Canterbury City Council - allegations concerning former councillors and other public officials (Operation Dasha)
The ICAC is investigating allegations concerning the former Canterbury City Council, including whether, between 2013 and 2016, public officials including former councillors Michael Hawatt and Pierre Azzi, the former general manager, Jim Montague, and the former Director City Planning, Spiro Stavis, dishonestly and/or partially exercised their official functions in relation to planning proposals and/or applications under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 concerning properties in the Canterbury City Council local area.
The ICAC is also investigating the circumstances surrounding the appointment of Mr Stavis to the role of Director City Planning, including whether, between November 2014 and January 2015, Mr Montague exercised his official functions dishonestly or partially in relation to the appointment of Mr Stavis to that role. Further, the Commission is examining whether, between November 2014 and January 2015, councillors Hawatt and Azzi engaged in conduct that, or could have, adversely affected, either directly or indirectly, the honest or impartial exercise of Mr Montague’s official functions by expressly or impliedly threatening to cause the termination of Mr Montague’s employment unless he appointed Mr Stavis as Director City Planning.
