By Royce Millar
DEVELOPERS and land owners who tipped thousands of dollars into Liberal Party coffers at the last state election are among the big winners from the Baillieu government's controversial opening of green wedge areas and farmland to development on Melbourne's fringe.
Less than two years after the Brumby government extended Melbourne's perimeter, Planning Minister Matthew Guy yesterday announced the Coalition's plan to release the equivalent of 3500 MCGs of green space in the municipalities of Casey, Whittlesea, Hume, Melton, Wyndham, and at Wallan in the Shire of Mitchell to Melbourne's north.
Illustration: Ron Tandberg
One of the single biggest beneficiaries of the so-called ''logical inclusions'' extension is Narre Warren-based developer Parklea.
The company was furious when overlooked by Labor in its 2009-2010 boundary review. But it was celebrating yesterday when Mr Guy announced that 350 hectares of farmland it owns at Pakenham would become metropolitan Melbourne's most south-eastern tip.
Planning MinisterCredit: Michael Clayton-Jones
Yesterday Parklea chief executive Andrew Facey confirmed being an enthusiastic Liberal supporter. He said he had contributed thousands of dollars to the Liberals ahead of the 2010 election, had attended numerous fund-raisers and was a member of Liberal fund-raising bodies including the local Berwick Ranges 500 Club. Last year The Age outed the Berwick Ranges among a string of such clubs that had breached electoral laws by failing to declare themselves to the Australian Electoral Commission.
Mr Facey also told The Age that he had given thousands of dollars - the exact amount is unclear but maybe $3000 - directly to the ultimately successful campaign of aspiring Gembrook MP Brad Battin.
The inclusion of Parklea's property will allow the developer to transform farmland into housing worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
In NSW developers are banned from making donations to political parties.
Other winners from yesterday's announcement were the owner, the developer and the lobbyist connected to an egg farm known as Brompton Lodge in the City of Casey.
Last year The Age revealed that the trio - farmer Peter Carpenter, developer Watsons and lobbyist and former Liberal MP Geoff Leigh - were poised to share in a $500 million bonanza if the property was rezoned.
Overlooked for inclusion by Labor, Brompton Lodge was among the areas signed off for rezoning by Mr Guy yesterday.
The 100-hectare property was purchased as a bush block by the Carpenter family for $50,000 in 1967. Developer Watsons has estimated its developed value at up to $500 million.
Both Parklea's Pakenham property and Brompton Lodge were among 6000 hectares approved for development yesterday following a complex process, including a two-stage screening process through the Growth Areas Authority and an expert advisory committee.
''This is the most thorough and transparent review the state of Victoria has ever undertaken for metropolitan boundary changes.'' Mr Guy said. ''The entire process has had the oversight of an independent probity auditor.''
Last year Mr Carpenter told The Age that he had met Mr Guy, then shadow planning minister, twice at Liberal fund-raisers before the 2010 state election, was a close family friend of the local Liberal MP for Carrum, Donna Bauer, and had contributed thousands of dollars to local Liberal candidates.
Last year The Age revealed that lobbyist Geoff Leigh had founded Business First, a Liberal fund-raising group that had breached electoral laws by failing to declare tens of thousands of dollars in donations, which were later declared.
At the time, Mr Leigh said that while not sure, he believed that his client Watsons had contributed to Business First.
The government has been at pains to stress its hands-off handling of the process. The Age does not suggest that Mr Guy or the government have been influenced by donations.
Mr Facey said he believed his donations were above board. He said Liberal policies were good for the property industry.
Mr Battin refused to discuss the donation from Parklea.
Last night Liberal Party director Damien Mantach said it appeared Mr Facey had not donated directly to the party and may have supported a local candidate.