14 May 2009
OUTCOME OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS WELCOMED
Melbourne Water has welcomed the outcome of today’s legal proceedings at the Seymour Magistrates’ Court, which resulted in the dropping of some trespass charges against individual Sugarloaf Pipeline workers.
The remaining cases have been adjourned until a separate legal matter - obstruction charges brought under the Water Act against a pipeline opponent - is heard. This obstruction matter is scheduled for 9 June 2009.
A total of three sets of charges laid against workers on 13 January 2009 were dropped today. This reduces the number of workers and contractors at risk of prosecution from seven down to five.
Melbourne Water Project Director, Rod Clifford, said:
"We welcome the decision today to drop some of the charges against our workers, because it means two of the men involved can now get on with their lives without this action hanging over them.
"Given the Magistrate’s comments today, we hope pipeline opponents will reconsider the merits of the charges against the other five workers, who were also just doing their jobs.
"The Magistrate ordered the adjournment of the trespass charges until the underlying legal question of Melbourne Water’s right to enter private land to construct the pipeline is heard," he added.
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