Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action Incorporated (INC 1901160) v Narrabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd (ACN 129850139) [2023] NSWLEC 69

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action Incorporated (INC 1901160) v Narrabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd (ACN 129850139) [2023] NSWLEC 69 Hearing dates: 15, 16, 17 February and 8 March 2023 Date of orders: 05 July 2023 Decision date: 05 July 2023 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Duggan J Decision: See paragraphs 187 and 188 Catchwords: JUDICIAL REVIEW – challenge to the grant of development consent by the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) for an extension to an Underground Mine – whether the decision was legally unreasonable – whether interim findings were legally necessary to enable the IPC to make a legally reasonable decision – whether the statutory context required interim findings to be expressly made by the IPC – whether an inference should be drawn that the IPC's assessment of impacts of the Extension Project could not be within the range of possible lawful outcomes as an exercise of power – whether Extension Project was in the public interest – Summons dismissed Legislation Cited: Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991 (NSW) Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 (NSW) State Environmental Planning Policy (Resources and Energy) 2021 (NSW) Cases Cited: ABT17 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2020) 269 CLR 439 Bat Advocacy NSW Inc v Minister for the Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts (2011) 180 LGERA 99 BRF038 v Republic of Nauru (2017) 91 ALJR 1197 Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association Inc v Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and Warkworth Mining (2013) 194 LGERA 347 BZD17 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2018) 263 FCR 292 Carstens v Pittwater Council (1999) 111 LGERA 1 Comcare v Banerji (2019) 267 CLR 373 IOF Custodian Pty Limited atf the 105 Miller Street North Sydney Trust v Special Minister of State [2022] NSWLEC 86 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Singh (2014) 231 FCR 437 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Stretton (2016) 237 FCR 1 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZFVW (2018) 264 CLR 541 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZMTA (2019) 264 CLR 421 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZSNW (2014) 229 FCR 197 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZMDS (2010) 240 CLR 611 Minister for Planning v Walker (2008) 161 LGERA 423 Minster for Immigration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332 NEAT Domestic Trading Pty Ltd v AWB Ltd (2003) 216 CLR 277 Payne v Deer [2000] 1 Qd R 535 Plaintiff S183/2021 v Minister for Home Affairs (2022) 96 ALJR 464 Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v Shade Systems Pty Ltd (2018) 264 CLR 1 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Applicant S20/2002 (2003) 77 ALJR 1165 Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission (NSW) v Browning (1947) 74 CLR 492 Weal v Bathurst City Council (2000) 111 LGERA 181 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action Incorporated (INC 1901160) (Applicant) Narrabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd (ACN 129850139) (First Respondent) Independent Planning Commission of NSW (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: K Stern SC, D Hume and E Dunlop (Applicant) S Free SC and J Davidson (First Respondent) B Kaplan (Second Respondent)