Key players in a major property developer scandal are yet to face consequences for their involvement, sparking criticism from local government.
The Municipal Association of Victoria says Casey Council was dealt with swiftly over corruption revelations but others are still to be held to account.
The council was at the centre of the corruption watchdog's Operation Sandon investigation, after councillors Sameh Aziz and Geoff Ablett accepted almost $1.2 million in payments to promote the interests of developer John Woodman and his clients.
“All Victorians will want to know what consequences await the other key participants in this saga, including past and current members of parliament, lobbyists and individuals and entities within the development sector," the association's president David Clark said.
“The issues interrogated by Operation Sandon should be of interest to us all given they affect multiple parts of public administration in the state."
The investigation's report, tabled in state parliament on Thursday, said Mr Aziz and Mr Ablett repeatedly failed to declare conflicts of interest and continued trying to influence other councillors even when they did.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission probe centred on four planning proposals involving Mr Woodman and his clients, including one to rezone land in Cranbourne West as residential to increase its value.
Beyond the council, Mr Woodman donated more than $470,000 to the Labor and Liberal parties between 2010 and 2019 to access state decision-makers and to the election campaigns of three Labor MPs.
The watchdog issued 34 recommendations. They include stripping councils of statutory planning responsibilities and a possible political donations ban on high-risk groups such as property developers.
Cr Clark said meaningful consultation with the municipal association was essential, especially when it came to recommendations to set up independent planning panels and strip councillors of statutory planning powers.
“With the report clearly stating corruption risk cannot be resolved by transferring responsibility from elected councillors to a minister, it would be a travesty for the Andrews government to use the findings to centralise planning powers within the backrooms of Spring Street," he said.
The Victorian government will consider each of the recommendations but is yet agree to the reforms.
Opposition Leader John Pesutto said on Thursday planning powers should not be taken from councils and handed to government.
The municipal association condemned the behaviour detailed in Sandon and said it was relieved to finally see it released.
Acting commissioner Stephen Farrow said evidence collected by IBAC would be sent to prosecutors for criminal consideration.
