North East Link: Manningham, Banyule, Boroondara and Whitehorse councils spend more than $1.3m in legal fees
Four councils affected by the North East Link spent more than $1.3 million to fight the project’s environmental impact at independent hearings this year. See how much ratepayers in each area had to fork out.
East
Don't miss out on the headlines from East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Four councils in Melbourne’s east collectively spent more than $1.3 million of ratepayers’ money on legal fees to stop North East Link tearing apart their communities.
Boroondara, Manningham, Banyule and Whitehorse councils racked up six-figure legal bills at the independent Advisory Committee hearing into the environmental impact of the $16 billion road project.
The hearing ran from July 25 to September 16 and had hundreds of public submissions — including a joint submission from the four councils outlining their concerns.
Manningham Council invested the most at the hearing — spending $500,000 to be represented by law firm Harwood Andrews and barrister Rupert Watters.
Banyule spent $300,000 to hire Maddocks Solicitors and lead barrister Adrian Finanzio, while Boroondara ($269,795) and Whitehorse ($264,340) also spent more than a quarter of million dollars on its legal representation.
Ratepayers Victoria spokesman Frank Sullivan said he felt the costs were “far too much” and questioned if the councils used their preferred lawyers regardless of costs.
“On the surface it seems good they are trying to defend open space, but at what cost?” Mr Sullivan said.
“Legal fees at councils are a problem, it’s so easy to spend other people’s money, and that is ratepayers money.”
Manningham Mayor Paul McLeish said the council felt its legal fees were “a small and prudent investment” in fighting the project’s impact on the municipality.
“One of council’s key roles is to advocate on behalf of the community on the issues that matter to them,” he said.
“Our community told us they wanted us to advocate on their behalf – we consider this a small and prudent investment in securing the best outcome for our community and surrounding environment.”
Banyule Mayor Alison Champion said the council forked out for legal representation at the hearings “to advocate for what our community told us was important to them”.
Cr Chapman said the council would continue to fight hard for “the best design, maximum environmental protection and minimal impacts on our community” for North East Link.
MORE: COUNCIL TO FIGHT FOR BULLEEN PARK
BANYULE RESIDENTS DEVASTATED BY ROAD APPROVAL
TEMPLESTOWE BUSINESS HUB MOOTED BY COUNCIL
Boroondara Mayor Cynthia Watson said the council feared North East Link’s construction would “obliterate public open space highly valued by our community” and the hearing was a chance to represent its interests.
“Our community has been clear regarding their concerns about the negative impacts on current and future residents of Boroondara,” Cr Watson said.
“Participating in the IAC hearing was the process by which our community could be heard.
“Council and the Boroondara community remain strong in their view that the North East Link
will have significant and sustained detrimental impacts upon the wellbeing of residents for
generations to come.”
Whitehorse Mayor Sharon Ellis said the IAC hearing was “the key Ave for council to advocate on behalf of its community and it was considered appropriate to be represented by a team of experienced legal and technical experts”.
Planning Minister Richard Wynne signed off on the project earlier this month in his response to the environmental impact statement complied by the IAC.
He endorsed 24 of the committee’s 29 recommendations and concluded “the environmental effects of the project will be acceptable”.