Sydney Metro v Expandamesh Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 200

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Sydney Metro v Expandamesh Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 200 Hearing dates: 26 May 2023 Date of orders: 29 August 2023 Decision date: 29 August 2023 Before: Leeming JA and Griffiths AJA at [1]; Simpson AJA at [91] Decision: (1) Appeal allowed, with no order as to costs with the intention that each party bear its own costs. (2) Orders (1), (2), (3) and (4) dated 24 November 2022 in the Land and Environment Court be set aside and in lieu thereof, the following order be made: The respondent is entitled to no compensation under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (NSW) by operation of cl 2 of Sch 6B of the Transport Administration Act 1988 (NSW) in respect of the acquisition of the substratum of its land the subject of the official notice published in the NSW Government Gazette dated 11 November 2017. (3) The issue of costs of the primary proceedings be remitted to the Land and Environment Court. Catchwords: APPEALS – Appeal from Land and Environment Court – Requirement for appeal to be from an order or decision on a question of law – Whether all grounds meet this requirement STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – Conventional approaches to interpretation – Meaning of "the surface of the overlying soil is disturbed" – Text, context and purpose central to interpretation – Where de minimis principle apt – Extrinsic materials reveal protective purpose in favour of State COMPULSORY ACQUISITION – Compensation – three pre-conditions established by Sch 6B of Transport Administration Act 1988 (NSW) – Where pre-conditions exist in legislation dating back to 1880 – Whether 1.5mm or modestly greater subsidence of soil following tunnelling works by State entitle registered proprietor to compensation under Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (NSW) Legislation Cited: Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 (Cth), s 33 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), s 33 Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (NSW), ss 54, 55, 56, 62 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW), s 57 Lands for Public Purposes Acquisition Act 1880 (NSW), s 18 Mining Regulation 2016 (NSW), cl 5 of Sch 8A Property for Public Purposes Acquisition Act 1901 (Cth), ss 2, 10 Public Works Act 1900 (NSW), s 117 Public Works Act 1912 (NSW), s 124 Transport Administration Act 1988 (NSW), s 98, Sch 6A, cll 1, 2 of Sch 6B Valuation of Land Act 1916 (NSW) Cases Cited: AMP Capital Investors Limited v Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation (2008) 163 LGERA 245; [2008] NSWCA 325 Australian Security and Investments Commission v King (2020) 270 CLR 1; [2020] HCA 4 B & L Linings Pty Ltd v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue (2008) 74 NSWLR 481; [2008] NSWCA 187 Bligh Consulting Pty Ltd v Ausgrid [2017] NSWCA 95 CIC Insurance Ltd v Bankstown Football Club (1997) 187 CLR 384; [1997] HCA 2 Expandamesh Pty Ltd v Sydney Metro (No 3) [2022] NSWLEC 137 Farnell Electronic Electric Components Pty Ltd v Collector of Customs (1996) 72 FCR 125; [1996] FCA 1135 Hornsby Shire Council v Gosper (1993) 82 LGERA 1 House of Peace Pty Ltd v Bankstown City Council (2000) 48 NSWLR 498; [2000] NSWCA 44 Li v Chief of Army (2013) 250 CLR 328; [2013] HCA 49 McNamara (McGrath) v Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal (2005) 221 CLR 646; [2005] HCA 55 Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations v Gribbles Radiology Pty Ltd (2005) 222 CLR 194; [2005] HCA 9 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Roads & Traffic Authority (NSW) v Peak [2007] NSWCA 66 Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Perry (2001) 52 NSWLR 222; [2001] NSWCA 251 Tolson v Roads and Maritime Services (2014) 201 LGERA 367; [2014] NSWCA 161 Walker Corporation Pty Ltd v Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (2008) 233 CLR 259; [2008] HCA 5 Texts Cited: F Bennion, Statutory Interpretation Category: Principal judgment Parties: Sydney Metro (Appellant) Expandamesh Pty Ltd (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: RC Beasley SC/L Waterson (Appellant) TS Hale SC/DW Robertson (Respondent)