The state’s corruption watchdog has worked to stamp out foul play since Wollongong City Council made national headlines for all the wrong reasons.
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Ten years ago ICAC’s Operation Atlas investigation ruled former Wollongong City Council planner Beth Morgan and developer Frank Vellar engaged in “serious corrupt conduct”.
An explosive two-week ICAC public hearing in 2008 prompted the sacking of the city’s councillors.
And it resulted in the corruption watchdog flagging a possible 139 criminal charges against 11 individuals – including councillors, developers and public servants.
The dark history paved the way for change.
And on Wednesday ICAC Chief Commissioner Peter Hall, during a visit to Wollongong, shed light on the watchdog’s more recent guidelines aimed at preventing a repeat.
ICAC spokeswoman Nicole Thomas said the corruption watchdog ran an outreach program twice a year in regional areas.
The last time Wollongong hosted the event was 2009.
“We came back to share the progress of anti-corruption investigations because there are new technologies that evolve in combating corruption,” Ms Thomas said.
“We mentioned Operation Atlas and how the investigation’s recommendations to prevent corruption were implemented.”
The measures included the employment of a professional conduct officer and more stringent monitoring and reporting processes.
Ms Thomas said forum attendees were encouraged to report suspicious behaviour.
“We asked the attendees, as community leaders, to bring attention to potential corruption by reporting it,” she said.
Ms Thomas said council and state government employees should, for example, be aware of companies receiving favourable treatment during the tender process.
Back in 2008, 21 charges were laid against six people.
Wollongong developers Frank Vellar and Glen Tabak and former councillor Frank Gigliotti were found guilty on a total of seven charges. Gigliotti spent four months in jail.
