Former City of Canning councillor Bill Gleeson said current councillor Patrick Hall had been unfair in his criticism of his comments in a local paper regarding the controversial Shelley Beach Park cafe proposal.
Earlier this month Mr Gleeson told the paper he disagreed with the proposal and thought the money would be better invested away from the foreshore.
Mr Hall responded on Facebook on June 13 saying Mr Gleeson and resident John Hayes, who also opposed the plan, were wrong to make comments to the media presuming the outcome of the city’s master plan development.
In his post he referred to Mr Gleeson and Mr Hayes as ‘unsuccessful candidates in the 2015 council election’ and said they had no alternative plan to the master plan.
Mr Gleeson, who was awarded the 2013 Local Government Merit Award and the 2017 WA Community Citizen of the Year, said he believed he was trying to be censored.
“We live in Australia, we don’t live in Russia or red China,” he said.
“We have freedom of speech.
“Lots of people make comment in local papers, they’re entitled to their opinions.”
In response Mr Hall said he was disappointed Mr Gleeson had spent time at last week’s council meeting trying to assassinate his character.
“Nobody is trying to censor community commentary,” he said.
“I appreciate and welcome opposite views, I am willing to listen to everybody.
“I’m a little bit offended he would use references to communist China in the same voice and sentence as my name – I think that is inflammatory and I think it goes to show how out of touch he really is.
“It’s a silly thing to say from somebody who a long time ago was a community leader himself.”
Mr Gleeson said more attention should be given to the results from the recent Shelley Beach Foreshore Park survey, which suggested residents wanted more shade, picnic options, barbecues and outdoor exercise equipment in the area.
“Do all that first, upgrade that and see how much land there is left,” he said.
“I’m pro-development but it’s got to be in the right spot.”
Mr Gleeson said he could not say whether he would run for council in the October elections but said a resident had told him he should.
“I’m still dwelling on that,” he said.
“I’ve got to feel my way at the moment.”
