Council site spruiks Port Coogee developer

by Wilfred Lui

April 1, 2008

THE relationship between Cockburn council and property developer Australand again came under scrutiny this week, when a council bike path closure announcement included an endorsement of Australand’s Port Coogee development.

An article entitled ‘Pedestrian/Cycle friendly Port Coogee is on its way’ on the front page of the council’s website this week detailed the closure of the bike path running along the coast in front of the locally contentious development.

However, the article also contained a ringing endorsement of Australand, and the company’s commitment to making Port Coogee a success.

Coogee resident-cum-activist Robyn Scherr was not surprised when she heard about the article-cum-advertisement. She described the relationship between Australand and Cockburn council as ‘unhealthy’.

Ms Scherr expressed concern that despite a pending Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry into the council’s relationship with Australand, the city was still close to the developer.

“Australand and the council have a close relationship,” she said. “That’s why they’re under the Corruption and Crime Commission scrutiny.”

The relationship between Cockburn council and Australand has been under the microscope after the development company admitted to making payments to Cockburn mayor Stephen Lee’s re-election campaign. Cockburn media spokeswoman Larissa Boyanich denied the article was promoting Australand.

“The article is for community interest and to update residents on the progress of the project,” she said. “It is not a promotion of Australand.”

Among the assertions on the ratepayer-funded website is that: “Australand is creating a vibrant seaside and marina residential community at Port Coogee”.