Allegations against controversial deputy mayor Salim Mehajer have sparked the suspension of the entire Auburn council by the NSW government.
The decision to suspend the council comes after Mr Mehajer, who is also a property developer, was suspended for four months for failing to declare all of his financial interests.
Local Government Minister Paul Toole announced a temporary suspension of the council as an investigation continues into reports of development approvals improperly benefiting councillors.
"I have determined that it is in the public interest to remove the councillors to ensure that no further binding decisions are made during the course of the inquiry," Mr Toole said.
Former Mosman Council general manager Viv May has been appointed as interim administrator during a public inquiry into the council.
Mr Mehajer and Auburn Council were first flung into the spotlight last year when the deputy mayor's lavish wedding shut down streets in the suburb.
Although there was no mention of Mr Mehajer specifically in the statement confirming the suspension, it noted that the minister could only suspend the whole council, not individual councillors.
"Auburn ratepayers deserve a strong council that is acting in their best interests. The only way to achieve this is for me to temporarily suspend the councillors so the inquiry can be undertaken effectively," Mr Toole said.
The state government in January gave councillors two weeks to prove they should not be suspended.
But during an emergency meeting soon after, councillors voted to formally argue against the plan but failed to discuss why they should avoid the sack.
