THE fight over radio towers on a property in Purnim will again go before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) next week, when Moyne Shire will try to find out who is responsible for limiting electrical interference.
The fight of John Howard against Moyne Shire over its permit for ACE Radio to build the towers has spanned years, millions of dollars and time in the Supreme Court.
Mr Howard has since abandoned his home because of apparent health problems caused by electrical interference from the nearby towers.
“I avoid the place, it’s like stepping into a microwave,” Mr Howard said.
But next week’s explanation of bureaucratic lingo could sound out whether it is council or ACE Radio which is responsible for making remedial works.
Moyne Shire deputy mayor James Purcell said wording of a term in the decision had left councillors and officers scratching their heads.
“Rather than trying to interpret it, we’re going to go and ask them,” Cr Purcell said yesterday.
Moyne mayor Jim Doukas said the Thursday hearing would determine responsibility.
“It’s a clarification on what works have to be done and to what degree,” Cr Doukas told The Standard.
The previous challenge in VCAT by Mr Howard was unsuccessful after the tribunal supported a planning permit which was later verbally amended without Mr Howard’s knowledge, leading the towers being built closer to his rural property on Blighs Road.
Yesterday, Mr Howard said he would attend the latest VCAT hearing but doubted it would provide any real outcome.
He is pushing for the matter to be brought before an independent inquiry or returned to VCAT.
Mr Howard, with support of the Moyne Ratepayers Action Group, has argued that incomplete evidence was given at the VCAT hearing
“The council has simply gone there and not told the truth,” he said.