Register interest

City looks into plan to prevent influence

THE City of Greater Geelong will investigate the launch of a public register of meetings held between property developers and council management, senior officers and councillors.

Councillors on Tuesday unanimously voted to request the city’s chief executive to investigate the creation of the register, draft updates to the city’s staff and councillor codes of conduct and draft changes to the city’s proposed Transparency Policy for if the register is established.

While all councillors voted in favour of the move – proposed by Cr Anthony Aitken through a notice of motion – many raised concerns with the idea.

Cr Eddy Kontelj said he held concerns with “the message that this may be sending and the perception that it creates”.

“At face value one could be forgiven if they were thinking that meeting with developers … is some sort of a crime or is unsavoury,” Cr Kontelj said. “And that developers should be scrutinised far greater than any other business person or organisation or member that may not identify themselves as a developer.”

“It’s simply not fair if that is the way that its perceived, because it’s an unfair categorisation of an industry that really contributes significantly and shapes our community, our economy, and creates a huge amount of employment.”

Cr Peter Murrihy also voiced concerns with the “unhealthy connotations” raised by the proposal.

Cr Aitken’s notice of motion suggested the register could list the meeting date, the property developer and the names of any councillors or council staff who attended the meeting.