Moonee Valley Council to fight for return of East West Link land
MOONEE Valley Council welcomed an agreement between the State Government and contractors to terminate the East West Link, and will seek to have compulsorily acquired land returned.
The council also wouldn’t rule out pursuing compensation for its road project costs.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced last week the Government had reached an agreement with East West Link Consortium to purchase the project for $1 and not retrieve the $339 million it had already paid.
Mayor Narelle Sharpe said the project would have had a major impact on the community and that the decision-making process had been flawed from the start.
“Over the past year, land parcels within the municipality have been compulsorily acquired by the Government and the council has incurred significant expenditure, including legal fees to fight the case,” Cr Sharpe said.
“Council will be seeking a resolution to these matters.”
The council launched a Supreme Court challenge against the former State Government and now-abolished Linking Melbourne Authority before the state election.
Cr Sharpe said abandoning the project would be “subject to further legal advice” following discussions with the Government.
The council would not address questions on how much it had spent on legal costs and whether it would seek compensation.
State Government spokesman Kosta Pandos said they would finalise the process around acquired land and properties for the project in coming months.
“The government’s priority in relation to land and properties that have been acquired as a result of the failed East West Link project is to get the best possible return for Victorian taxpayers,” Mr Pandos said.
