Barton defends community after NELP lawyers “unfair blow”
Rebuttal comments from North East Link Project lawyers on the final day of public hearings have unfairly dismissed community concerns and left them fearing the worst says Eastern Metro MP Rod Barton.
Mr Barton has come out in support of the community whose hopes for changes to the project now rest with the expert advisory panel’s final deliberation and report, due mid-October.
UPDATE – NELP lawyers response to hearing submissions
After seven weeks of hearings, more than 850 public submissions and thousands of pages of arguments from lawyers, the independent planning panel examining the government’s North Eastlink Toll Road Project has retired to prepare its report on the project’s future.
Through its lawyers, the North East Link Project Authority systematically rejected almost every issue and alternative idea raised during the EES process claiming that the reference design and the proposed management plans represent the best outcome for the state.
QUESTION – North East Link – SMART taxpayers design
I asked the Planning Minister to ensure the SMART taxpayer design be given consideration by bidders to allow them to present the best final design for the North East Link.
Community input into final design for North East link
Community design solutions need consideration in the development of a final design for the North East Link. I’ve asked the Planning Minister to ensure the needs of the community and their input be incorporated.
QUESTION – BULLEEN ART AND GARDEN
I asked the Minister for Planning to detail the process for compulsory acquisition of the Bulleen Industrial Zone businesses.
Bulleen businesses need a plan
Last week we toured businesses in the Bulleen Industrial Zone last week with Manningham Mayor Paula Piccinini to hear concerns over the Environmental Effects Statement process and the current design, which proposes wiping out much of the business zone.
“These small business owners are living in limbo and it’s creating huge stress on them, their businesses, staff and their families.”
UPDATE: Lawyers not needed at North East Link panel hearings says Minister
We received a response this week from the Minister for Planning, Richard Wynne following Mr Barton’s question in parliament regarding the need to get legal representation to present individual cases on the North East Link Environmental Effects hearings.
Rework the North East Link to save Bulleen businesses and 1200 jobs says MP
The cost of fairly compensating and relocating these business, plus the negative impact of removing a precinct that contributed over $132 million each year to the local community deserved more than the cursory mention in the Environmental Effects Statement.
North East Link “lawyering up” for EES panel hearings under fire
In Parliament I have asked that the Minister for Planning, who will ultimately sign the project approvals, to assure the public that the North East Link panel hearings will be fair and transparent and that the “lawyering up” by the project managers won’t hijack the process and disadvantage the public.
North East Link public hearings
I asked the Minister for Planning to assure locals appearing at the North East Link panel hearings that it will not be an interrogation requiring them to ‘lawyer up’ and defend their point of view.