North East Forest Alliance Incorporated (INC1601738) v Forestry Corporation of NSW [2023] NSWLEC 124

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: North East Forest Alliance Incorporated (INC1601738) v Forestry Corporation of NSW [2023] NSWLEC 124 Hearing dates: 14 to 15 August, 7 September 2023 Date of orders: 20 November 2023 Decision date: 20 November 2023 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Pritchard J Decision: Orders at [287] Catchwords: JUDICIAL REVIEW – decision to approve operational plans – forestry operations – jurisdiction and justiciability of grounds of review in relation to integrated forestry operations approval – standing to sue under s 69ZA of the Forestry Act 2012 (NSW) – common law test of standing to sue – special interest – admissibility of expert evidence in judicial review proceedings – whether compliance with the conditions of the Coastal Integrated Forestry Operations Approval 2018 a mandatory consideration – whether principles of ecologically sustainable forestry management a mandatory precondition or consideration – whether site specific operating conditions a mandatory precondition or consideration Legislation Cited: Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) s 9.45 Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) Fisheries Management Act 1994 (NSW) Part 7A Forestry Act 2012 (NSW) ss 3, 5, 10, 11, 19, 45, 69G, 69L, 69M, 69N, 69NA, 69P, 69Q, 69R, 69RA, 69SA, 69SB, 69ZA Forestry Legislation Amendment Act 2018 (NSW) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) s 3 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW) s 20 National Parks & Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) s 193 Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991 (NSW) s 6 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) ss 120, 219, 252, 253 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 13.4, 14.28, 31.19, 31.20 Cases Cited: Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd v Spalvins (1998) 81 FCR 360; (1998) 152 ALR 418 Anvil Hill Project Watch Association Inc v Minister for Environment and Water Resources (2008) 166 FCR 54; [2008] FCAFC 3 Attorney General (NSW) v Quin (1990) 170 CLR 1; [1990] HCA 21 Australian Conservation Foundation v Minister for Resources (1989) 76 LGRA 200; (1989) 19 ALD 70; [1989] FCA 794 Australian Conservation Foundation v The Commonwealth (1980) 146 CLR 493; [1980] HCA 53 Australian Heritage Commission v Mount Isa Mines (1997) 179 CLR 297; [1997] HCA 10 Bateman's Bay Local Aboriginal Land Council v Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund Pty Ltd (1998) 194 CLR 247; [1998] HCA 49 Bridgetown-Greenbushes Friends of the Forest Inc v Executive Director (1997) 18 WAR 126; (1997) 94 LGERA 380 Buck v Bavone (1976) 135 CLR 110; [1976] HCA 24 Caldera Environment Centre Incorporated v Tweed Shire Council [1993] NSWLEC 102 El Khouri v Gemaveld Pty Limited (2023) 256 LGERA 24; [2023] NSWCA 78 Haughton v Minister for Planning (2011) 185 LGERA 373; [2011] NSWLEC 217 Hossain v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2018) 264 CLR 123; [2018] HCA 34 Initial Action Pty Ltd v Woollahra Council (2018) 236 LGERA 256; [2018] NSWLEC 118 Lo v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue (2013) 85 NSWLR 86; [2013] NSWCA 180 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Limited (1986) 162 CLR 24; [1986] HCA 40 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332; [2013] HCA 18 Mundine v Forestry Corporation NSW [2022] NSWLEC 140 Muswellbrook Council v Hunter Valley Energy Pty Ltd (2019) 238 LGERA 295; [2019] NSWCA 216 Muswellbrook Shire Council v Hunter Valley Energy Coal Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 184 MZAPC v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2021) 273 CLR 506; [2021] HCA 17 Nathanson v Minister for Home Affairs (2022) 96 ALJR 737; [2022] HCA 26 North Coast Environment Council Inc v Minister for Resources (No 2) (1994) 55 FCR 492; (1994) 85 LGERA 270 North Queensland Conservation Council Inc v Executive Director, Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service [2000] QSC 172 Onus v Alcoa of Australia Ltd (1981) 149 CLR 27; [1981] HCA 50 Robinson v Western Australian Museum (1977) 138 CLR 283; [1977] HCA 46 Ross v Lane (2022) 255 LGERA 136; [2022] NSWCA 235 Shellharbour City Council v Minister for Planning (2011) 189 LGERA 348; [2011] NSWCA 195 South Pacific Air Motive Pty Ltd v Magnus (1998) 87 FCR 301; (1998) 157 ALR 443 Stanley v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (2023) 407 ALR 222; [2023] HCA 3 Timbarra Protection Coalition v Ross Mining (1999) 46 NSWLR 55; [1999] NSWCA 8 Trives v Hornsby Shire Council (2015) 89 NSWLR 268; [2015] NSWCA 158 VicForests v Kinglake Friends of the Forest Inc (2021) 395 ALR 367; (2021) 248 LGERA 28; [2021] VSCA 195 Woolworths Ltd v Pallas Newco Pty Ltd (2004) 61 NSWLR 707; [2004] NSWCA 422 Texts Cited: Coastal Integrated Forestry Operations Approval 2018 (published by NSW Environment Protection Authority, November 2018) Mark Aronson et al, Judicial Review of Administrative Action and Government Liability (7th ed, 2022, Thomson Reuters (Professional) Australia Limited) Leeming, Authority to Decide: The Law of Jurisdiction in Australia (2nd ed, 2000, The Federation Press) Category: Principal judgment Parties: North East Forest Alliance Incorporated (INC 1601738) (Applicant) Forestry Corporation of NSW (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: M R Hall SC with N Hammond and P Hart (Applicant) I Hemmings SC with J McKelvey (Respondent) Solicitors: Environmental Defenders Office (Applicant) Norton Rose Fulbright Australia (Respondent) File Number(s): 2023/239296 Publication restriction: Nil