Hika Tarawa Te-Kowhai v Transport for New South Wales [2021] NSWLEC 145

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hika Tarawa Te-Kowhai v Transport for New South Wales [2021] NSWLEC 145 Hearing dates: 17, 18, 19, 22 and 25 November 2021 Date of orders: 10 December 2021 Decision date: 10 December 2021 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Duggan J Decision: See paragraphs 132 and 133 Catchwords: ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING — whether Aboriginal heritage impact permit (AHIP) required to undertake test excavation work — harm to Aboriginal objects under s 86 of National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 — exclusion of certain acts from definition of harm — statutory construction of requirement 14 of Code of Practice for Archaeological Investigation of Aboriginal Objects in New South Wales — proximity of test excavations to burial sites, shell middens, conflict sites — interpretation of known, likely, suspected — no breach found — ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING — whether test excavations contrary to principles of ecologically sustainable development — claim not substantiated — ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING — whether Applicant denied procedural fairness — no denial found — Summons dismissed Legislation Cited: Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) National Parks and Wildlife Regulation 2019 (NSW) Cases Cited: Kioa v West (1985) 159 CLR 550 House of Peace Pty Ltd v Bankstown City Council (2000) 48 NSWLR 498 Texts Cited: Macquarie Dictionary (3rd ed, 2001) Michael Organ, Illawarra and South Coast Aborigines 1770-1850 (1990, Aboriginal Education Unit, University of Wollongong) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Hika Tarawa Te-Kowhai (Applicant) Transport for New South Wales (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr A Oshlack, agent (Applicant) Mr R White (Respondent)