Auburn Council: Deal to sell council carpark to Salim Mehajer overturned

THREE members of the sacked Auburn Council have helped halt the controversial sale of a council carpark to their colleague Salim Mehajer.

Salim Mehajer arrives at The Sydney District Court at JMT Building for hearing. The NSW Office of Local Government has taken Salim Mehajer to court over claims he voted on matters of land and size issues of properties at at least three meetings without disclosing private interests.

THREE members of the sacked Auburn Council helped halt the controversial sale of a council carpark to colleague Salim Mehajer.

Before the sacking, then councillors Irene Simms, ­George Campbell and Tony Oldfield requested the sale of the site at 13 John St, Lidcombe, be reassessed after they learnt of a property valuation that had not been considered by councillors. The valuation was significantly higher than the selling price councillors had endorsed.

“As soon as we heard about it, at the Christmas party, that there was another valuation that was higher, we agreed then and there to do a ­rescission motion,” Ms Simms said.

Auburn administrator Viv May was set to look at the matter behind closed doors at the meeting, but agreed to deal with the matter in open council and decided to terminate the contract after listening to Ms Simms and Mr Campbell talk about their concerns.

Mr Campbell told Mr May “it would be a slap in the face to the (Local Government) Minister” if he didn’t rescind the council’s initial decision to sell the carpark to Mr Mehajer.

Another proposal to rezone land in the southern part of Auburn that included property owned by Mr Mehajer was also knocked back.

“I ­finally feel that we we’ve been vindicated,” Ms Simms said.

Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer / Picture: Cameron Richardson