Our position is that City Hall should, in the interests of accountability and honesty, explain its reasoning for approving the Hale Street Link project. So, as is our lawful right, in December 2006 we asked City Hall to provide us with a statement of reasons for its decision.

Following unsatisfactory responses from City Hall, in February 2007 we wrote to the Ombudsman requesting an investigation of Council's HSL decision and associated processes. The Ombudsman's office assigned our request high priority and is proceeding with its investigation urgently. It is expected to reach its conclusions and release its findings quite soon.

Based upon the information presented in the Environmental Impact Statement commissioned by BCC there is no valid traffic case for another CBD bridge. On 13 October 2006 Councillor Graham Quirk admitted on ABC radio that the proposed Hale Street Link would not remove one car from Brisbane ’s roads.

In the absence of any positive traffic case we’re left with many questions about Council’s handling of the public processes preceding its November 2006 decision to proceeed with the project.

It's now well known that management of the John Holland Group urged staff to make submissions into the HSL public consultation process. Lord Mayor Campbell Newman subsequently announced that the John Holland Group is one of only two consortiums bidding for the lucrative Hale Street tollbridge project.

Two more incredible pieces of information have come to light since City Hall’s decision to proceed.

First, the Council has still not concluded negotiations to acquire the land required for the bridge’s landing site in South Brisbane . The owner of that land is still in dispute with Council over its handling of the process.

Second, on 4BC radio last Tuesday (10 April) Councillor Quirk revealed that City Hall’s decision to proceed with the project had more to do with secret Council opinion polling than the proper public submissions process. This revelation is highly disturbing and has serious ramifications for local development across Brisbane .

This issue is developing many arms. Our immediate focus is to keep awareness high.

Until those final contracts are signed, we have every chance of success in stopping this ill conceived, financially and environmentally irresponsible waste of ratepayers money. Please stay with us.

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View media releases about some notable recent campaign activities:

1. The ongoing Ombudsman's investigation into HSL processes initiated by our campaign
http://www.stopthehalestreetbridge.org/downloads/media%20releases/HSL%20media%20release%20210207.doc
http://www.stopthehalestreetbridge.org/downloads/media%20releases/HSL%20media%20release%20170407.doc
2. Our support for residents in the vicinity of Hale Street Milton
http://www.stopthehalestreetbridge.org/downloads/media%20releases/HSL%20media%20release%20150307.doc
3. Our participation in the successful 'Walk for Sustainable Transport'
http://www.stopthehalestreetbridge.org/downloads/media%20releases/HSL%20media%20release%20180207.doc
4. Address to the BCC council chamber by Larissa Waters on councillors' contravention of their code of conduct over HSL
http://www.stopthehalestreetbridge.org/downloads/media%20releases/HSL%20media%20release%20130207.doc
http://www.stopthehalestreetbridge.org/downloads/media%20releases/Statement%20to%20BCC%20Waters%2013Feb07.doc