Aerotropolis Pty Ltd v Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment [2023] NSWCCA 195

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Aerotropolis Pty Ltd v Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment [2023] NSWCCA 195 Hearing dates: 19 June 2023 Date of orders: 10 August 2023 Decision date: 10 August 2023 Before: Adamson JA at [1]; Price J at [2]; Dhanji J at [143] Decision: 1. Grant leave to appeal; 2. Dismiss the appeal; 3. Remit the proceedings to the Land and Environment Court of NSW for mention on 11 August 2023. Catchwords: CRIME – appeal pursuant to s 5F of the Criminal Appeal Act in respect of an interlocutory decision of the Land and Environment Court – whether commencement of proceedings were time barred – calculation of limitation periods – construction of s 13.4(2) of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 ('BC Act') and s 190(1)(b) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 ('NPW Act') – whether s 36 of the Interpretation Act 1987 excluded by s 13.4(4) of the BC Act and s 190(4) of the NPW Act. Legislation Cited: Acts Interpretation Act 1931 (Tas) s 29(3) Acts Interpretation Act 1954-1977 (Qld) s 38 Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW) ss 1.3, 2.2, 2.4, 13.4 Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (NSW) Companies (Western Australia) Code, ss 229, 570 Corporations Law, s 1316 County Court Act 1958 (Vic) s 74(2)(a) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) s 5F Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) s 179(1) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) ss 127(5), 127(5A) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 128 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) ss 5(2), 36 Justices Act 1959 (Tas) s 26(1) Legal Profession Uniform Application Act 2014 (NSW) s 5(1) Limitation of Actions Act 1974 (Qld) s 11 Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ss 476, 478 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) ss 2A, 118A, 118D, 190 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) s 64 Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2005 cll 5, 6 Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) ss 74N(4), 81G(4) Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (Qld) s 55 Cases Cited: Akins v Abigroup Ltd (1998) 43 NSWLR 539 Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (2009) 239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41 Attorney-General (Cth) v Oates (1999) 198 CLR 162; [1999] HCA 35 Beveridge v Whitton [2001] NSWCA 6 Brunner v Greenslade [1971] Ch 993 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Sommerville [2019] NSWLEC 155 Dodds v Walker [1981] 1 WLR 1027 Environment Protection Authority v Condon (2014) 86 NSWLR 499; [2014] NSWCA 149 Environment Protection Authority v Truegain Pty Ltd (2013) 85 NSWLR 125; [2013] NSWCCA 204 Ex parte Toohey's Limited; Re Butler (1934) 34 SR (NSW) 277 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd (2007) 230 CLR 89; [2007] HCA 22 Hands v Law Society (1890) 17 Ontario App 41 Hill v Zuda Pty Ltd [2022] HCA 21 Lester v Garland (1808) 15 Ves Jun 248 Marshall v Director-General, Department of Transport (2001) 25 CLR 603; [2001] HCA 37 Maxwell v Murphy (1957) 96 CLR 261; [1957] HCA 7 McPherson v Lawless [1960] VR 363 Morgans v Director of Public Prosecutions [1999] 2 Cr App 99 Morton v Hampson [1962] VR 364 Peacock v The Queen (1858) 4 CB (NS) 264 Price v JF Thompson (Qld) Pty Ltd [1990] 1 Qd R 278 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 R v A2 (2019) 269 CLR 507; [2019] HCA 35 R v Obeid (No 2) [2015] NSWSC 1380 Reynolds v Reynolds [1941] VR 249 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Aerotropolis Pty Ltd [2023] LEC 4 Susiatin v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (1998) 83 FCR 574; [1998] FCA 825 Taheri v Vitek (2014) 87 NSWLR 403; [2014] NSWCCA 209 Tillman v Attorney-General NSW (2007) 70 NSWLR 448; [2007] NSWCA 327 Totaan v R (2022) 108 NSWLR 17; [2022] NSWCCA 75 Union Shipping New Zealand Limited v Morgan (2002) 54 NSWLR 690 V R Dye & Co v Peninsula Hotels Pty Ltd (In Liq) [1993] 3 VR 201 Wignalls Smallgoods Pty Ltd v Kent (2002) 10 Tas R 460 Willoughby City Council v Screnci [2015] NSWLEC 192 Ying v Song [2009] NSWSC 1344 Texts Cited: J D Heydon, Limits to the Powers of Ultimate Appellate Courts (2006) 122 LQR 399 Dennis Charles Pearce, Statutory Interpretation in Australia (1974, Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Aerotropolis Pty Ltd (Applicant) Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr P Herzfeld SC/Mr J Wherrett (Applicant) Ms N Sharp SC/Ms S Patterson (Respondent)