A development approval was sometimes only a click away for developer Frank Vellar, who, together with his lover, former planner Beth Morgan, conspired on a number of proposals across Wollongong.
Yesterday's report by the Independent Commission Against Corruption builds on earlier findings that the pair shared confidential information and engineered the approval of Wollongong's mammoth Quattro development.
The pair now face jail time if authorities choose to take up ICAC's recommendations and charge the pair with criminal offences.
The commission has recommended the Director of Public Prosecutions consider prosecuting Ms Morgan for 27 offences including misconduct in public office, providing favourable assistance to developers, and corruptly receiving benefits.
In its second report released in May, Commissioner Jerrold Cripps described how Ms Morgan schemed from within Wollongong City Council to ease the passage of Mr Vellar's $100 million Quattro proposal.
In return, Mr Vellar, 41, showered Ms Morgan and her four-year-old daughter with gifts including a ski trip, a television, handbags and a lavish helicopter wine-tasting holiday in the Hunter Valley.
Flirtatious comments hinting at steamy encounters sat next to highly confidential data in the hundreds of emails exchanged between the pair during their adulterous relationship.
Yesterday's report brought to light three other developments which Ms Morgan manipulated from her level-four office.
Ms Morgan approved the delayed payment of $136,000 in developer fees for Mr Vellar's proposal to build 51 three-bedroom units on land in Phillips Ave, West Wollongong.
"Because of her personal relationship with Mr Vellar and her receipt of gifts and benefits from him, (Ms Morgan) arranged for payment of the section 94 contributions ... to be deferred when she knew that they should not have been," the report found.
But it wasn't the only proposal the two manipulated. The report also found Ms Morgan warned Mr Vellar that a development consent for one of his proposals was about to lapse and then intervened to extend the time period.
Numerous emails, sprinkled with innuendo, were exchanged between the pair.
"Hey gorgeous, sweety, honey, beautiful, irresistible, edible, adorable bubba... can you issue the extension letter for Harbour St," Mr Vellar wrote to Ms Morgan in March 2006.
The report found the incident was a "clear example" of Ms Morgan using her official council position to pro-actively provide assistance to Mr Vellar.
The final proposal mentioned in the report was arguably the most controversial.
Mr Vellar's $3.5 million redevelopment of the North Beach Bather's Pavilion was largely opposed by the community attracting 50 submissions - most of which objected to the proposal - and a petition against the plan signed by 779 residents.
During the assessment Mr Vellar spoke to chief executive Rod Oxley and senior planning manager John Gilbert requesting Ms Morgan be appointed as the responsible officer.
His request was granted.
"Commission is satisfied that Mr Vellar spoke to both Mr Oxley and Mr Gilbert and requested that Ms Morgan be assigned to assess the Pavilion DA and each of them acceded to Mr Vellar's request," the report found.
"The commission is further satisfied that Mr Vellar made his request because he hoped or expected that, because of his personal relationship with Ms Morgan, she would exercise her official functions in relation to the assessment of the DA in a way favourable to his interests."
While she was involved in the proposal Ms Morgan leaked Mr Vellar a "significant" amount of confidential information about the proposal.
Her efforts, however, came to nothing. On March 2, 2005, the NSW Heritage office listed the pavilion on its State heritage register - effectively removing the council's exclusive power to approve the redevelopment.
The report was scathing of the pair's behaviour.
"At all relevant times Ms Morgan was in a sexual relationship with Mr Vellar, which gave rise to an obvious and extreme conflict of interest," it said.
"Between mid-2004 and late 2006 Ms Morgan deliberately abused her position and exploited opportunities provided by it for the personal benefit of Mr Vellar and herself and he actively encouraged and assisted her to do so by requesting that she be appointed to assess his DAs, soliciting improper favours from her and providing her with inducements and rewards."
Attempts to contact Ms Morgan and Mr Vellar were unsuccessful yesterday.
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