COUNCILLORS have reversed a bureaucratic decision to remove former councillor David Pahlke’s name from a heritage marker sign in Rosewood.
After the Ipswich Tribune broke the story last month of the clandestine removal of Mr Pahlke’s name from signage on the penny-farthing display at Cobb & Co Heritage Park in Rosewood, the local community were outraged at the council’s actions.
At the May 4 Council meeting, Division 4 Councillor Russell Milligan put forward a motion to clarify that changes to council’s naming procedure banning politicians names only referred to new names given to council assets and did not apply to existing information signage.
During the debate, General Manager of Community, Cultural and Economic Development Ben Pole admitted that the policy gave no direction on changing existing signage and that the council’s marketing services team applied the style guide and made a decision to remove Mr Pahlke’s name when replacing the weathered sign.
The advice contradicted comments made to the Tribune last month when questioned on the policy.
The council told the Tribune that replacement of worn and weathered signs were “in line with council’s naming procedure and signage manuals” which did “not include current or former councillor names”.
Mr Pole said he was aware of one information sign being replaced last year and current service requests for two other signs to be replaced.
The eight councillors voted in favour of changing the policy to state that existing information signs being replaced be done on a “like for like” basis.
Mayor Teresa Harding was the only councillor to vote to continue to remove former councillors’ names from information signs.
Following the majority vote, Cr Harding shook her head in disagreement.
“On Anzac Day I was at the Rising Sun Hotel having a few drinks with residents there and they were very vocal in the fact that a public information sign is just that and it shouldn’t have the name of the councillors on there,” she said.
Cr Harding said she believed other councils did not allow councillor names to be on signs on parks unless they were of a commemorative nature.
“I think it’s entirely inappropriate and vain for councillors’ names to appear on standard public information signs,” she said.
“More importantly, I don’t believe that being a councillor gives you the right to use your position of power to put your name on council signs and council assets.
“I think it is self-serving and it’s wrong.”
Cr Sheila Ireland told the council that Mr Pahlke had used his own divisional allocation for the Cobb & Co Heritage Park project and worked closely with the community to research the heritage projects.
“I have not heard the community out there complaining that the councillor’s name was still there but I have had some complaints that his name had been taken off,” she said.
Cr Paul Tully said the signs were officially approved by council officers at the time.
“It’s a very simple recognition of what a person did in an area for a long period of time,” he said.
“It is a pity that the matter didn’t come to councillors for consideration given the sensitivity of the issue before a decision was made at officer level.”
Speaking with the Tribune, Mr Pahlke thanked the eight councillors for supporting the motion and said he was saddened that the Mayor appeared to be out of touch with the community and its history.
“Some [of the historical signs] go back to the late 1990s. I was not a one term wonder. I was successful in eight elections and was 28 years a Councillor on Moreton and then Ipswich,” Mr Pahlke said.
“I can still hold my head high when I walk down the main street of Rosewood.
“Eight votes to one though saddens me … that there is one person not in touch with my community and its history.”
