Australian Education City group seeks state report on East Werribee jobs precinct process
The consortium that poured millions into the doomed hi-tech ‘super city’ in East Werribee are demanding to see a report that they say explains the government’s decision to ditch the project. But a legal loophole may mean the report will remain a secret.
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A consortium behind the rejected $30 billion “super city” plan for the western suburbs has taken legal action to obtain a secret state government report.
The Australian Education City group believes that a review of the East Werribee development precinct could be crucial in its case against the government.
The report is by governance and public administration expert Warren McCann, according to documents filed with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Mr McCann is a former head of South Australia’s Department of Premier and Cabinet, and is currently chairman of the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal.
The government halted the process for the education super city in July, with AEC claiming it had spent about $90 million on preliminary plans for a hi-tech precinct that was to eventually host up to 90,000 jobs, 50,000 local and foreign students and 70,000 residents.
AEC is suing government departments over the issue, claiming the decision lacked transparency, reasons and procedural fairness.
The consortium has also taken the VCAT action in a bid to get the McCann report through freedom of information laws.
A lawyer for the Department of Premier and Cabinet told a VCAT hearing yesterday that the FoI decision involves some Cabinet exemptions.
AEC spokesman John Tabart told the Herald Sun the consortium was seeking documents that would help explain the government’s decision on the project.
“We’ve now gone to VCAT to review that, why they’re not providing this information,” he said.
Priority Precincts Minister Gavin Jennings told state parliament in August that there were concerns about the international universities that had signed up for the project.
Mr Jennings also questioned how the precinct’s design would have fitted in with major plans like Airport Rail Link and Suburban Rail Loop.
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Sources have previously told the Herald Sun that the project hit problems amid conflicting views within government about its viability, and rising concern about Chinese investment in the venture.
A compulsory conference in VCAT is set for December.