Council waiting for quarry payment

Champions Quarry Pty Ltd - that's former Lismore mayor Jeff Champion's operation - has launched new legal proceedings against Lismore City Council.

Champions Quarry appealed in the District Court about costs awarded to the Council, following Council's refusal to approve a development application for the quarry to be expanded and its output increased from 49,300 tonnes a year to 200,000 tonnes.

Champions Quarry now has appealed twice against some of the costs awarded against it.

When the company appeals, the original cost award is upheld, and further costs of each appeal are added.

Two attempts by Council to reach an out-of-court settlement failed. After the first, Council's solicitors applied to the Supreme Court for an assessment of costs to date.

These costs now stand at $32,000. Champions Quarry has appealed again, but it's up to the court whether the matter can proceed as the appeal was lodged outside the appeal timeframe. A hearing date has been set for May 31.