A Queensland council town planner has told jurors in a corruption trial that former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale called an "unusual" meeting to support a particular development proposal.
Prosecutors have alleged that Brisbane barrister Sam Di Carlo committed official corruption by providing restaurant meals, cash, profit share and services from sex workers to Mr Pisasale in exchange for his support of a new development in Ipswich's south in late 2016 and early 2017.
Di Carlo has pleaded not guilty to the charge and his barrister, Saul Holt, has argued there is no evidence to show money or inducements were actually handed over for assisting the plan for a service station, restaurant and childcare centre on Warwick Road in Yamanto.
Jurors in the Brisbane District Court trial spent the first four days listening to hundreds of intercepted phone calls between Pisasale and Di Carlo or other business associates, with the first witnesses appearing on Wednesday.
John Adams, who retired from Ipswich City Council in 2019 after 38 years in town planning, told the jury that Pisasale "got himself heavily involved in advocating for (the Yamanto) site".
"To some extent he started running the meetings, which was unusual, and directing (planning) consultants and one time he recommended sacking one of the consultants," Mr Adams said.
Under defence cross examination, Mr Adams said Mr Pisasale had a "sole focus on economic development and jobs" for Ipswich and had taken a "strong personal interest" in more than a dozen other proposals, ranging from small businesses to a housing estate for 82,000 residents.
Mr Adams agreed that Mr Pisasale told him his job was on the line after raising issues about a different large development.
"You maintained your own view on appropriate development. Would you compromise when threatened?" Mr Holt asked.
"No," Mr Adams said.
During re-examination by crown prosecutor Sarah Farndon, Mr Adams said Mr Pisasale had described some developments as being very important to Ipswich but "did not take the same hands-on approach as Yamanto".
Former Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission investigator, Detective Sergeant Adam Edwards, testified that Mr Pisasale fabricated a meeting with Christopher Pinzone, the developer behind the Yamanto proposal, and other investors, in order to justify interstate travel.
"Mr Pisasale effectively asked Mr Pinzone to fake this (28 January, 2017) email so that he had an excuse to go to Melbourne?" Mr Holt asked.
"That does ring a bell, yes...I do recall he went to a Bruce Springsteen concert." Detective Edwards replied.
The trial continues before Chief Judge Brian Devereaux.
