accessible to the public, the Queensland State Forest Users Alliance says. Alliance campaign manager Rhys Bosley said yesterday a recent statement from Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig that the demand for gold fossicking permits in the Gympie region had leapt by 40 per cent during the pandemic put the issue in the spotlight. If access to state forests in the region was improved for outdoor recreation, the potential for gold fossicking to become an even bigger activity, drawing more visitors and creating more jobs was greater, he said.