The Trustee for Whitcurt Unit Trust v Transport for NSW [2021] NSWLEC 82

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The Trustee for Whitcurt Unit Trust v Transport for NSW [2021] NSWLEC 82 Hearing dates: 27-30 April 2021 Date of orders: 30 July 2021 Decision date: 30 July 2021 Jurisdiction: Class 3 Before: Pain J Decision: (1) Compensation for disturbance under s 55(d) of the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 is determined in the sum of $118,380.98. (2) Costs are reserved. Catchwords: COMPULSORY ACQUISITION – council land used for golf driving range business acquired – compensation claim by leaseholder/operator of business – claim for disturbance for business relocation under s 59(1)(c) of the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 – claim dismissed COMPULSORY ACQUISITION – alternative claim for business reinstatement under s 56(3) of the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 as market value – claim dismissed COMPULSORY ACQUISITION – alternative claim of special value for leasehold interest acquired – claim dismissed Legislation Cited: Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (NSW) ss 3, 4, 19, 20, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 66 Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Amendment Act 2016 (NSW) Land Acquisition Act 1969 (SA) s 25 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW) s 19 Lands Acquisition Act 1989 (Cth) ss 55, 58 Public Works Act 1912 (NSW) s 124 Cases Cited: Alexandria Landfill Pty Ltd v Roads and Maritime Services [2019] NSWLEC 98 Alexandria Landfill Pty Ltd v Transport for NSW (2020) 103 NSWLR 479; [2020] NSWCA 165 Banno v Commonwealth (1993) 81 LGERA 34 Boland v Yates Property Corporation Pty Ltd (1999) 74 ALJR 209; [1999] HCA 64 Brown Bros (Marine) Holdings Pty Ltd v New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation (1991) 72 LGRA 50 Commissioner of Highways v Shipp Bros Pty Ltd (1978) 43 LGRA 355 Denshire v Roads and Maritime Services (2017) 229 LGERA 118; [2017] NSWLEC 181 Director of Buildings and Lands v Shun Fung Ironworks Ltd [1995] 1 All ER 846 El Boustani v Minister administering the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (2014) 199 LGERA 198; [2014] NSWCA 33 George D Angus Pty Limited v Health Administration Corporation [2013] NSWLEC 212 Horn v Sunderland Corporation [1941] 2 KB 26 Housing Commission (NSW) v Falconer [1981] 1 NSWLR 547 Hua v Hurstville City Council [2010] NSWLEC 61 Hubertus Schuetzenverein Liverpool Rifle Club Ltd v Commonwealth (1994) 85 LGERA 37 Keogh v Housing Commission of Victoria (No 2) (1969) 18 LGRA 295 Konduru T/as Warringah Road Family Medical Centre v Roads and Maritime Services; Konduru v Roads and Maritime Services; Konduru v Roads and Maritime Services [2017] NSWLEC 36 Kozararis v Roads Corporation [1991] 1 VR 237 Leichhardt Council v Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) (2006) 149 LGERA 439; [2006] NSWCA 353 Melino v Roads and Maritime Services (2018) 98 NSWLR 625; [2018] NSWCA 251 Monti v Roads and Maritime Services (No 4) (2019) 243 LGERA 302; [2019] NSWLEC 11 Nelungaloo Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1947) 75 CLR 495 Roads and Maritime Services v Allandale Blue Metal Pty Ltd (CA) (2016) 212 LGERA 307; [2016] NSWCA 7 Roads and Maritime Services v United Petroleum Pty Ltd (2019) 99 NSWLR 297; [2019] NSWCA 41 Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Perry (2001) 52 NSWLR 222; [2001] NSWCA 251 School Board for London v SE Railway Co (1887) 3 TLR 710 Sydney Water Corporation v Besmaw [2002] NSWCA 147 Sydney Water Corporation v Caruso (2009) 170 LGERA 298; [2009] NSWCA 391 Taylor v Roads and Maritime Services [2016] NSWLEC 138 The Minister v New South Wales Aerated Water and Confectionary Co Ltd (1916) 22 CLR 56; [1916] HCA 48 Tolson v Roads and Maritime Services (2014) 201 LGERA 367; [2014] NSWCA 161 United Petroleum Pty Limited v Roads and Maritime Services [2018] NSWLEC 35 Yates Property Corporation Pty Ltd (in liq) v Darling Harbour Authority (1991) 24 NSWLR 156 Texts Cited: Alan Hyam, The Law Affecting Valuation of Land in Australia (6th ed, 2020, Federation Press) Charles Cripps, A Treatise on the Principles of the Law of Compensation (5th ed, 1905, Stevens and Sons) Clifford Collins, Valuation, Compensation and Land Tax (3rd ed, 1949, Law Book Co) NSW Department of Finance, Review of the NSW Land Acquisition (Just Terms) Compensation Act 1991 (February 2014) Nick Brunton, "Out of Land and Out of Pocket: An Update on Disturbance under the NSW Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991" (2019) 23 Local Government Law Journal 3 NSW Department of Finance, Government response – Review of the NSW Land Acquisition (Just Terms) Compensation Act 1991 (18 December 2014) Category: Principal judgment Parties: The Trustee for Whitcurt Unit Trust (Applicant) Transport for NSW (Respondent) Representation: COUNSEL: N Eastman (Applicant) A Mitchelmore SC and M Astill (Respondent) SOLICITORS: Simpson Partners (Applicant) Norton Rose Fulbright (Respondent) File Number(s): 20/182615