Costs Awarded to HDC in Sports Park Case

The Hawke’s Bay Land Protection Society has been ordered to pay Hastings District Council $10,000 plus disbursements

Earlier this year, the Hawke’s Bay Protection Society initiated a judicial review in the High Court of the consent process followed by Hastings District Council for the Sports Park grandstand.

Justice Miller dismissed the review in a verbal judgement on the day of the hearing.

Hastings District Council sought payment of legal costs and yesterday Justice Miller awarded costs against the society.

Hastings District Council chief executive Ross McLeod says this award is appropriate given the lack of justification of the society’s lawsuit.

“It is unfortunate that the rules around cost don’t allow for us to recover the full costs to ratepayers caused by the society,” Mr McLeod says.

Justice Miller also awarded $7,969.73 in disbursement costs to the Sports Park Trust, the second defendant in the case.