Council Rejects Unfounded Conflict of Interest Claims in Planning Deci

Published on 31 October 2025

An unfounded suggestion of conflicts of interest surrounding Council’s recent decision to approve a local stone extraction operation has been met with extreme disappointment by Mansfield Shire Council, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Operating with integrity is of the utmost importance to Mansfield Shire Council as an organisation and the five councillors who make up Mansfield Shire Council each possess a genuine personal commitment to serving their community.

Furthermore, our Councillor Code of Conduct is in place to help Council achieve the highest standards of governance.

Mayor Cr Steve Rabie is personally saddened to see an unfounded allegation of conflicts of interest within Council.

“Careless and baseless accusations such as these can tarnish otherwise unimpeachable reputations,” Cr Rabie said.

“I have served Mansfield Shire Council with integrity for the last five years, spanning two council terms. Serving my community is an honour and a responsibility I do not take lightly.”

Mansfield Shire Council Deputy Mayor James Tehan was similarly disappointed by what he described as a factless statement.

“The suggestion that I had an undisclosed conflict of interest is an unfounded lie,” he said.

“It’s very unfortunate when a member of our community decides to play the man rather than the ball when a decision goes against them.”

Council’s governance systems are robust and they ensure that conflicts, whether real or perceived, are caught and mitigated before they become a problem. Potential conflicts are investigated when planning applications enter the planning department and they are investigated as the project progresses and the landscape shifts.

This same diligence is afforded to every planning matter, great and small. Conflicts of interest are always openly declared.

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor, along with their fellow councillors, have spent the first 12 months of this term undertaking both mandatory and additional training to ensure they are able to meet these high standards.

“Mansfield Shire Council values integrity above all things. It disappointed me greatly to see these suggestions of conflicts of interest when there simply are none.”

“This Council, and the last, have been tasked with meeting the highest standard of conduct and transparency.”

“We are hardworking, community-minded people. To have to defend the personal reputations of myself and the Council officers involved really hurts. We are committed to this community and have made significant personal investments in our roles. “

It can categorically be said that there is no conflict of interest regarding Council’s decision to issue a planning permit for the stone extraction operation at 422 O’Halloran Road, Bridge Creek.

“The Mansfield Shire planning department goes above and beyond to remain open minded and impartial as it works through a planning application. Council holds its staff to the highest possible standards.”

During Mansfield Shire Council’s ordinary meeting for October 2025, the matter in question was the subject of a rigorous conversation in which both sides of the argument were given time to make their case.

The suggestion that there were conflicts of interest was only raised by an objector to the stone extraction operation once the decision had been made.

Upon receiving a query with this suggestion, Council immediately invited the objector to meet with the CEO to discuss and understand their concerns over potential conflicts of interest and any other matter with respect to the planning permit assessment.

The objector agreed to the meeting and it is scheduled to occur in the coming days. As such, Council is extremely disappointed to see the unfounded suggestion of conflicts of interest made publicly prior to that meeting taking place.

Similarities have been drawn between the approved Bridge Creek operation and an operation that Council declined to issue a planning permit for at 138 Hearns Road, with a suggestion that the two cases show a lack of consistency in Council’s decision-making process.

While there are similarities, there is also a notable difference.

The operation at 138 Hearns Road would have impacted the Alpine Approach, one of Mansfield Shire’s most precious assets while the operation at 422 O’Halloran Road does not.

Mansfield Shire’s councillors are committed to protecting the Alpine Approach with each matter they discuss and each decision they make.