Councillors Constantine Hindi, Vince Badalati, Philip Sansom face ICAC over development approval

Three Sydney councillors are set to face a five-week probe by the NSW ICAC over the approval of two multimillion-dollar property developments in Sydney’s south.

Three Sydney councillors are set to be questioned as the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption probes the approval two major property developments in the city’s south.

Former Georges River Council and Hurstville City Council councillors, Constantine Hindi and Vincenzo (Vince) Badalati, and then Hurstville councillor Philip Sansom will be questioned as part of a five-week public inquiry slated to start on June 14.

A NSW ICAC spokeswoman said the Commission is investigating whether, between 2014 and 2021, then HCC and later GRC Councillors Hindi and Badalati, and then HCC Councillor Sansom, sought or accepted benefits as an inducement or reward for partially and dishonestly exercising their official functions to favour the interests of Ching Wah (Philip) Uy, Wensheng Liu and Yuqing Liu, over planning matters affecting the Treacy Street development at 1-5 Treacy Street, and 1 Hill Road, Hurstville, and The Landmark Square development at 53-57 Forest Road, 108-126 Durham Street and 9 Roberts Lane, Hurstville.

“The Commission is also examining whether, during that period, Councillors Hindi, Badalati and Sansom deliberately failed to declare or properly manage any conflict of interest arising from their relationships with Mr Uy, Wensheng Liu and Yuqing Liu,” the spokeswoman said.

“The Commission is further investigating whether, also between 2014 and 2021, Mr Uy, Wensheng Liu and Yuqing Liu provided benefits, including overseas flights and accommodation, to Councillors Hindi, Badalati and Sansom, as a reward or inducement to favour their interests in relation to Council decisions regarding planning matters affecting the Treacy Street and Landmark Square developments.”

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Commissioner Stephen Rushton SC will preside over the public inquiry, with Counsel Assisting the Commission Zelie Heger of Counsel.

The $128 million Landmark Square development was earmarked as a ‘gateway development’ with a series of high-rise towers reaching a high as 20-storeys as well as a 145-room hotel and 254 apartments.

Meanwhile, the Treacy Street development sought the approval of a $23.6 million 13-storey tower, featuring 41 apartments at 33-35 Treacy St, Hurstville.

Mr Badalati was first elected to Hurstville Council in 1999, and served as mayor from 2001 to 2004, 2005 to 2008 and 2015 to 2016.

Meanwhile, Mr Hindi was first elected to Hurstville council 2004, serving as mayor and deputy mayor.

Mr Sansom served as mayor of Hurstville from 1999 to 2000 and 2009 to 2011.