Geelong committee rejects city director’s planning application over probity concerns

A Geelong director’s planning application has been rejected, with “alarm bells” raised over a city refusal to reveal a report into allegations of misused city resources

Guy Wilson-Browne’s planning application has been dumped.

A Geelong director’s controversial planning application has been rejected by the council, with “alarm bells” raised over the city’s refusal to reveal details of an Internal Ombudsman’s report investigating allegations of ‘misused city resources’ relating to the investment property.

Geelong’s planning committee on Thursday evening unanimously voted to refuse a planning application from City Services director Guy Wilson-Browne to subdivide his 3500sqm St Albans Park property into two lots.

While the committee voiced broad support for the application having met many of the necessary criteria, concerns around probity prompted the group to reject the move.

Mr Wilson-Browne. Photo Janine Eastgate.

Councillors pointed to the Geelong Advertiser’s revelations the city and the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) had rejected Freedom of Information requests for access to a 2019 Ombudsman report relating to Mr Wilson-Browne and the investment property.

As set out in OVIC’s decision, the request was for access to “a report by the former City of Greater Geelong Internal Ombudsman John Brown, understood to have been handed to the CEO in 2019, investigating a complaint that then city services director Guy Wilson-Browne misused city resources (namely emails) to pursue private matters relating to his property at 7-8 Oakwood Ridge, St Albans Park”.

While the city refused to hand over the report, it did confirm it had located “one document falling within the terms of the Applicant’s request”, while OVIC noted the document was a four-page “memorandum” dated April 7, 2019.

Councillor Belinda Moloney on Thursday said there was a need for further investigation into a potential conflict of interest around the planning application.

“I believe that in this case the simple notion of not receiving an FOI when requested rings alarm bells for me,” Ms Moloney said.

“The main issue I have here is the big empty spots where we need information to make a very clear and transparent and correct decision.”

Cr Stephanie Asher, who put forward the motion to reject the planning application, noted she felt “particularly uncomfortable with perceptions of transparency, or a lack of transparency” relating to the application.

The application had prompted 45 objections and a 1136-signature petition the protect a tree on the property – a former historic horse stud with links to Phar Lap – which was recently added to the Victorian Heritage Inventory, acknowledging significant thoroughbreds buried beneath the tree.

Plans for the subdivision were revised following the heritage recognition, removing any need for works near the tree.

Mr Wilson-Browne has repeatedly declared he was unaware of the Ombudsman report, and rejected any suggestion he may have acted inappropriately.

“I’ve done nothing wrong, I can promise you, my whole career,” Mr Wilson-Browne said. “I won’t even let a developer buy me a cup of coffee.”

EARLIER: City director vows to protect Phar Lap tree

A city director at the centre of a divisive planning application has declared he will protect a historic tree on the property linked to Phar Lap, in response to widespread community concerns.

But the director also conceded his work email should not be used for personal matters, as evidence of his input into a private planning application process from his professional email was uncovered.

City of Greater Geelong director of city services Guy Wilson-Browne will on Thursday learn the fate of his application to subdivide a 3500sqm St Albans Park investment property into two lots, as it is considered by a city Planning Committee.

The move prompted 45 objections and a 1136-signature petition the protect a tree on the property – a former historic horse stud with links to Phar Lap – which was recently added to the Victorian Heritage Inventory, acknowledging significant thoroughbreds buried beneath the tree.

Plans for the subdivision were revised following the heritage recognition, removing any need for works near the tree, with Mr Wilson-Browne this week declaring the tree “always will be protected”.

“An independent Arborists report confirms the tree is of high amenity value with 20-plus years remaining life,” Mr Wilson-Browne said.

“The house that I intend to build is 70m away from the tree. The sewer line has also been moved to the opposite boundary away from the tree. The proposed house will be a single storey family home and as such the amenity of the tree will be important to our family.”

Mr Wilson-Browne also said he was not aware of the existence of a CoGG Internal Ombudsman’s report investigating allegations he ‘misused city resources’ while pursuing matters relating to the investment property.

“I’ve done nothing wrong, I can promise you, my whole career,” he said. “I won’t even let a developer buy me a cup of coffee.”

Both the city and the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) rejected Geelong Advertiser Freedom of Information requests for access to a 2019 Ombudsman report relating to Mr Wilson-Browne and a complaint he had “misused city resources” pursuing matters relating to the investment property. But, the city did confirm it had located a document falling within the terms of the request.

The Geelong Advertiser has since located a 2019 email sent from Mr Wilson-Browne’s CoGG account objecting to a Bass Coast Shire planning application for a subdivision neighbouring near his then-private property in Cowes.

When asked about the use of his work email for private property matters Mr Wilson-Browne said “it’s fair to say that, yeah, work emails shouldn’t be used for personal circumstances”.

“All I can say is that since that objection was raised I have my own personal phone, my own personal email account, and even though council policy allows limited use of both email and phone for personal circumstances, I have complete separation.”

Originally published as Geelong committee rejects city director’s planning application over probity concerns