Environmental group BEST says Planning experts’ opinions must be taken into account so as not to waste public money.Earlier this week the group claimed Government spent $500,000 on reviewing entrepreneur Belcario Thomas’ proposal for an “Ibiza style” temporary bar on Warwick Long Bay.The group claims the cost of all those involved in the decision-making process, including foreign experts and lawyers, totalled hundreds of thousandsof dollars.Government has not responded to a request for comment on the group’s claim.The bar was first proposed two-and-a-half years ago. At the time the Development Applications Board turned it down on the advice of several experts. However, former Minister Glenn Blakeney gave the beach bar the okay on an appeal, but did not explain why.BEST appealed the Minister’s decision at the Supreme Court stating “the Ministerial decision is illegal” and “is supported by no, or no adequate and sufficient evidence or enquiry”.At Supreme Court a Government lawyer said the Minister decided to concede the case on the basis that Mr Blakeney did not reveal his reasons for overturning the DAB’s decision.They also agreed to pay BEST’s legal costs. They were represented by lawyer Timothy Marshall.Yesterday, Stuart Hayward, said: “Our estimate was based on assessments of the manpower and related costs for Planning and legal staffing over the protracted two-and-a-half year life of this matter, including: The members of the Development Applications Board,l Several junior and senior members of the Planning staffl The overseas inspectorl Senior Civil Servantsl Two Cabinet Ministersl Staff in the Attorney General’s Chambers including two Crown counsell Supreme Court staff and judiciary.”Mr Hayward said he was not suggesting that all the money was “wasted”.“The costs associated with the initial application up to and including the appeal process were an appropriate expenditure. Beyond that is when the waste set in.“ It’s important to note that if we pay top dollar for local and overseas expertise, then disregard that expert advice, that is a waste of the public’s good money.“All of these experts the members of the DAB, the staff at the Department of Planning, the inspector brought in from overseas unanimously agreed that the application should have been turned down, and it was the failure of the Minister to take full advantage of those experts that led to the nearly two years of litigation and the unnecessary expense involved.“The waste of funds is starkly highlighted by the fact that the Government chose not to present a single iota of evidence or testimony during the hearings before Justice Kawaley.”