Controversial former Auburn City Council deputy mayor Salim Mehajer will be called to give evidence at a public inquiry into misconduct allegations, a hearing has been told.

Key points: Council's response to street closure for wedding to be examined

Council's response to street closure for wedding to be examined Inquiry to also look at development activities of Cr Ronney Oueik

Inquiry to also look at development activities of Cr Ronney Oueik Claims that councillors misused positions also being looked at

In his opening address, counsel assisting the commissioner Paul Bolster said the inquiry would look at the council's response to the street closure for Mr Mehajer's wedding at Lidcombe in western Sydney last year.

Mr Mehajer gained notoriety after the wedding and was later fined $220 by the council.

The inquiry has heard that in 2014, Auburn councillors used colouring pencils to show how they wanted to rezone the Berala Village Centre, which included property owned by one of the councillors, Hicham Zraika.

The changes benefitted Mr Zraika, and Mr Bolster said that would be a focus of the inquiry.

Mr Bolster said the inquiry would also examine the circumstances surrounding several planning proposals and building developments, including why the council failed to address alleged misconduct by councillor and developer Ronney Oueik.

The Liberal councillor developed an Auburn unit block where apartments approved for two bedrooms were converted into three-bedroom units.

The Auburn unit building where two bedroom apartments were converted to three bedroom ones. ( ABC News: Luke Rosen )

Developer contributions are partly calculated by the number of bedrooms in an apartment.

"How that came about and why nothing was done about it ... is a a matter of interest to the inquiry," Mr Bolster said.

The council received legal advice in 2008 and was told to prosecute the building developers for breaches to regulations.

However, it was not until the council was suspended earlier this year, and placed into the control of administrator Viv May, that any legal action was launched.

Mr Bolster said people were now living in residences that did not comply with regulations and that the council had been forced to absorb additional costs rather than pass them onto ratepayers.

'It never should have been certified': Foley

The Lidcombe apartment building which lost its roof in a storm earlier this year. ( ABC News: Luke Rosen )

The NSW Labor leader and member for Auburn, Luke Foley, said outside the hearing the public inquiry should also focus on a Lidcombe apartment block, developed by Mr Oueik, that lost its roof in a storm earlier this year.

Insurer AIG refused to foot the repair bill and claimed the roof of the building contained structural defects and the storm was not the cause of the damage.

"The insurers says it was riddled with structural defects - never should have been certified," Mr Foley said outside the hearing today.

"The council Mr Oueik sat on certified the building. This case is just crying out for examination by this public inquiry."

Terry Jeon said he was shocked when the Lidcombe building he was living in lost its roof. ( ABC News: Luke Rosen )

Terry Jeon, a resident from the unit block that lost its roof said he was "really shocked" when it happened.

"[It was] really, really stressful ... you can't forget these things," Mr Jeon said.

"I still need to pay my mortgage every week and now I need to pay rent to live somewhere else."

The inquiry heard Mr Oueik also allegedly organised free renovations for former council staff member Glenn Francis.

Mr Francis did not disclose the renovations, which he claims Mr Oueik described as a "gift" until 2016. He is due to give evidence this week.

The Lidcombe apartment block lost its roof in a storm earlier this year. ( Supplied, file photo )

'I have Salim to thank for this inquiry': Simms

Local Government Minister Paul Toole suspended Auburn City Council earlier this year and announced a public inquiry to investigate claims that councillors were misusing their positions.

He said there were concerns some councillors may have been using their positions to obtain significant planning outcomes for themselves, relatives and council colleagues.

Former councillor Irene Simms spent years trying to draw attention to problems with developers on the council, but said it took media headlines around flashy Mr Mehajer to finally get authorities to listen.

He was suspended from the council in January by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, which found he breached pecuniary interest laws by failing to disclose his financial interest in a council vote.

However, that decision was overturned on appeal.

"In some ways, I have Salim to thank for this [inquiry]," Ms Simms said.

"I think it is the antics of Salim - mostly, to be honest, outside the council, not inside the council - that has brought so much attention."