John Woodman. Photo: Watsons Pty Ltd By Catherine Watson
IN LATE July, a silver-haired, silver-tongued salesman held the floor at a private briefing for Bass Coast councillors and senior planning staff.
Wonthaggi must have seemed like the back of beyond to the Ferrari-driving John Woodman, head of a Melbourne company called Watsons Pty Ltd, which lends a helping hand to people in need, provided they are rich and powerful.
IN LATE July, a silver-haired, silver-tongued salesman held the floor at a private briefing for Bass Coast councillors and senior planning staff.
Wonthaggi must have seemed like the back of beyond to the Ferrari-driving John Woodman, head of a Melbourne company called Watsons Pty Ltd, which lends a helping hand to people in need, provided they are rich and powerful.
The development consultancy has a reputation for persuading councils to rezone farmland for housing, reaping windfall gains of tens of millions of dollars for its clients at the stroke of the minister's signature on a planning amendment.
Mr Woodman was in Wonthaggi to spruik the benefits of a $380 million marina development at Mahers Landing, until now best known as a scruffy but tranquil spot to launch a tinny or dangle a line in Andersons Inlet.
His mission: to persuade councillors that a degraded bit of waterside farmland was the ideal site for a 200-boat marina, 1113 residential sites and a recreational and retail precinct. All it required, he said, was the council to begin the process to rezone the land for development.
It’s not the first time developers have been bewitched by the money-making potential of this site. In 2003 a developer proposed a project called Tarwin Cove, which included a golf course, housing and a marina. At the same time a 2000-lot development was proposed for the floodplain opposite Maher’s Landing, at Venus Bay.
In the light of strong community opposition to the developments, the then Department of Sustainability and Environment undertook a study of the many issues, pros and cons. The outcome was clear: the cons far outweighed the pros. Both projects were abandoned.
Mr Woodman was in Wonthaggi to spruik the benefits of a $380 million marina development at Mahers Landing, until now best known as a scruffy but tranquil spot to launch a tinny or dangle a line in Andersons Inlet.
His mission: to persuade councillors that a degraded bit of waterside farmland was the ideal site for a 200-boat marina, 1113 residential sites and a recreational and retail precinct. All it required, he said, was the council to begin the process to rezone the land for development.
It’s not the first time developers have been bewitched by the money-making potential of this site. In 2003 a developer proposed a project called Tarwin Cove, which included a golf course, housing and a marina. At the same time a 2000-lot development was proposed for the floodplain opposite Maher’s Landing, at Venus Bay.
In the light of strong community opposition to the developments, the then Department of Sustainability and Environment undertook a study of the many issues, pros and cons. The outcome was clear: the cons far outweighed the pros. Both projects were abandoned.
Since then the development prospects have only deteriorated, with rising sea levels and sand from Inverloch’s surf beach drifting into Anderson Inlet, creating unpredictable sand barriers. As one local fisherman expressed it to the Post, an extra 200 amateur, elderly admirals navigating the ever-shifting sandbars on their floating gin palaces is a recipe for farce, or disaster.
In 10 years, the Mahers Landing site could be under water. Or it could go the other way. If the estuary continues to silt up, residents could face a long walk to dip their toes in the water.
Mr Woodman didn’t waste too much time on the practical difficulties. He reminded councillors that the company was responsible for the Martha Cove and Wyndham Harbour developments. “We are not new at this,” he said. “We are not amateurs. We are not people that don’t know how to get a marina approved.”
He and the Watsons team left the presentation feeling pretty pleased with themselves. “Nobody asked any difficult questions,” Mr Woodman’s offsider Alan Carlsson told the Post later, “which meant we addressed the concerns raised at a previous briefing last year.”
If Mr Woodman had been able to see the thought bubbles above the councillors’ heads, he might not have been so upbeat. This is what he would have read: “Tell him he’s dreamin’.”
In 10 years, the Mahers Landing site could be under water. Or it could go the other way. If the estuary continues to silt up, residents could face a long walk to dip their toes in the water.
Mr Woodman didn’t waste too much time on the practical difficulties. He reminded councillors that the company was responsible for the Martha Cove and Wyndham Harbour developments. “We are not new at this,” he said. “We are not amateurs. We are not people that don’t know how to get a marina approved.”
He and the Watsons team left the presentation feeling pretty pleased with themselves. “Nobody asked any difficult questions,” Mr Woodman’s offsider Alan Carlsson told the Post later, “which meant we addressed the concerns raised at a previous briefing last year.”
If Mr Woodman had been able to see the thought bubbles above the councillors’ heads, he might not have been so upbeat. This is what he would have read: “Tell him he’s dreamin’.”
*****
Casey councillors had also been sceptical when Mr Woodman first came seeking rezonings of land outside the city's designated urban growth boundary. But he found a way to persuade them.
This week, Mr Woodman has been the star witness at a Victorian Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission hearing into his dealings with Casey Council, a growth suburb to the south-east of Melbourne.
Counsel assisting the hearing, Michael Tovey, QC, told the commission Mr Woodman paid two Casey councillors more than $1.2 million in an attempt to win favourable planning decisions worth up to $100 million in one case.
The money appeared in various guises: as payment for consultancy services that were never delivered; as cash deposits under fake names into bank accounts; as donations to election campaigns; as payment of credit card bills, tax debts and divorce settlements; as deposits to the mayor’s relations; even as bags of bank notes delivered to the mayor by another Woodmans “consultant”, Lorraine Wreford, a former Liberal MP and former Casey mayor.
In one farcical moment, Mr Woodman was shown to have withdrawn cash from a Port Douglas bank and five minutes later to have deposited it into a councillor’s account with a fake signature. Asked if the signature was in his hand writing, Mr Woodman replied: "Yes sir, I believe so."
The potential profits of the rezonings were so immense - $100 million in just one case – that money was no object in achieving the result. Mr Woodman made large donations to almost every Liberal and Labor MP and candidate in the Casey area. He also paid $60,000 to the head of a local residents group, who subsequently campaigned for the rezoning of a parcel of land from industrial to residential.
Throughout his long interrogation, which stretched over four days, Mr Woodman’s manner was respectful and humble. There was no withstanding IBAC’s forensic investigations which have uncovered a damning paper trail connecting Mr Woodman and at least four Casey councillors. None declared an interest when voting on projects with which he was associated.
Asked by Mr Tovey how his company’s payment of a councillor’s tax bill might be interpreted, he acknowledged “As corruption, sir.” This was not an admission of guilt, however, as he subsequently described the payment as “a gesture of goodwill”.
He similarly denied the cash payment of another councillor’s $15,000 credit card bill was corrupt. Rather, it was “a correction to his credit card account” so the councillor could stand as a candidate in the 2014 state election.
They are the words of a person who can no longer tell up from down.
In the midst of all the chicanery, there is a moment of startling truth-telling from Mr Woodman. “My experience since the early 90s has been that supporting political parties during an election campaign will promote the opportunity during the elected time to meet
with people and discuss a particular issue," he said.
This week, Mr Woodman has been the star witness at a Victorian Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission hearing into his dealings with Casey Council, a growth suburb to the south-east of Melbourne.
Counsel assisting the hearing, Michael Tovey, QC, told the commission Mr Woodman paid two Casey councillors more than $1.2 million in an attempt to win favourable planning decisions worth up to $100 million in one case.
The money appeared in various guises: as payment for consultancy services that were never delivered; as cash deposits under fake names into bank accounts; as donations to election campaigns; as payment of credit card bills, tax debts and divorce settlements; as deposits to the mayor’s relations; even as bags of bank notes delivered to the mayor by another Woodmans “consultant”, Lorraine Wreford, a former Liberal MP and former Casey mayor.
In one farcical moment, Mr Woodman was shown to have withdrawn cash from a Port Douglas bank and five minutes later to have deposited it into a councillor’s account with a fake signature. Asked if the signature was in his hand writing, Mr Woodman replied: "Yes sir, I believe so."
The potential profits of the rezonings were so immense - $100 million in just one case – that money was no object in achieving the result. Mr Woodman made large donations to almost every Liberal and Labor MP and candidate in the Casey area. He also paid $60,000 to the head of a local residents group, who subsequently campaigned for the rezoning of a parcel of land from industrial to residential.
Throughout his long interrogation, which stretched over four days, Mr Woodman’s manner was respectful and humble. There was no withstanding IBAC’s forensic investigations which have uncovered a damning paper trail connecting Mr Woodman and at least four Casey councillors. None declared an interest when voting on projects with which he was associated.
Asked by Mr Tovey how his company’s payment of a councillor’s tax bill might be interpreted, he acknowledged “As corruption, sir.” This was not an admission of guilt, however, as he subsequently described the payment as “a gesture of goodwill”.
He similarly denied the cash payment of another councillor’s $15,000 credit card bill was corrupt. Rather, it was “a correction to his credit card account” so the councillor could stand as a candidate in the 2014 state election.
They are the words of a person who can no longer tell up from down.
In the midst of all the chicanery, there is a moment of startling truth-telling from Mr Woodman. “My experience since the early 90s has been that supporting political parties during an election campaign will promote the opportunity during the elected time to meet
with people and discuss a particular issue," he said.
*****
Bass Coast Mayor Brett Tessari has looked back on the Wonthaggi presentation by Mr Woodman in a new light following this week’s IBAC hearings. He says it was an odd presentation. While the main group of project proponents sat at the the end of the table, Mr Woodman somehow ended up sitting alongside the councillors.
“He was very slick, very confident in himself. Not the type of person we normally deal with, to be honest … the red Ferrari parked outside, the slicked back hair, the shirt unbuttoned, the bling. He was a showman, that’s for sure.”
Is this the end of the Mahers Landing project?
“It’ll certainly make it harder,” Cr Tessari said. ”It was a push uphill anyway. I think anyone associated with this character now will probably step back and regroup.”
The mayor confesses that he feels shaken by what’s emerged not just about Mr Woodman but about Casey Council.
“I cringe at just how close it is to home. Casey grew at such a rapid rate. I always thought that’s a council that has a clear vision and can get things done pretty quickly. I have viewed Casey and Cardinia as examples of how they have handled rapid growth. Okay, it mightn’t be how I would like to see our area, but they seem to have handled it rapidly and be on top of it all.
“Our planners are a lot more conservative and cautious. Which now, looking back on the whole scenario, is probably a good thing.”
“He was very slick, very confident in himself. Not the type of person we normally deal with, to be honest … the red Ferrari parked outside, the slicked back hair, the shirt unbuttoned, the bling. He was a showman, that’s for sure.”
Is this the end of the Mahers Landing project?
“It’ll certainly make it harder,” Cr Tessari said. ”It was a push uphill anyway. I think anyone associated with this character now will probably step back and regroup.”
The mayor confesses that he feels shaken by what’s emerged not just about Mr Woodman but about Casey Council.
“I cringe at just how close it is to home. Casey grew at such a rapid rate. I always thought that’s a council that has a clear vision and can get things done pretty quickly. I have viewed Casey and Cardinia as examples of how they have handled rapid growth. Okay, it mightn’t be how I would like to see our area, but they seem to have handled it rapidly and be on top of it all.
“Our planners are a lot more conservative and cautious. Which now, looking back on the whole scenario, is probably a good thing.”
*****
The Mahers Landing marina project was always a city slickers’ fantasy of taming the wilderness. The IBAC hearings are merely the last rites for a crazy idea.
But what would have happened if Mr Woodman hadn’t appeared before IBAC? How would the Mahers Landing planning application have played out?
Mr Woodman had already suggested the council set up a community reference group for the project. Perhaps like the West Cranbourne Residents Group he funded and helped to set up in Casey? Turns out its primary purpose was to lobby for the rezoning of a parcel of land from industrial to residential. Meanwhile Watsons paid the head of the group a consultancy fee “for real estate advice” he wasn’t qualified to give.
Would Mr Woodman have tried to pick off our councillors? We like to think it couldn’t happen but he was a master. He reeled the Casey councillors in slowly. A donation to a favourite charity here. A few thousand dollars to a fund-raiser there. A small contribution to election expenses as a gesture of goodwill. Where’s the harm in it? Next thing Mr Woodman is attending your daughter’s wedding and paying your credit card bill and it all seems perfectly normal.
Wrong doing is a slippery slope, as all our mothers warned us. The first slip is the important one and sometimes it's only visible in hindsight.
But what would have happened if Mr Woodman hadn’t appeared before IBAC? How would the Mahers Landing planning application have played out?
Mr Woodman had already suggested the council set up a community reference group for the project. Perhaps like the West Cranbourne Residents Group he funded and helped to set up in Casey? Turns out its primary purpose was to lobby for the rezoning of a parcel of land from industrial to residential. Meanwhile Watsons paid the head of the group a consultancy fee “for real estate advice” he wasn’t qualified to give.
Would Mr Woodman have tried to pick off our councillors? We like to think it couldn’t happen but he was a master. He reeled the Casey councillors in slowly. A donation to a favourite charity here. A few thousand dollars to a fund-raiser there. A small contribution to election expenses as a gesture of goodwill. Where’s the harm in it? Next thing Mr Woodman is attending your daughter’s wedding and paying your credit card bill and it all seems perfectly normal.
Wrong doing is a slippery slope, as all our mothers warned us. The first slip is the important one and sometimes it's only visible in hindsight.
*****
Just for the record, the Post did ask Cr Tessari if Mr Woodman had asked for his private bank details. “I never had any private discussions with him,” he said. “Thank goodness!”
Catherine Watson covered the Casey Council beat from 2011 to 2013.
Catherine Watson covered the Casey Council beat from 2011 to 2013.