IBAC, the state’s independent anti-corruption body, will hold public hearings next month into allegations of serious corrupt conduct in relation to planning and property development decisions, and other forms of procurement, at the Casey City Council.

The hearings are part of an IBAC investigation, Operation Sandon, into allegations of corrupt conduct involving councillors and property developers in the City of Casey. The City of Casey is a fast-growing municipality in the south-east of Melbourne.

IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich QC said the public hearings will consider whether public officers involved in planning and property development decisions have been 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.”

“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,” Commissioner Redlich said.

The hearings will start on Monday November 18 at 11 Exhibition St in Melbourne, commencing at 10 am each sitting day, and will be open to the public.

The hearings will be presided over by IBAC’s Commissioner Robert Redlich. Counsel assisting is Michael Tovey QC of the Victorian Bar together with Amber Harris, Principal Lawyer of IBAC.

Anyone with credible information relevant to the investigation is encouraged to report it at www.ibac.vic.gov.au/report or phone 1300 735 135.