Years after its approval, the Redbank development in North Richmond remains one of the Hawkesbury’s most divisive projects, its legacy tainted by accusations of political favoritism, backroom deals, and irreversible environmental change. What was once rural farmland west of the river has become a sprawling suburban estate, permanently altering the landscape and paving the way for further developments that many argue would never be approved under today’s standards - and never should have been approved back then.

At the center of this controversy was former Liberal MP and Hawkesbury mayor, Bart Bassett, whose involvement in the project raised serious concerns about political influence over local planning decisions. The saga became a focal point of an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigation, casting a long shadow over the development’s origins.

The Redbank project, spearheaded by developer Nathan Tinkler's firm Buildev, aimed to transform farmland on the outskirts of Richmond into a large-scale residential estate. Touted as a suburban oasis blending rural charm with modern conveniences, Redbank Communities sought approval for significant zoning changes to repurpose agricultural land for residential use. In 2012, Hawkesbury City Council approved the rezoning, despite concerns from residents, other councillors and environmental advocates who warned about the loss of farmland, flooding issues and pressure on local infrastructure.

However, the approval soon became mired in allegations of improper political donations and backroom dealings. ICAC’s 2014 Operation Spicer inquiry into illegal donations by property developers to Liberal Party candidates brought Redbank into the spotlight. ICAC investigated whether Buildev, with financial stakes in the Redbank development, funneled money into political campaigns to sway decisions in their favor. One of the key figures under investigation was Bassett, who had been the Hawkesbury mayor and a state Liberal MP during critical stages of the Redbank rezoning process.

The inquiry revealed that Buildev had directed $18,000 through another Tinkler company - the Free Enterprise Foundation, to Bassett’s 2011 state election campaign, a clear breach of New South Wales laws prohibiting political donations from property developers.

Evidence also emerged that Bassett, while serving as mayor in May 2011, voted in favor of a residential land strategy that would benefit Buildev’s interests. These revelations cast doubt on whether the development had received approval on merit or due to political influence. 

Buildev co-founder Darren Williams was asked by Counsel assisting ICAC, Geoffrey Watson SC, during ICAC hearings, whether Bassett was in a position where he could assist Buildev. Williams told the inquiry: “You could assume that.”

Watson replied; “It’s a hard cold fact that he could vote on council in favour of a Buildev proposal, correct?” “Yes,” Williams replied. Williams then told the inquiry at least some of Bassett’s funding for his election campaign had come from Buildev.

Documents tendered to the ICAC show that years before Mr Bassett became a Member of Parliament, top Buildev executives met him at home and attempted to use political connections to "neutralise" critical voices on Hawkesbury council.

Bassett defended his actions at the ICAC hearings, maintaining that his votes were based on council staff recommendations and denying that political donations influenced his decisions. “I reject this allegation and I look forward to my opportunity to clear my name,” Bassett said. “In the meantime I have decided to stand aside from the Parliamentary Liberal Party.”

However, public skepticism remained high. In response to the growing scandal, Bassett was exiled to the parliamentary crossbench while the investigation unfolded. ICAC did not make findings of corruption against Bassett, though the inquiry undeniably tainted the Redbank project’s image. Bassett consults for Redbank today, and remains the President of a Hawkesbury Branch of the Liberal Party.

Photo: Bart Bassett leaving the ICAC hearings in 2014.

Amid the ICAC hearings, Hawkesbury City Council convened an extraordinary meeting to address the mounting public outrage over Redbank. Councillors voted to request that the NSW Government freeze any development applications for the project until ICAC had completed its investigation.

Councillor Christine Paine, who was a councillor at the time, called for the freeze, and said; “The community is very angry, very disenfranchised with council, so this might start healing a little bit.”

The motion to freeze Redbank was met with significant community support. Around 150 residents packed the council chamber, with many speaking out against the development. Kim Smith, a local organiser from the group ‘Hawkesbury Rates Disgrace’, said, “All they are asking is that any further developments out in North Richmond are put on hold until the ICAC releases their findings so that we know everything is above board.”

Despite the council’s call for a freeze, Hawkesbury Mayor Kim Ford was the sole Councillor to oppose the motion. Ford was Bassett’s campaign director in 2011, and was parachuted into Council without a Liberal preselection at a 2010 by-election occasioned by the death of Mayor Rex Stubbs. Ford insisted that the planning processes had been “open and transparent all the way,” and that there had been no “backroom deals” or improper actions in the approval of Redbank.

Meanwhile, Buildev had sold its stake in the Redbank project to the North Richmond Joint Venture (NRJV) in 2012. The NRJV maintained that it had never made any unlawful political donations and was not under investigation by ICAC. Nevertheless, the ICAC inquiry has sparked widespread distrust among Hawkesbury residents about the development, with many questioning the legitimacy of its approval process.