Planning expert Nick Wimbush has stepped down from a review panel into last year’s Maribyrnong floods after investigations revealed his connection to planning changes that allowed Melbourne’s Rivervue Retirement Village to be built closer to the river.

The village at Avondale Heights, in the city’s northwest, was forced to evacuate residents when the river burst its banks in October last year. At least 46 homes were damaged in the floods, as well as community facilities, causing around $7 million in damage and leaving residents in need of alternative accommodation.

A spokesperson for Rivervue owner Tigcorp told The Age that it “did not, and never would, build on a floodplain”, and that the village had been built in line with approved Council permits and planning controls that had been reviewed by Melbourne Water.

Tigcorp has three large villages in Melbourne: Applewood, Kinbrook an Rivervue.

The Age discovered that Nick Wimbush, who had been chosen to head Melbourne Water’s review panel, had as the only member of a panel in 2015 supported changes that moved the Maribyrnong River’s once-in-100-year flood risk area closer to the river, allowing Rivervue to be built on the land.

In a statement, Melbourne Water confirmed Mr Wimbush’s resignation, saying he had been “eminently qualified” to take on the role and his appointment had “met all probity and appointment criteria”.

“Melbourne Water is determined to demonstrate the integrity of the review process, we have taken this step mutually with Mr Wimbush. This is necessary so as not to distract from the important work of the review,” the agency said.