Roger Teale facing scrutiny over work on the Greenline

A council executive’s role in delivering a riverside project has been questioned over potential conflicts of interest from his business interests with major developers.

There are concerns about the potential conflicts of interest between Roger Teale’s work on the Greenline and his private business interests.

A senior City of Melbourne executive’s role in delivering the Greenline has been questioned over potential conflicts of interest from his business interests with major developers.

Roger Teale is the executive in charge of Melbourne City Council’s property and infrastructure projects but is also a consultant for developer Mirvac and runs his own property consultancy firm, Lautaret.

His work for Mirvac has raised conflict of interest questions as the developer owns land opposite Lord Mayor Sally Capp’s pet project – the Greenline.

The Greenline’s business case states the project “has the potential to increase the value of land and businesses in the vicinity”. This is likely to include Mirvac’s Trielle site in Docklands.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp, former head of precinct renewal Patrick Burgess and Roger Teale, City of Melbourne head of property, infrastructure and design.

Monno – a client of Lautaret – also has a major project directly opposite the Greenline project on Lorimer St.

Council Watch vice president Dean Hurlston said he was concerned about the potential conflicts of interest between Mr Teale’s work on the Greenline and his private business interests.

“I don’t understand how he can work on a project like the Greenline when his business clients stand to benefit from it,” Mr Hurlston said.

He said the City of Melbourne should transparently show what was being done to avoid any conflicts of interest.

Mr Teale is the executive in charge of Melbourne City Council’s property and infrastructure projects.

“Otherwise how can the community have confidence that their best interests are being put first?” he said.

Centre for Public Integrity executive director Han Aulby said there was a potential for conflicts of interest over Mr Teale’s role in the Greenline and the nearby projects of developers he is linked to – which underscored the need for extra transparency.

A City of Melbourne spokeswoman refused to answer detailed questions regarding how any potential conflicts of interest would be managed.

“Mr Teale has done everything by the book – and has disclosed his personal interests and listed these as required under the Local Government Act 2020,” the spokeswoman said.

Mr Teale is paid more than $420,000 by ratepayers for his council job but the Herald Sun revealed he earned more than $140,000 over 18 months from his external consultancies.

He worked as an executive for developer Lendlease for 12 years before starting work at the council in 2021.

Council Watch has referred Mr Teale’s external business interests to the state’s anti-corruption watchdog.