Casey Council faces anti-corruption probe into property developments and gifts, donations

Public hearings will take place to investigate corruption allegations against the City of Casey, with claims that planning decisions were influenced by gifts and donations.

It’s alleged that donations and gifts were used to influence planning decisions made by the City of Casey.

The state’s key corruption-busting body will hold public hearings into allegations that planning decisions at a suburban council were influenced through donations and gifts.

Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission boss Robert Redlich QC said the probe is looking at conduct involving councillors at the City of Casey in Melbourne’s southeast, and property developers.

Hearings will consider whether public officers involved in planning decisions were improperly influenced through “donations, gifts, pro bono services or other hospitality”.

“These public hearings will examine the transparency and integrity of planning and property development decisions, and whether lobbyists or planning consultants have had undue influence over state and local government planning and property development decisions,” Commissioner Redlich said.

Casey council flag flying at 1/2 mast at the Narre Warren council offices in support of more police numbers for the City of Casey. Picture: Andrew Batsch

“More broadly, they will consider whether current systems and controls in place are sufficient to ensure the integrity of the planning process, and if serious corrupt conduct is identified, how organisational culture and practices may have fostered that conduct or prevented it from being detected and stopped.”

The IBAC investigation into the matter, Operation Sandon, is looking into the transparency and integrity of planning decisions across the state.

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This includes whether donations and “in kind assistance” to candidates at elections “may give rise to actual or perceived corruption”.

It is also considering actual or potential financial benefits obtained by public officers and their families, with respect to planning decisions in Victoria, and the use of lobbyists.

Hearings begin on November 18 in Melbourne.

Anyone with credible information relevant to the investigation can report it via ibac.vic.gov.au/report or 1300 735 135.

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