Almost a year and a half after Wollongong City Council's elected representatives were sacked and replaced with three State Government-appointed bureaucrats, the city's corruption story is far from finished.The council was sacked in March 2008 after the first instalment of the ICAC findings were handed down.Then, in October ICAC found 10 people had engaged in corrupt conduct, extending to the very top of the council pyramid, former general manager Rod Oxley. Four councillors were implicated, as were three council staff.
Corruption scandal: ICAC moves on findings In his third and final report arising from the investigation and hearings, ICAC Commissioner Jerrold Cripps QC, recommended 11 people be considered for criminal charges - eight of those also being found to have engaged in corrupt conduct.Commissioner Cripps flagged up to 139 criminal charges against the 11 individuals. Since then, the city's ratepayers, residents and businesspeople have waited to hear if any of the key players involved in the spectacular demise of the council would be prosecuted.The revelations of systemic corruption within the council first began emerging during 21/2 weeks of hearings in February and March last year in which 14 witnesses gave evidence and countless bundles of transcripts were generated.The commission heard sordid details of planner Beth Morgan's relationship with developer Frank Vellar, emails littered with affectionate names and asking for favours on development applications and Ms Morgan being showered with gifts. The inquiry also heard how Ms Morgan had slept with another developer, Glen Tabak, and given one of his developments, Victoria Square, favourable treatment.There was evidence the council managers who knew of Ms Morgan's affairs turned a blind eye.ICAC also found three elected councillors - Jonovski, Esen and Gigliotti - had solicited money from Mr Vellar in return for favouring his North Beach Bathers' Pavilion plans. Mr Vellar did not agree to make the payment.And perhaps some of the most bizarre evidence involved two conmen keen to cash in on the investigations and who were found by ICAC to have posed as investigators to solicit bribes.The first part of ICAC's report was handed down on March 4 and led to the sacking of the councillors and the appointment of administrators Gabrielle Kibble, Robert McGregor and Col Gellatly. Almost three months later the second instalment of the ICAC commissioner's report found that former planner Beth Morgan and developer Frank Vellar had engaged in serious corrupt conduct in their handling of Mr Vellar's $100 million Quattro development on the former Keira Ford site. The report, handed down on May 28, 2008, recommended the consent be suspended.The final and most explosive report was that handed down on October 8 last year. Since the recommendation that 11 individuals be prosecuted, ICAC has been compiling detailed evidence against the individuals. Now the evidence has been forwarded to the DPP, the next phase is triggered, examining whether criminal charges could be proved beyond reasonable doubt.If charges are laid and individuals fight the charges, the court battles could stretch out for years.
