Former council general manager Rod Oxley's reputation was in tatters yesterday after the Independent Commission Against Corruption found he created an environment which bred corruption.
In making a finding of corrupt conduct against Mr Oxley, ICAC Commissioner Jerrold Cripps described a man driven by a pro-development philosophy.
"The commission is satisfied that Mr Oxley's conduct increased the likelihood of corrupt conduct occurring and was conduct that was liable to allow, encourage or cause the occurrence of corrupt conduct," he wrote.
Last night Mr Oxley said he was preparing a formal statement of reply to ICAC's report which he would release in coming days.
According to the report, Mr Oxley deliberately kept councillors out of the loop when assessing developer Frank Vellar's $100 million Quattro development - a proposal which exceeded almost every guideline in place for developments in Wollongong.
In 2003 Labor councillor David Brown moved a successful motion opposing the Quattro development but two years later on August 22, 2005 he discovered the development had been approved by Mr Oxley.
He wrote an email to Mr Oxley expressing his anger at the fact that the proposal had been approved.
Mr Oxley replied: "I am of the understanding that all issues that were raised were addressed to the satisfaction of the planning assessment staff ... Obviously I am concerned that due process is followed."
Yesterday, Mr Cripps described Mr Oxley's decision to approve the proposal as "one of the most extraordinary features of the determination of the Quattro DA".
Mr Cripps said there was nothing improper or corrupt about Mr Oxley's pro-development philosophy, "as long as it is not so blinkered or excessive".
But in his development enthusiasm Mr Oxley ignored the code of conduct he had himself signed.
According to his diary Mr Oxley met with Mr Vellar on 34 occasions between 2000 and 2006, with almost a third involving lunches or a coffee at restaurants or cafes.
The two established a close relationship and Mr Vellar made "frequent" requests for favourable treatment, which Mr Oxley granted.
Mr Cripps dismissed Mr Oxley's testimony that he had no association or relationship with Mr Vellar as "unconvincing".
"Mr Vellar requested and Mr Oxley agreed to provide what can only properly be regarded as concessions or preferential treatment," Mr Cripps said.
While the meetings with Mr Vellar did not in themselves constitute corrupt conduct the commissioner said this set a precedent for other staff.
"Mr Oxley's behaviour both in terms of the specific conduct described ... and his more general pro-development beliefs, created obvious behavioural cues that could have adversely influenced the approach that planning staff adopted when assessing DAs," the report said.
The report also found he turned a blind eye to senior planner Beth Morgan's relationship with Mr Vellar, despite hearing a rumour about the couple's trip to China in October 2005 and after learning of a stray email intended for Mr Vellar which was sent to another council officer by Ms Morgan.
The email, which read, "How funny would it be if the papers got this one," was reported to Mr Oxley, but was apparently never followed up.
The report also criticised Mr Oxley's appointment of sustainability manager Joe Scimone, which the report found was likely "aimed at facilitating Mr Oxley's pro-development agenda".
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