MORE than 20 planning matters are set to be investigated as part of a probity review ordered by Kingston councillors in the wake of the planning scandal which toppled Casey Council.
Last year the state’s peak anti-corruption body IBAC began hearings in response to allegations that developer John Woodman had financial ties to City of Casey councillors. In response, Kingston Council ordered a review into developments that had come before them which involved parties named in that IBAC investigation. They included Mr Woodman, planner Megan Schutz, lobbyist Phil Staindl, former Mordialloc MP Lorraine Wreford, and Wolfdene, a company owned by John Woodman’s son.
In February council had identified 14 applications that met their criteria. At their 25 May meeting councillors agreed to include further planning matters in their review.
Matters which will be scrutinised as part of the proposed probity review include applications for Waterways, 44 First Avenue, Peninsula Kingswood Golf Club, the Pompei’s Landing precinct, dwellings on Woods Avenue, Chicquita Park, the second stage of the Bay Trail, and the Alex Fraser Group.
Council will now seek responses from legal service providers to conduct the review.
Casey councillors were all sacked by the state government earlier this year in response to the IBAC hearings.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 10 June 2020
