Former Casey Council Mayor Amanda Stapleton, 58, has been found dead. She was involved in a corruption investigation.

Ms Stapleton, who had State Parliamentary ambitions, was reported to have received a $25,000 donation from developer John Woodman.

Police say a Cranbourne North’s woman body was found in a car in the Royal Botanic Gardens earlier this week. Her death is not being treated as suspicious. A report is being prepared for the Coroner.

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission is finalising its report into Casey Council, and the behaviour of councillors and developers in relation to planning decisions.

Casey Council issued a statement: “The City of Casey mourns the passing of former Councillor Amanda Stapledon.

“We do not know the specific details around her passing and send our deepest condolences to her loved ones at this sad time.

“Amanda was a City of Casey Councillor from November 2008 to February 2020 representing the Mayfield Ward. She served as Mayor in 2012-13 and 2018-19 and Deputy Mayor in 2013-14 and 2017-18.

“As a sole carer of an adult child with a disability, she understood the pressure on families, carers, and our older persons, and it was here in particular that she focussed her attention on improving access and inclusion for all in our diverse Casey community.

“She also supported initiatives to grow our local economy and tourism while advocating for roads and key infrastructure for our growing city as well as improvements in waste management and longer-term sustainability efforts.

“In her last term on Council she was Casey’s delegate on a range of community and sector committees and forums, including: the Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee, the Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee, the Bunjil Place Precinct Advisory Committee, the Casey Cardinia Foundation, the Casey Cardinia Tourism and Advisory Committee, the Casey Cardinia Local History Reference Group (alternate delegate), the Casey Australia Day Awards Selection Advisory Panel, the Casey Football Reference Advisory Committee, the Casey Fields Steering Committee, the Casey Multifaith Network, the Casey Radio (alternate delegate), the Casey Volunteer Awards Advisory Committee, the Cranbourne Community Theatre Management Committee, the Metropolitan Transport Forum, and the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Forum.

“Many would describe Amanda as someone who had dedicated her life, aside from her family, to helping others, for example, she co-founded Casey Kidz Club. She was also a past President of Disability Capability and had held positions on the Blairlogie Living and Learning Board, the Casey Cardinia and ACE (Aiding Casey Education) Foundations.

:She had also been a Patron of the Cranbourne Football Club All Abilities Team and the YMCA Open Doors Program. She had for many years also hosted her own radio program “Women of Today” on Casey radio 97.7FM through which she promoted women’s issues as well as local issues and events more broadly. She is no doubt missed and mourned by many. Rest in peace, Amanda Stapledon,” the Council statement said.