The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will hold a public inquiry into the operations of the Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council (GLALC).
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Gandangara are the owners of the proposed Heathcote Ridge development at West Menai.
The public inquiry announced by ICAC will commence on Monday, May 9 as part of an investigation (Operation Greer) into allegations concerning GLALC.
The inquiry will examine allegations that, between 2010 and March 2014, GLALC board members partially exercised their official functions by agreeing to employment arrangements with GLALC chief executive officer Mark (Jack) Johnson under which his company, Waawidji Pty Ltd, derived benefits from the GLALC.
Other allegations that the inquiry will examine include that Mr Johnson improperly exercised his public official functions by:
- between March 2011 and April 2013, authorising the transfer of GLALC funds to Gandangara Future Fund Ltd (GFF).
- between 2009 and 2013, authorising the payment of GLALC funds for the benefit of Deerubbin, Walgett and La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Councils, and partly for the benefit of Waawidji Pty Ltd;
- between 2010 and 2014, claiming the provision of benefits from GLALC for himself or Waawidji Pty Ltd, including money, to which he knew he was not lawfully entitled.
The ICAC Commissioner, the Hon Megan Latham, will preside at the public inquiry.
The inquiry is set down for three weeks.
Last July the Department of Planning and Environment announced the rezoning of 23 hectares of bushland owned by GLALC for low-level housing.
This amounted to 320 new homes or about 10 per cent of the original proposal for the Heathcote Ridge development.