McMillan v Taylor [2023] NSWCA 183

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: McMillan v Taylor [2023] NSWCA 183 Hearing dates: 28 July 2023 Date of orders: 9 August 2023 Decision date: 09 August 2023 Before: Payne JA at [1]; Kirk JA at [2]; Basten AJA at [9] Decision: (1) Dismiss the summons for review filed 28 February 2023. (2) Order that the applicants pay the respondents' costs in this Court. Catchwords: JUDICIAL REVIEW – class 1 decision of Land and Environment Court – application for review by non-party – procedural unfairness – failure to consider merit of objections – whether duty to consider terminating conciliation conference to allow Court to determine appeal on merits – jurisdictional constraint on power of Court to make agreed orders ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING – refusal of development application – class 1 appeal to Land and Environment Court – mandatory conciliation conference – agreement to grant of consent on terms and conditions – Court to make orders to give effect to agreed decision if "one that the Court could have made in the proper exercise of its functions": Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW), s 34(3) – whether Court required to consider merits of decision Legislation Cited: Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth), s 5 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), Pt 6 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), ss 1.3, 4.15, 4.16, 8.7, 8.8, 8.14 Land and Environment Court Act 1979, ss 5, 17, 34, 34AA Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Cases Cited: Al Maha Pty Ltd v Huajun Investments Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 245; 233 AGERA 170 AQC Dartbrook Management Pty Ltd v Minister for Planning and Public Spaces (2021) 105 NSWLR 152; [2021] NSWCA 112 Australian Railways Union v Victorian Railways Commissioners (1930) 44 CLR 319; [1930] HCA 52 Campbell Taylor v Council of the Municipality of Woollahra [2022] NSWLEC 96 Campbell Taylor v Council of the Municipality of Woollahra (No 2) [2022] NSWLEC 106 El Khouri v Gemaveld Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 78 Insurance Australia Ltd t/a NRMA Insurance v Milton [2016] NSWCA 156 Macedonian Orthodox Community Church St Petka Inc v His Eminence Petar the Diocesan Bishop of the Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (2008) 237 CLR 66; [2008] HCA 42 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v WZARH (2015) 256 CLR 326; [2015] HCA 40 Mison v Randwick Municipal Council (1991) 23 NSWLR 734 Morrison Design Partnership Pty Ltd v North Sydney Council [2007] NSWLEC 802; 159 LGERA 361 Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v Shade Systems Pty Ltd (2018) 264 CLR 1; [2018] HCA 4 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs; Ex parte Lam (2003) 214 CLR 1; [2003] HCA 6 Shade Systems Pty Ltd v Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd (No 2) (2016) 95 NSWLR 157; [2016] NSWCA 379 The Queen v Bain; Ex parte Cadbury Schweppes Australia Ltd (1984) 159 CLR 163; [1984] HCA 9 Thomson Australian Holdings Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1981) 148 CLR 150; [1981] HCA 48 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Julie-Anne McMillan (First Applicant) Frances Ezra (Second Applicant) Jack Ezra (Third Applicant) Michael Hammond (Fourth Applicant) Lisa Stephens (Fifth Applicant) Campbell Taylor (First Respondent) Sarah Curtis (Second Respondent) Land and Environment Court of NSW (Third Respondent) Council of the Municipality of Woollahra (Fourth Respondent) Representation: Counsel: P Tomasetti SC / D Robertson (Applicants) T F Robertson SC / R White (First and Second Respondents)