Former Auburn mayor Ronney Oueik to contest Cumberland City Council election

A property developer and controversial former Auburn councillor, who was cleared of wrongdoing during a public inquiry, is not deterred by possible perceptions of his bid to rejoin a council.

Ronney Oueik (left) with former NSW Premier Mike Baird in Auburn during a state election campaign. Picture: Andrew Murray

Property developer and former Auburn mayor Ronney Oueik is planning a council comeback, confidently declaring he is “the only one who has worked hard for Auburn’’ ahead of the local government elections.

The ex-Liberal councillor will stand as an independent candidate for the South Granville ward in Cumberland, which took in part of the former Auburn local government area following the 2016 amalgamations.

Mr Oueik served on the Auburn Council in 2016, when the state government sacked the dysfunctional organisation following allegations of improper conduct.

Former mayor Salim Mehajer’s lavish 2015 Lidcombe wedding, which included four helicopters and unauthorised road closures, pushed his role on the council into the spotlight and led to a public inquiry, which also probed planning decisions, in 2016.

Scandal engulfed Auburn Council after claims emerged that some councillors, including Mr Mehajer and Mr Oueik, had allegedly made millions from council decisions.

Former Auburn mayor Ronney Oueik during the Auburn Council inquiry in June 2016. Picture: Jonathan Ng

However, Mr Oueik denied this and was cleared of any wrongdoing.

“The outcome of the inquiry was clear as crystal,’’ Mr Oueik said on Tuesday.

“It was only an accusation.

“Forget those inquiries. Forget what bad people say about me. I was the only one who delivered for Auburn.

“We have very smart people they know the inquiry was a waste of money and time.’’

He dismissed any relationship he had with Mr Mehajer, who is now in jail for domestic violence and fraud offences.

“I did not even attend his wedding so that goes to show the outcome of the inquiry … whatever Mehajer did had nothing to do with council.’’

In December 2023, a push to ban property developers from serving as councillors failed after Georges River Labor councillor Veronica Ficarra’s motion was lost.

Therefore, investors, real estate agents and developers such as Mr Oueik can legally serve as councillors.

“I’m proud to be a property developer,’’ he said.

“It helps people.’’

Mr Oueik’s unit development at 14-22 Water St Lidcombe lost its roof during a storm in January 2016.

Former Auburn Council planning executive manager Glenn Francis signed the occupation certificate for Mr Oueik’s apartment block at 14-22 Water St.

Mr Francis told the inquiry he failed to follow procedure by obtaining a relevant building certificate before issuing the final occupation certificate.

Auburn Council Public Inquiry commissioner Richard Beasley SC ultimately found this was most likely an “honest mistake”.

When asked on Tuesday about any development applications he had before the Cumberland council, Mr Ouiek said they were already approved and: “I’ve got a few but so what’s the big deal?’’

Mr Oueik was not concerned about the possible public stigma that would come with simultaneously being a property developer and a councillor.

He said while most councils did not determine development applications that were sent to the state government, he would declare a conflict of interest if a planning proposal was debated by the council.

Ronney Oueik failed to win the state seat of Auburn off former Labor Party leader Luke Foley in March 2015. Picture: Justin Sanson

He is registered as a Kenthurst voter but insisted he only lived there on weekends and spent the rest of the week in Auburn.

He was first elected to Auburn Council in 2004 and is confident he can win enough votes to become a councillor again.

“I got the highest vote in the last election (for Auburn),’’ he said.

“I know the voters very well.

“I still have a lot to give in the community and I believe when I was there I had done a great job and … I believe you get what you put in.

“I’m the only one who has worked hard in Auburn.

“I was the one who built the car park in Susan St.’’

He also wants to tackle traffic congestion and parking in school zones.

“I don’t want to see any parents getting booked for dropping off their kids,’’ he said.

“I will deliver the facility for the parents to pick up and drop off legally.’’