Angelo Tsirekas, ICAC: Mayor survives council motion as he returns to Canada Bay

The embattled mayor of Canada Bay has seemingly survived a motion from councillors that could have seen council lawyers investigate the possibility of removing him from his post.

An inner city mayor has faced backlash for returning to his post at a Sydney council during the midst of an ongoing corruption commission inquiry.

Canada Bay mayor Angelo Tsirekas is reported to have survived a vote from his fellow councillors, which could have seen council lawyers investigate the possibility of removing him from council, following a failure to agree on a resolution during a closed session of council on Tuesday night.

Cr Tsirekas is currently being investigated by the state corruption commission as part of its Operation Tolosa inquiry into allegations that he partially exercised his official functions to favour the interests of developers in relation to planning matters, and deliberately failed to declare or properly manage any conflict of interest arising from these relationships.

The mayor denies any wrongdoing.

The embattled mayor had taken a leave of absence as he appeared as a witness in his own ICAC hearing. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The inquiry is currently adjourned until July 4, when John Panuccio and Chun Zhou will be called forward as witnesses, while a report from the commission is not expected for some time.

The new development came as the mayor returned to council, chairing an extraordinary meeting – the first time he has done so since the ICAC inquiry began in April.

The urgency motion was tabled by Labor Councillor Andrew Ferguson, and seconded by Greens Councillor Charles Jago, and would have committed council to seek legal advice on the ability and appropriateness for the mayor to continue in his role while the ICAC investigation into him remains ongoing. Another extraordinary meeting would have then have been held for councillors to debate that advice.

The urgency motion went behind a closed session as Cr Tsirekas excused himself, citing a conflict of interest in the motion, with Deputy Mayor Stephanie Di Pasqua taking over as chair.

Artist's impressions for the Rhodes Place Precinct Strategy, which is at the centre of an ICAC probe looking into Canada Bay mayor Angelo Tsirekas.

After over an hour of closed debate, it was revealed that there was no resolution agreed upon by councillors – all of whom bar Carmel Ruggeri were in attendance.

In a written statement issued before the tabled motion, Cr Tsirekas doubled down amid internal concerns around his return, stating that only the community could call time on his mayorship.

“I’m pleased to return to my role in serving the community of Canada Bay as I have done for more than two decades as a councillor and 18 years as mayor,” he said.

“I was recently re-elected by popular vote as the mayor and the community will decide if they want me to continue to represent them and the interests of the area as a whole.”