Crush and Haul Pty Limited v Environment Protection Authority [2023] NSWLEC 60

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Crush and Haul Pty Limited v Environment Protection Authority [2023] NSWLEC 60 Hearing dates: 24 May 2023 Date of orders: 08 June 2023 Decision date: 08 June 2023 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Pritchard J Decision: The Court makes the following orders: (1) The summons dated 19 April 2023 is dismissed. (2) The applicant to pay the respondent's costs. Catchwords: JUDICIAL REVIEW – development consent granted – integrated development – general terms of approval granted – environmental protection licence application deemed to be refused – whether refusal lawful – whether Environment Protection Authority (EPA) obliged to issue licence – whether question of fit and proper person lawfully considered after grant of general terms – statutory interpretation – whether s 4.50(1) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) overrides Chapter 3 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) (POEO Act) – s 7(2)(a) POEO Act – utility of relief – EPA power to revoke licence once granted – appeal dismissed Legislation Cited: Environment Protection and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) s 4.50 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 (NSW) cl 70 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 (NSW) s 45(1) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) ss 34(1), 34(2)(a), 34(2)(f) Mining Act 1992 (NSW) ss 380A, 396(1) Mining and Petroleum Legislation Amendment Act 2014 (NSW) Mining and Petroleum Legislation Amendment Act 2022 (NSW) Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991 (NSW) Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) ss 3, 7, Ch 3, ss 45, 46, 51, 53, 55, 60, 79, 83, 287 Cases Cited: Anthony Hordern & Sons Ltd v Amalgamated Clothing and Allied Trades Union of Australia (1932) 47 CLR 1 Butler v A-G (Vic) (1961) 106 CLR 268 CCOM Pty Ltd v Jiejing Pty Ltd (1992) 36 FCR 524 Commissioner of Police (NSW) v Eaton (2013) 252 CLR 1; [2013] HCA 2 Cooper Brookes (Wollongong) Pty Ltd 11 Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1981) 14 7 CLR 297 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Dick [2007] NSWCA 190; (2007) 242 ALR 152 Environment Protection Authority v Crush and Haul Pty Ltd [2022] NSWLEC 113 Goodwin v Phillips (1908) 7 CLR 1 Hunter Industrial Rental Equipment Pty Ltd v Dungog Shire Council (2019) 101 NSWLR 1; [2019] NSWCA 147 Mitty's Authorised Newsagency v Registrar of Trade Marks (1983) 78 FLR 217 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Rose v Hvric (1963) 108 CLR 353 Ross v The Queen (1979) 141 CLR 432 Shergold v Tanner (2002) 209 CLR 126; [2002] HC 19 SZBYR v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2007) 81 ALJR 1190 Taylor v The Owners – Strata Plan No 11564 (2014) 253 CLR 531 Textel Pty Ltd v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [1994] 2 VR 298 Trade Practices Commission v Collings Construction Co Pty Ltd (1994) 53 FCR 137 Texts Cited: Herzfeld and Prince, Interpretation (2nd ed, 2020, Thomson Reuters (Professional) Australia Limited) Pearce and Geddes, Statutory Interpretation in Australia (9th ed, 2019, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Crush and Haul Pty Limited (Applicant) Environment Protection Authority (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J Lazarus SC and C Novak (Applicant) R Beasley SC and B Kaplan (Respondent)