Former Hawthorn Premiership player Geoff Ablett was paid $5,000 a month by a property developer to look after a horse that did not race, a corruption inquiry has heard.

Key points: Cr Ablett was paid more than $300,000 by developer John Woodman

Cr Ablett was paid more than $300,000 by developer John Woodman The City of Casey councillor told the hearing that horses "are very expensive to keep"

The City of Casey councillor told the hearing that horses "are very expensive to keep" Former MP Lorraine Wreford told the hearing she thought delivering bags of cash to another councillor was "all legit"

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) is investigating allegations property developer John Woodman paid City of Casey councillors in exchange for favourable planning votes.

The inquiry was told Mr Woodman bought a 30 per cent share in a racehorse called Prima Facie from Mr Ablett, who is a City of Casey Councillor and hobby horse trainer, and paid him around $5,000 a month to look after it.

The inquiry has previously heard Cr Ablett, who is the brother of Gary Ablett senior, received more than $300,000 from Mr Woodman.

Developer John Woodman is at the centre of the corruption scandal that has engulfed the City of Casey. ( Watsons )

Mr Woodman donated $40,000 to Cr Ablett's state election campaign in 2014 and paid $15,000 off his credit card debt in 2015, the inquiry heard.

Horses 'expensive to keep'

Counsel Assisting IBAC Michael Tovey QC said the payments were bribes.

"Why would Mr Woodman be interested in paying over $50,000 a year to you for a horse that didn't race?" Mr Tovey asked.

"Didn't you see that as extraordinarily generous?" Mr Tovey said.

"Ask anyone, they are very expensive to keep," Cr Ablett said.

Cr Ablett told the inquiry Mr Woodman was very passionate about horses and said his business was a "bona fide operation."

"Of all the thousands of horse owners in Victoria how did he come to pick you?" Mr Tovey asked.

"You were a hobby trainer with two horses," Mr Tovey said.

Cr Ablett told the inquiry Mr Woodman said he wasn't to vote for Mr Woodman's developments.

"He said to me, you know you've done nothing for me, keep that going," Cr Ablett said.

The inquiry heard Cr Ablett met Mr Woodman in 2010, but didn't declare a conflict of interest with the City of Casey for four years, despite part-owning a horse with him.

Former MP says councillor was trying to 'line his pockets'

The inquiry also heard a former state Liberal MP thought delivering bags of cash from a property developer to a Councillor was 'all legit'.

Former Mordialloc MP and City of Casey Councillor Lorraine Wreford was hired by Mr Woodman as a political lobbyist.

Ms Wreford carried bags of cash from property developer John Woodman to Councillor Sam Aziz. ( Facebook: Lorraine Wreford )

She told the hearings that she thought the cash exchange from Mr Woodman to Councillor Sam Aziz was a legitimate transaction.

"Trust me, I was very confused about the whole thing, I was in the middle of something I didn't understand and at the time I thought it was all legit," Ms Wreford said.

Ms Wreford described herself as a "funnel" couriering the cash between the pair.

Ms Wreford wiped away tears when she was asked why she didn't question the payments made from Mr Woodman to Councillor Aziz

"I think my gut was telling me it wasn't right, but I think because I was employed [by him] I still had a lot of financial obligations," Ms Wreford said.

"In hindsight Cr Aziz had an absolute ulterior motive and it was to line his pockets," Ms Wreford told the inquiry.

She said Mr Woodman's money seemed to be a bottomless pit for Cr Aziz.

"Councillor Aziz saw an opportunity of making money and he was going to do that at any cost."

Surveillance pictures taken during IBAC's investigation captured Cr Aziz and Ms Wreford meeting. ( Supplied: IBAC )

Draft motions sent to councillor

The inquiry heard Ms Wreford would send council motions drafted by Mr Woodman's consultant to Cr Aziz about their planning developments.

"Are you saying Mr Aziz behaved in a way that he gave the impression he wanted to assist Mr Woodman in any way he could with council business?" Commissioner Robert Redlich QC asked.

"Yes, definitely," Ms Wreford replied.

"Were you telling Mr Aziz what Mr Woodman … wanted him to do?" Mr Tovey asked.

"No I was telling him what to be briefed on, but I never told him how to vote," Ms Wreford said.