Council rejects injunction over substation

Gosford Council has rejected a request from Cr Terri Latella that it seek an injunction to stop the development of an electrical substation at Empire Bay.

In an urgency motion put before the council last week, Cr Latella asked that on the grounds that a review of environmental factors was inadequate, of increased bushfire hazard, potential pollution of the adjacent wetland, protection of threatened species, alleged breaches of a previous court order and that alternative suitable sites were available.

She also asked that Council write to the Local Government Association requesting their assistance in lobbying Councils throughout NSW to assist with the funding of the Court injunction on the grounds that such a challenge would prove as a legal test case which would benefit other Local Government areas throughout the State of NSW.

However, on the amendment of Crs Jim Macfadyen and Chris Burke, the council rejected the request, resolving instead that concerned parties contact the relevant Minister themselves as Council is not the appropriate authority.

Objectors were "advised to contact the relevant Minister, their Local State Member and/or the Department of Environment, Conservation and Water if they have any ongoing concerns with the proposal".

"Council is not the approval nor the administrative authority for this development," according to the amendment which was carried by the council.

Council Agenda UM.7, 14 Dec 2010