Blue Mountains City Council is going to court in an attempt to stop Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton suspending it.

The decision has been widely slammed, including by Greens Councillor Kerry Brown has said the council’s legal costs have already reached $1-million.

Local residents have criticised the move for being a waste of ratepayer funds.

A council spokesperson says the legal costs are unknown at this point.

Ray Hadley is placing the relationship of former senior council member Mark Mulligan and lawyer Michael Tooma, who was employed to lead an independent investigation into asbestos issues at the council, in the spotlight again.

Council claims Mr Tooma and Mr Mulligan’s relationship was professional and came to an “effective end in 2012”.

Mr Tooma was a lead referee on Mulligan’s resume in 2016.

In 2010, a horse named Mercier Amour raced with Mark Mulligan and Michael Tooma listed as the owners.

“It’s a very professional relationship. Not only are they work colleagues but they’re also partnerships in racehorses,” Ray says.

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