Cr Clem Schubert said it was unacceptable for details of the new plan for the development of Dorset Street Reserve to be revealed in The Standard without first being sent to elected members of the council.

“You would have thought it would be standard procedure,” he said.

“I think it’s pathetic that we, as councillors, were not told before the meeting (last Monday).”

“How much other stuff are we not being told?”

At the January 25 council meeting, Cr Schubert asked council chief executive officer Damien Moloney to outline details of two meetings he had regarding the development.

Cr Schubert was unhappy when Mr Moloney revealed a new plan, which would save native vegetation on the site, had been agreed upon.

“I don’t believe I’ve been given the information to be full and honest with my ratepayers,” Cr Schubert told the meeting.

However, Mr Moloney told Cr Schubert the plans were public documents and would have been available, had he asked to see them.

The Standard can confirm at least two other councillors were also upset the information was not circulated.

Mr Moloney told The Standard on Friday the issue could be put down to a simple breakdown in communication.

He said press statements on the development had been released prematurely and there was no intention to hide information from councillors.

“Yes, we were meant to prepare a joint press release (with the developer) but I didn’t want it released until it had been finalised,” Mr Moloney said.

“It was just a breakdown in communication and luckily it was a good news story.”

Copies of the new Dorset reserve plan were given to councillors on Monday night following Cr Schubert’s question.

Press releases from the developer and council, along with maps outlining the section of the reserve that would not be developed, were sent to The Standard on January 18 and January 20.