By Jessica Anstice
A Berwick man has been charged after allegedly ordering taxpayer-funded tradesmen to renovate the private home of a skyrail project manager, The Age has reported.
The 36-year-old man has been charged with theft and obtaining financial advantage by deception and is expected to face court on Wednesday 3 July.
It is alleged the Lendlease supervisor sent tradesmen to renovate another sky rail project manager’s private home, for three weeks.
As reported in The Age, the same alleged offender is also accused of involvement in falsified timesheets.
Sky rail project tradesmen allegedly claimed hours for shifts they never worked – costing taxpayers up to an estimated $300,000.
“Any matter of this nature is taken very seriously and we have zero tolerance for any illegal activity on our project sites,” Level Crossing Removal Project CEO Kevin Devlin said.
“The matter is now in the hands of the police and the courts and at this stage it is not appropriate to make any further comment.
“The police will continue to have the project’s full co-operation.”
Victoria Police confirmed that a 31-year-old Frankston man, a 37-year-old Patterson Lakes man, a 39-year-old Western Australian man and a 29-year-old Frankston man were also charged over alleged irregularities in relation to the sky rail project.
“We saw a cost blowout in the recent state budget,” Member for Gembrook and Shadow Minister for Crime Prevention Brad Battin said.
“It’s disgusting to see taxpayer money has gone to yet another union pocket.”
