An application has been approved to build a block of units worth about $60 million on land near the Wickham rail corridor, part-owned by Hunter Development Corporation general manager Bob Hawes.
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Newcastle City Council received the DA to build the nine-storey unit block in Beresford Street in 2009.
The street runs parallel to the rail line near the future location of the multi-million dollar Wickham Transport Interchange.
Mr Hawes told the parliamentary inquiry into Hunter planning decisions that he owned a 50 per cent share of 1-9 Beresford Street, Newcastle West, where the apartments would be built.
Fairfax Media reported in July that the estimated value of the development would be $60 million.
Mr Hawes’ ownership of the property was not reported at the time.
The government plans to remove the heavy rail line on Boxing Day and eventually replace trains with a light rail network that will stretch along Beresford Street and into the CBD.
HDC, the government agency Mr Hawes oversees, recommended that the state government proceed with the rail truncation.
He was also an ex-officio member of the Hunter Infrastructure and Investment Fund board that earmarked $60 million for a government investigation about the future of the train line in 2009.
Mr Hawes declared his ownership of the Beresford Street property, as well as two other nearby premises, on HDC’s official interest register when he became general manager in 2011.
He also declared these interests during a tenure working for the agency up to 2007.
The Beresford Street premises was leased as of February this year and has been for sale for some time, according to the register.
The Mercury has approached Mr Hawes for comment on his property ownership, given his role with HDC.
But he said he would not comment in the media and would leave the matter for the parliamentary committee to investigate.