ESD takes over probe

By Geelong Story Updates
VICTORIA Police’s internal corruption watchdog has taken control of an investigation into Geelong Mayor and detective Bruce Harwood’s involvement in approval of a controversial nightclub extension.
Police Ethical Standards Department this week confirmed it had taken over the investigation from the Victorian Ombudsman’s Office of Police Integrity.
The Ombudsman and integrity office began investigations after objectors complained about Cr Harwood’s involvement in a councillor hearing panel vote on the plans to extend Moorabool Street’s Home House nightclub.
Weeks before the vote Cr Harwood had spent part of a holiday in the French Riviera aboard the yacht of celebrity photographer Darren Lyons’, a Home House coowner.
Cr Harwood chaired the hearing panel that approved a skybar for the Home House project.
Ethical Standards Department Inspector Bruce Wemyss confirmed the investigation this week.
“ESD is currently investigating the circumstances (but) the timeframes for the investigation are not known at this stage,” Insp Wemyss said.
A police media unit spokesperson said investigation details were secret.
“As you can imagine, ESD is very tightlipped about the updates and outcomes of their investigations,” the spokesperson said.
State Ombudsman George Brouwer stated in a report on allegations of conflicts of interest in planning matters at City Hall that the panel hearing process, designed for applications of “regional significance”, was open to “allegations of corruption”.
Cr Harwood said he had not manipulated the hearing process.
Cr Harwood pointed out that the panel imposed nine “nonnegotiable” permit conditions on the project to address objectors’ concerns.
The conditions led to the applicant abandoning the proposal, he said.
“I followed the correct procedures and had no abnormal influence over the proceedings,” Cr Harwood said.
He called on the ethical standards department to complete its investigations promptly.
“It’s in the interests of all parties that the matter be resolved as quickly as possible,” he said.