FORMER premier Denis Napthine has revealed he disregarded a request by Warrnambool City Council last year to take over the contentious Midfield expansion project because he wanted the community to have a fair hearing.
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But 12 months later he went to Labor Planning Minister Richard Wynne to urge him to use his ministerial powers and call in the issue, fearing it would not get full consideration if left to the council to make a final decision.
Dr Napthine, the member for South-West Coast, said he also feared Warrnambool could lose the proposed investment to South Australia because of uncertainty on a decision.
He said he visited Mr Wynne’s office immediately after a special planning panel handed down its recommendation that the council approve planning amendments and permits for Midfield’s project.
The minister responded to the urging of Dr Napthine, Labor’s Regional Development Minister and Western Victoria MP Jaala Pulford, Port Fairy-based Western Victoria MP James Purcell and federal Wannon MP Dan Tehan by announcing in Parliament on Tuesday the project had been called in and approved.
“I think it was appropriate to be called in at this point,” Dr Napthine told The Standard yesterday.
“Some councillors had a potential or real conflict of interest. There were also concerns about factionalism on the council.
“Therefore there would not have been a full council deliberation on the matter.”
A call-in last year as suggested in a confidential letter from the council would not have been appropriate without public input, he said.
“The appointment of an independent planning panel provided opportunity for the community to make submissions rather than having a rushed process behind closed doors,” he said.
He said he tried to stay out of the debate last year, but moved once the panel’s report was handed down mid April.
“There was a threat of Warrnambool missing out given Midfield had approval for investment in Penola,” Dr Napthine said. “There was also potential all of Midfield’s operation would move to Penola.”
Dr Napthine was caught up in controversy following his announcement early last year of a $1.5m state regional development grant to assist Midfield’s preparations.
Yesterday he defended his role and government processes, saying all had been done above board and that the proposal dated back to 2003 under a Labor government.
“I was doing what’s right as a local member,” he said.
“Some people were trying to create mischief.”
