The Age:  Yarra council accuses state of trying to gag link criticism (August 8, 2013) Henrietta Cook, State Political Reporter at The Age

The Arden Street ramps will go directly past the new Kensington apartment owned by Janine Mackenzie. Photo: Michael Clayton-Jones

The state government has been accused of silencing criticism of the east-west link after it told Yarra Council it had breached its powers by campaigning against the toll road.

Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell used the Local Government Act to order the inner-city council to hand over details of how much it had spent on its Trains Not Tollroads campaign, which opposes the east-west link in favour of public transport.

In a letter to the council dated July 12, Ms Powell said it was appropriate for councils to make representations to the state government on preferred options before a government decision, and to make representations to alleviate the impact of the project construction. ”It is a different matter to wage a public campaign against a project of state significance such as the east-west link that has been decided and which is lawfully within the jurisdiction of the state to determine … to do so, goes beyond the powers provided by the act.”

The residents of Bent Street, Kensington, may face worse news, with their properties slated to be acquired.

Yarra mayor Jackie Fristacky said the letter was undemocratic and went against the Local Government Act, which says the role of councils is to advocate in the interests of the community.

“It’s an attempt to silence the City of Yarra and its advocacy for its community and for Melbourne.” Continue Reading…