Loder v Narrabri Shire Council (No 2) [2021] NSWLEC 33

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Loder v Narrabri Shire Council (No 2) [2021] NSWLEC 33 Hearing dates: 15, 23 February 2021 (written submissions) Date of orders: 15 April 2021 Decision date: 15 April 2021 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Pain J Decision: (1) The Applicant is to pay the Council's costs of the substantive proceedings. (2) The Applicant is to pay the Council's costs of the costs hearing. (3) The exhibits are returned. Catchwords: COSTS – unsuccessful applicant in Class 4 proceedings seeking variation of usual costs order on basis that public interest litigation – vacancy in civic office of counsellor following absence from three consecutive council meetings – "something more" identified in Caroona Coal Action Group Inc v Coal Mines Australia Pty Ltd (No 3) (2010) 173 LGERA 280; [2010] NSWLEC 59 not demonstrated – usual costs order made Legislation Cited: Land and Environment Court Rules 2007 (NSW) r 4.2 Local Government Act 1919 (NSW) Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) ss 232, 234, 355, Ch 12 Pt 2 Div 2 (s 360) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 42.1 Cases Cited: Anderson on behalf of Numbahjing Clan within Bundjalung Nation v NSW Minister for Planning (No 2) (2008) 163 LGERA 132; [2008] NSWLEC 272 Bat Advocacy NSW Inc v Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts (2011) 280 ALR 91; [2011] FCAFC 84 Botany Bay City Council v Minister for Local Government (No 2) [2016] NSWCA 127 Caroona Coal Action Group Inc v Coal Mines Australia Pty Ltd (No 3) (2010) 173 LGERA 280; [2010] NSWLEC 59 Engadine Area Traffic Action Group Inc v Sutherland Shire Council (No 2) (2004) 136 LGERA 365; [2004] NSWLEC 434 Local Democracy Matters Inc v Infrastructure NSW (No 2) [2019] NSWCA 118 Local Democracy Matters Inc v Infrastructure NSW; Waverley Council v Infrastructure NSW (No 4) [2019] NSWLEC 140 Loder v Narrabri Shire Council [2020] NSWLEC 109 Millers Point Fund Inc v Lendlease (Millers Point) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2017] NSWLEC 29 Oshlack v Richmond River Shire Council (1994) 82 LGERA 236 People for the Plains Inc v Santos NSW (Eastern) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2017] NSWCA 157 Ryan v Heiler (1990) 69 LGRA 307 Category: Costs Parties: Ann Loder (Applicant) Narrabri Shire Council (Respondent) Representation: COUNSEL: R White (Applicant) J Lazarus SC (Respondent)