THE BRISBANE Lions' proposed new training base at Springfield has been hit by new controversy after reports emerged of strange political dealings and the ignoring of environmental warnings by the site's co-owners.
The development application for the proposed site – 30km west of Brisbane – was approved by the Ipswich City Council last August despite environmental concerns raised by the council's own planning officers.
The officers warned of the potential for increased flooding and destruction of vegetation caused by the diversion of a creek within the development site, and questioned whether the diversion was necessary at all.
The Springfield Land Corporation, who co-owns the site and much of the adjacent land, gave away some of the site to the council and withdrew its development application once the concerns were raised.
The council then submitted its own development application and approved it within 24 hours.
The ABC reported that the Springfield Land Corporation – whose deputy chair Bob Sharpless is the Lions' chairman – then made a $10,000 donation to Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale as part of his re-election fund.
Sharpless has earlier denied a conflict of interest exists between the two roles.
The Lions responded to the latest drama on Friday afternoon, saying they would re-assess the Springfield option once a CEO was hired to replace Malcolm Holmes.
The statement said the club had signed the Heads of Agreement, which also lists the council, the AFL and the Springfield Land Corporation, under the premise that all due process had been followed.
"As the proposed tenant on the land, we played no role in negotiations on the development application process," the statement said.
"The new board has already resolved that once appointed, the club's new CEO would undertake a review of the Lions' proposed move to Springfield to confirm whether or not the relocation is in the best interests of the club.
"The chairman will not be involved in the process."
This decision to reassess the site was made two weeks ago when new AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan visited the club.
The Lions were hoping their new CEO could make the announcement when he was appointed.
The Springfield site was already in jeopardy with the new federal government withdrawing $15 million of pre-election funding.
Interviewing for the Lions' new CEO is expected to begin within the next fortnight.
