Legal costs near half a million

Baw Baw Shire Council is quickly approaching $500,000 spent on legal fees this financial year.
Shire chief executive officer Mark Dupe said the legal costs to date were $473,260.
"This includes advice obtained from lawyers regarding property matters, contract administration and planning matters," Mr Dupe said.
Resident Don McLean sought the figures during community questions at the recent council meeting.
In a break down of legal fees into budget service areas, $243,305 was accrued in planning and development, $118,283 in property management, $39,867 in building and regulatory services, $28,794 in finance, rates and revenue, $21,976 for governance, and $21,035 for infrastructure delivery.
Maxine McLean sought costs to ratepayers for cleaning public areas in her questions.
Mr Dupe said $376,943 had been spent on litter and waste collection from public spaces and providing public bins, $159,000 for street, footpath and drain cleaning, and $264,000 for graffiti removal, tree planting and maintenance. All were for the current financial year as to the end of February.
Overall, council has spent $3.6 million on general and municipal environmental activities, including park maintenance, Mr Dupe said.