Office of local govt to pay Mehajer costs

NSW taxpayers will foot the bill for legal costs incurred by colourful Auburn property developer Salim Mehajer when he successfully challenged a temporary ban from civic office.

NSW Supreme Court Justice Peter Garling last month overturned a four-month suspension order made by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and on Wednesday Justice Garling ordered that the Office of Local Government pay Mr Mehajer's costs.

Mr Mehajer is also subject to a separate suspension order by the state government, which is expected to remain in place until a public inquiry into allegations that Auburn councillors had been making self-serving decisions on planning and development matters is complete.