City council investigation into mayor Wellington Andy Foster has cost ratepayers $12,600 in two months

Monday, 22 March 2021

Wellington mayor Andy Foster helped out at a protest over the council's decision to sell and lease land for a $500 million Shelly Bay redevelopment. (File photo)

A code of conduct investigation into Wellington Mayor Andy Foster has cost ratepayers more than $12,600 in two months.

The complaint was laid by councillor Jenny Condie in November, after Foster allegedly tried to share private information with her hours before a council vote on whether to sell and lease land for the controversial $500 million Shelly Bay redevelopment.

Wellington City councillor Jenny Condie laid a code of conduct complaint against Foster in November. (File photo)

Condie claimed the information, which Foster told her he did not have permission to share, related to the suitability of Shelly Bay Rd as part of the development, and was intended to persuade her to vote against the sale.

Figures released under the Local Government Official Information and Management Act show the council spent $12,607 on the investigation in November and December, with the investigation still ongoing.

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The code of conduct investigation is being led by Wellington-based employment lawyer Susan Hornsby-Geluk.

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It’s understood lawyer Susan Hornsby-Geluk, from Wellington-based employment law firm Dundas Street, is completing the investigation.

Condie said on Monday the investigation was required in order for ratepayers to be assured elected members were behaving with integrity, even behind closed doors.

“This is essential for trust in our democracy and, as such, it is a valuable investment for ratepayers,” she said.

“My involvement in the investigation was completed in December and is therefore included in the cost figure.

“I'm hopeful this matter will be resolved soon.”

Condie was one of nine councillors to vote in favour of the sale. Foster and five other councillors voted against it.

The narrowness of Shelly Bay Rd, the only route to the Miramar peninsula site, and its ability to handle the increased traffic flow a development would cause, has been a big sticking point for the Ian Cassels-led development.

However, the High Court on Wednesday cleared the way for the development, throwing out a challenge from local business association Enterprise Miramar that centred on concerns around the suitability of the narrow and winding road.

Enterprise Miramar took the council and developer The Wellington Company to court asking for a judicial review of the handling of the development.

It was challenging consent granted in October 2019 for the planned waterside development, which would include more than 350 dwellings and places to shop and eat.