Redland City mayor Karen Williams has referred herself and her council to the Crime and Corruption Commission amid a concerted community campaign against her council.

The council last week sent legal letters threatening defamation action over a series of social media posts alleging corrupt dealings in the approval of development applications in the city.

Redland City mayor Karen Williams. Credit:Facebook

The recipient of one of those letters, Adelia Berridge, said the council has contacted the posters' employers about the controversy and at least one had their job threatened as a result.

But Fairfax Media has spoken to a person, who did not want to participate in this story, who said they had been counselled by their employer over their activity at the behest of Redland City Council.