COMMUNITY NOT SO WELCOMING FOR GAY COUPLE.

By Jonathan Duffy

A Queensland Councilor has expressed concern to the Delfin Property Group’s Marketing department over an editorial featuring a gay couple.

Ipswich City Councilor David Morrison has raised complaints over a feature article about the Springfield Lakes property last year.

The article was a celebration of the popularity boom the planned community (west of Brisbane) has experienced.

Included in the article was a feature on Springfield Lakes’ 10,000th residents; Neil Staines and Darren Kelly.

The couple had previously lived in Newstead, close to the Brisbane CBD but made the move based on feelings that the suburb was the perfect fit for them.

In the article Mr Kelly said, “Neil and I chose Springfield Lakes because we loved the scenery, the lakes and the walking tracks.” He also commented on the community of the Lakes District.

“We also loved the people we met living in the community before we purchased – they were friendly, easygoing and laid-back,” Mr Kelly said.
Cr Morrison has admitted to raising complaints with Delfin about the couple being featured in the article.
He said that a Springfield Lakes resident with a young family had expressed concerns that Delfin’s marketing department was attempting to lift sales by targeting the “Pink Dollar”.
Cr Morrison said the resident had researched community growth and found that, “families are best for the growth of a healthy community.”
Cr Morrison also said that other residents had expressed similar concerns.
Delfin Project manager Darlene Clark confirmed that contact had been made with the councilor and resident, and that Delfin has agreed to meet with them.
Councilor Morrison said that he was simply relaying information from concerned community members as their elected official.
“I explained these views to the project manager of Delfin Springfield Lakes and left it at that,” he said.
Councilor Morrison has previously expressed views on marriage. He has said it is instituted by God and should be guarded.