Concerns raised over state involvement in Maleny Manor development
By Sonia Isaacs
GLASS House MP and Minister for Tourism, Andrew Powell, has backed his position on a controversial hinterland luxury accommodation project that has been referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission.
Last week Deputy Opposition Minister Cameron Dick announced he had referred Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie to the CCC over the state government’s intervention in a proposal for new accommodation at Maleny Manor, which is linked to an LNP donor.
Mr Dick made the complaint following revelations that Mr Powell had written to Mr Bleijie seeking the state government’s support for the $24m project proposed by a company linked to businessman Geoffrey Thomas.
Mr Dick said the referral centred on concerns that LNP donor Geoffrey Thomas—connected to developer Presidential Capital Pty Ltd ATF Geoffrey Thomas Family Trust—may fall within Queensland’s prohibited donor category.
“Since 2019, it has been illegal for property developers to donate to political parties and candidates,” Mr Dick said.
“Of the more than $100,000 this donor gave to the LNP, $35,000 was donated after the development application was lodged.”
He said both ministers should have sought and publicly released advice from the Queensland Integrity Commissioner.
“This is a very serious matter, and it goes to the integrity of the Deputy Premier Mr Bleijie.”
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Mr Thomas.
The development application, lodged on May 24, 2023, sought a material change of use to develop a 38-unit short-term accommodation facility at 862 and 894 Landsborough-Maleny Road, Bald Knob.
Sunshine Coast Council rejected the application on January 30.
In its February 5 decision notice, Council cited failure to protect scenic amenity, an inconsistent urban scale within the rural zone, extensive earthworks, steep land impacts, and insufficient onsite effluent treatment capacity.
The developer lodged an appeal in the Planning and Environment Court on March 5, arguing the proposal aligns with planning benchmarks and supports regional tourism.
Mr Powell said he stood by the project.
“We need these kinds of developments in the hinterland,” he said.
“I wrote a letter of support to the planning department.
They considered it.
They made a decision to put to the judge that they be allowed to join a legal proceeding.
The judge made that decision.
At no point am I a decision maker in this process.”
Initially, the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning (DSDIP) chose not to join the court appeal.
However, following political representations from Mr Powell and Mr Bleijie, the department formally sought leave to support the developer’s case.
A spokesperson for Mr Bleijie labelled the Opposition’s referral as politically driven.
“This is a desperate attempt from a desperate Labor Opposition to muckrake and use the CCC for their political games,” the spokesperson said.
“The Queensland Government is not the decision-maker in this process.
The matter is before an independent court as a routine planning application.”
Mr Bleijie has not exercised ministerial call-in powers.
The government maintains the DSDIP’s actions align with standard process for developments of tourism significance.
An Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) spokesperson clarified that the ECQ does not maintain a register of prohibited donors.
Neither Mr Thomas nor Presidential Capital Pty Ltd appears on the register of non-prohibited donors.
The definition of a property developer is outlined in state electoral law and includes entities regularly making planning applications with the intent to profit from land sale or lease.
The case is due for a review hearing on June 27.
GC&M News attempted to contact Mr Thomas.
