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Monday Feb 18 14:57 AEDT
Beth Morgan at today's ICAC hearing (National Nine News)
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/img/2007/nat ... c_9_lg.jpg
A town planner who allegedly had sexual relations with several property developers approved multi-million dollar developments in Wollongong in return for payments and gifts, a corruption inquiry has heard.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Monday began public hearings as part of an inquiry into allegations of corrupt conduct concerning Wollongong City Council.
The inquiry is examining the conduct of 14 people, including town planner Beth Morgan, who worked at the council between 2000 and 2007, and developer Frank Vellar.
Counsel assisting the commission, Noel Hemmings QC said Ms Morgan had approved several non-conforming developments in the city, including the $31 million Victoria Square development and the $100 million Quatro development, which is yet to be built.
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"It will be alleged that Ms Morgan developed an improper relationship with developers and on their behalf approved or procured the approval of prohibited or non-conforming development in or near the central business district of Wollongong for her present or future financial benefit," Mr Hemmings told the inquiry.
Mr Vellar and developer Bulent "Glen" Tabak both provided Ms Morgan with gifts while their development applications were being assessed, the inquiry was told.
"Mr Vellar and Mr Tabak both commenced sexual relations with Ms Morgan," Mr Hemmings said.
The commissioner heard convicted fraudsters Ray Younan and Gerald Carroll impersonated ICAC officers and took bribes totalling almost half a million dollars from Mr Vellar, Ms Morgan and others while they were being investigated by ICAC.
"It will be alleged that Messrs Younan and Carroll have falsely represented that they are, or are in league with, corrupt commission officers and have successfully solicited substantial bribes from a number of persons under investigation by the commission," Mr Hemmings said.
The inquiry also heard businessman and sometime property developer Michael Kollaras had received "assistance" from Ms Morgan in relation to one of his development applications.
"Ms Morgan has told the commission that in the second half of 2004, at a time when she was performing various official functions in relation to one of Mr Kollaras' development applications, she commenced a sexual relationship with him which lasted a number of months," Mr Hemmings said.
However, Mr Kollaras denied he had ever had a sexual relationship with Ms Morgan and claimed she was merely a good friend, Mr Hemmings said.
The inquiry will examine the conduct of senior council officers Rod Oxley, who was general manager of Wollongong Council for 19 years before resigning in May 2007, former development assessment manager John Gilbert, and former engineering services manager Joe Scimone over their relationship with developers.
It will also look at what knowledge they had of Ms Morgan's relationships with Mr Vellar, Mr Tabak and Mr Kollaras.
It will also examine whether councillors Frank Gigliotti and Val Zanotto, who is chairman of the council's governance and audit committee, have engaged in corrupt conduct in relation to their dealings with Mr Vellar.
Mr Hemmings alleged that Ms Morgan planned to leave the council and set up a consultancy business in 2005 and sought to build a future client base by becoming a member of the "table of knowledge" group and establishing sexual relations with Mr Vellar, Mr Tabak and Mr Kollaras.
"Don't think I am not going to do what I need to ensure their survival," Ms Morgan allegedly wrote in an email to Mr Scimone on June 15, 2004.
The inquiry is continuing.
©AAP 2008
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