Muscat Developments Pty Ltd v Wollondilly Shire Council [2023] NSWLEC 121

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Muscat Developments Pty Ltd v Wollondilly Shire Council [2023] NSWLEC 121 Hearing dates: 13 and 14 July 2023 Date of orders: 09 November 2023 Decision date: 09 November 2023 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Preston CJ Decision: The Court orders: (1) The appeal is upheld. (2) The decision and orders of Commissioner Bish of 7 December 2022 are set aside. (3) The proceedings are remitted to a Commissioner, other than Commissioner Bish, to be determined in accordance with law and these reasons for judgment. (4) The respondent is to pay the appellant's costs of the appeal. Catchwords: APPEAL – question of law – Commissioner's decision to refuse consent to remediation works – misconstruction of applicable statutory instrument – misdirection by consideration of non-applicable statute – no error of law in wrong findings of fact. Legislation Cited: Contaminated Land Management Act 1997 (NSW) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) ss 4.2(1), 4.15(1)(e), 4.16(1), 8.7(1), Land and Environment Court Act (NSW) ss 38(2), 39(4), 56A Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) ss 3, 7(1), 142A,144AAB State Environmental Planning Policy (Resilience and Hazards) 2021 (NSW) ss 4.6(1), 4.8, 4.10, 4.14(1) Wollondilly Development Control Plan 2016 Wollondilly Local Environmental Plan 2011 cll 2.3(2), 7.5(3) Cases Cited: Abret Pty Ltd v Wingecarribee Shire Council (2011) 180 LGERA 343; [2011] NSWCA 107 Arrage v Inner West Council [2019] NSWLEC 85 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321; [1990] HCA 33 Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries Ltd (1985) 4 NSWLR 139 Baulkham Hills Shine v Basemount Pty Ltd (2003) 126 LGERA 339; [2003] NSWCA 189 Botany Bay City Council v Pet Carriers International Pty Ltd (2013) 201 LGERA 116; [2013] NSWLEC 147 Castle Constructions Pty Ltd v North Sydney Council (2007) 155 LGERA 52; [2007] NSWLEC 164 Denoci Pty Ltd v Liverpool City Council [2020] NSWLEC 102 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2000) 205 CLR 337; [2000] HCA 63 Forgall Pty Ltd v Greater Taree City Council (2015) 209 LGERA 160; [2015] NSWLEC 61 Forgall Pty Ltd v Greater Taree City Council [2015] NSWCA 340 Gales-Kingscliff Pty Ltd v Tweed Shire Council (No 2) [2007] NSWLEC 817 Hope v Bathurst City Council (1980) 144 CLR 1 Initial Action Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council (2018) 236 LGERA 256; [2018] NSWLEC 118 Intrapak Skennars Head Pty Ltd v Ballina Shire Council [2021] NSWLEC 1006 Jeffrey v Canterbury Bankstown Council (2021) 250 LGERA 340; [2021] NSWLEC 73 Kostas v HIA Insurance Services Pty Ltd (2010) 241 CLR 390; [2010] HCA 32 McDougall v Warringah Shire Council (1993) 30 NSWLR 258 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZMTA (2019) 264 CLR 421; [2019] HCA 3 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZRKT (2013) 212 FCR 99; [2013] FCA 317 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf (2001) 206 CLR 323; [2001] HCA 30 Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services & Multicultural Affairs v Viane (2021) 274 CLR 398; [2021] HCA 41 Moss v Kiama Council (2003) 127 LGERA 83; [2003] NSWLEC 165 Muscat Developments Pty Ltd v Wollondilly Shire Council [2021] NSWLEC 1758 Muscat Developments Pty Ltd v Wollondilly Shire Council [2022] NSWLEC 1682 NSW Associated Blue-Metal Quarries Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1955) 94 CLR 509 Preferred Projects (Buildings) Pty Ltd v Warringah Council (1999) 106 LGERA 144; [1999] NSWLEC 283 Ralph Lauren Pty Ltd v Transitional Coastal Panel (2018) 235 LGERA 345; [2018] NSWLEC 207 Randwick Municipal Council v Manousaki (1988) 66 LGRA 330 Reznitsky v District Court of New South Wales [2015] NSWCA 194 R (on the application of Thurston Parish Council) v Mid Suffolk District Council v Bloor Homes Limited [2023] JPL 494; [2022] EWCA Civ 1417 Segal v Waverley Council (2005) 64 NSWLR 177; [2005] NSWCA 310 The Australian Gas Light Company v The Valuer-General (1940) 40 SR (NSW) 126; (1940) 14 LGR (NSW) 149 Torbey Investments Corporated Pty Ltd v Ferrara [2017] NSWCA 9 Universal Property Group Pty Ltd v Blacktown City Council (No 2) (2014) NSWLEC 115 Veterinary Surgeons' Board of Western Australia v Alexander [2013] WASC 136 Warkworth Mining Ltd v Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association Inc (2014) 86 NSWLR 527; [2014] NSWCA 105 Woollahra Municipal Council v SJD DB2 Pty Limited (2021) 250 LGERA 340; [2020] NSWLEC 115 Zhang v Canterbury City Council (2001) 51 NSWLR 589; [2001] NSWCA 167 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Muscat Developments Pty Ltd (Appellant) Wollondilly Shire Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr J Lazarus SC with Dr J Smith (Appellant) Mr M Wright SC with Mr R White (Respondent)