By Belinda Nolan
SUNSHINE residents have called on the State Government to sack Planning Minister Justin Madden, after a leaked email shattered community confidence in his decisions.
Mr Madden came under fire last week when an accidentally released document revealed plans to conduct a sham community consultation into a city development.
The email, mistakenly sent by a media adviser to the ABC, suggested the government use the consultation process as a pretext for rejecting the project.
The revelations have outraged Brimbank residents who believe the Sunshine RSL development recently approved by Mr Madden was a foregone conclusion.
“We want him sacked,” Sunshine Residents and Ratepayers Association’s Darlene Reilly said.
“We’ve always said all along that he rushed through the Sunshine RSL decision with absolutely no regard for the community’s wishes and this proves it.”
Ms Reilly said residents believed that Mr Madden had already decided to approve the social housing development before receiving a submission from Brimbank Council.
The submission, sent to the planning department last year, condemned the project and urged Mr Madden to reject it.
Residents have also been strongly opposed to the development, to build social housing on the RSL site, since it came to light in November.
Star contacted Mr Madden for comment but did not receive a response prior to deadline.
The media adviser has since been moved to another government portfolio.
