By Laura Michell
Whittlesea council will audit all applications and approvals of commercial and retail developments and residential developments comprising more than five dwellings that have been submitted to the council over the past five years.
The probity audit will be carried out by the council’s audit and risk committee in response to an item of urgent business raised by Cr Sam Alessi at the December 17 council meeting.
Cr Alessi raised the urgent business in response to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) investigation into allegations of corruption around planning and property development in Casey.
Cr Alessi urged his colleagues to audit applications and approvals dating back 10 years, however a majority of councillors opted for a five-year audit instead.
Whittlesea councillors have asked for the audit and risk committee to list any developments with which a number of individuals who have been named in the IBAC hearings, including developer John Woodman, were involved.
Councillors have requested a list detailing the date of the development application and approval; what rezoning or planning permit application was involved in the development; and the names of lobbyists, planners, developers, landowners or other individuals who made representations to the council about the developments.
If needed, the council will seek advice about referring the committee’s findings to IBAC. Cr Lawrie Cox said the audit was necessary because the council was aware of a company named in the IBAC hearings being involved in developments in Whittlesea.
“I’ve got some real concerns,” he said.
“This is about making sure things are above board, and if not, giving them to IBAC to be cleared up.
“We need to get ahead of the problem rather than sit back and let it steamroll.”
Whittlesea council is not the only council examining its planning decisions, with Kingston councillors last month requesting a special audit of all development approvals from the past 15 years.
