ICAC public inquiry into corruption allegations concerning Western Sydney Regional Illegal Dumping Squad officer

Monday 15 August 2016

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will hold a public inquiry commencing on Monday 22 August 2016 as part of an investigation it is conducting into corruption allegations concerning Craig Izzard, a former enforcement officer with the Western Sydney Regional Illegal Dumping Squad (RIDS), located at Penrith City Council.

The Commission is investigating allegations that, between January 2015 and March 2016, Mr Izzard partially and dishonestly exercised his public official functions by soliciting and receiving corrupt payments, from various persons, to either ignore the illegal dumping of waste materials, including asbestos, in areas under his supervision, or to impede investigations conducted by other RIDS officers.

The Western Sydney RIDS is responsible for investigating the illegal dumping of waste in western Sydney. It is jointly funded by the NSW Environment Protection Authority and the Fairfield, Penrith, Liverpool, Blacktown, Hills, Parramatta and former Holroyd (now Cumberland) local councils.

The allegations concern properties in the Liverpool and Blacktown local government areas.

The public inquiry will start at 10:00 am and will be held in the Commission's hearing room on Level 7, 255 Elizabeth Street, Sydney.

The Hon Reginald Blanch AM QC, Assistant Commissioner, will preside at the public inquiry, and Counsel Assisting the Commission will be Mr James Mack.

The inquiry is set down for approximately three weeks.

Media contact: ICAC Manager Communications & Media, Nicole Thomas, 02 8281 5799 / 0417 467 801