Lakes development forces apology after conflict of interest

LOGAN City councillor Russell Lutton has apologised for failing to declare a conflict of interest over a Carbrook development.

Logan City councillor Russell Lutton was forced to apologise over a conflict of interest at today’s council meeting.

A LOGAN City councillor has been forced to make an apology for failing to declare a conflict of interest over a Carbrook development which he voted for.

Division 2 councillor Russell Lutton apologised for the error at Tuesday’s full council meeting.

The conflict of interest arose after Cr Lutton was given a $1600 donation from Gassman Developments during his 2016 election campaign.

Cr Lutton told the meeting he failed to declare a conflict of interest at a Planning and Development committee meeting on February 14, last year, when council was deciding on The Lakes tourism resort owned by Chinese developer Liansheng Yue.

At that meeting Cr Lutton declared a conflict of interest over his daughter working for development consultants Gassman Development Perspectives the lead consultant for The Lakes.

But he did not declare the Gassman donation.

Gassman Developments donated $1600 to Cr Russell Lutton.

Cr Lutton said he was apologising for his omission after a complaint was lodged and later referred to the Local Government Remuneration and Discipline Tribunal.

In May, he amended his electoral register to reflect the $1600 donation from consultants Gassman.

The Planning and Development agenda from 2017.

He also failed to declare a conflict of interest over the donation at the full council meeting the following week.

“I regret this error on my behalf ... and my vote made no difference on the outcome of the decision.”

After today’s meeting Cr Lutton said he was only forced to apologise now, after two years, because the complaint had been recently lodged.

It’s the third time Cr Lutton has been forced to make an apology over a conflict of interest.

In November 2012, it was reported that a complaint of misconduct was sustained.

June 2013, he was found guilty of misconduct by the Local Government Department’s regional review panel for failing to declare a conflict of interest over a Cornubia development.

In May, Cr Lutton amended his electoral register after admitting “several omissions” which included a painting garnering $5000 at auction, after it was bought by Chin Hong Investment, the developers of the controversial Springwood Shopping Centre.

Cr Lutton’s total disclosures on his amended record for that election are $10,800.