South East Forest Rescue Incorporated INC9894030 v Forestry Corporation of New South Wales [2024] NSWLEC 7

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: South East Forest Rescue Incorporated INC9894030 v Forestry Corporation of New South Wales [2024] NSWLEC 7 Hearing dates: 23 January 2024, further written submissions 24 January 2024, 25 January 2024, 5 February 2024 and 6 February 2024 Date of orders: 7 February 2024 Decision date: 07 February 2024 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Pritchard J Decision: The Court makes the following orders: (1) The applicant's amended notice of motion filed 23 January 2024 is dismissed. Catchwords: INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATION – injunction – forestry operations – civil enforcement proceedings – integrated forestry operations approval under Part 5B of the Forestry Act 2012 (NSW) – standing to sue – whether the common law test for standing applies in civil enforcement proceedings – serious question to be tried – balance of convenience. Legislation Cited: Archaeological and Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act 1972 (Vic) s 21 Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (NSW) Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW) ss 13.3, 13.14, 13.14A Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) s 56 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) s 9.4 Forestry Act 2012 (NSW) Part 5B, ss 5, 69L, 69N, 69R(1), 69S, 69SB, 69SC, 69ZA Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW) s 20(1)(cga) Land and Environment Court Rules 2007 (NSW) r 4.2(3) National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) s 193 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) ss 252, 253 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Sch 7 Cases Cited: Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Lenah Game Meats Pty Ltd (2001) 208 CLR 199; [2001] HCA 63 Australian Conservation Foundation v Commonwealth (1980) 146 CLR 493; [1980] HCA 53 Batemans Bay Local Aboriginal Land Council v Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund Ltd (1998) 194 CLR 247; [1998] HCA 49 Beecham Group Ltd v Bristol Laboratories Pty Ltd (1968) 118 CLR 618; [1968] HCA 1 Binginwarri Friends of the Jack and Albert River Catchment Area Inc v VicForests [2021] VSC 507 Binginwarri Friends of the Jack and Albert River Catchment Area Inc v VicForests [2021] VSC 824 Castlemaine Tooheys Ltd v South Australia (1986) 161 CLR 148; [1986] HCA 58 Coco v The Queen (1994) 179 CLR 427; [1994] HCA 15 Environment East Gippsland Inc v VicForests [2009] VSC 386 Environment East Gippsland Inc v VicForests (2010) 30 VR 1; [2010] VSC 335 Kuczborski v Queensland (2014) 254 CLR 51; [2014] HCA 46 North East Forest Alliance Incorporated v Forestry Corporation of NSW [2023] NSWLEC 124 Onus v Alcoa of Australia Ltd (1981) 149 CLR 27; [1981] HCA 50 Potter v Minahan (1908) 7 CLR 277; [1908] HCA 63 Robinson v Western Australian Museum (1977) 138 CLR 283; 16 ALR 623; [1977] HCA 46 Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association v Minister for Industrial Affairs (SA) (1995) 183 CLR 552; [1995] HCA 11 Tegra (NSW) Pty Ltd v Gundagai Shire Council (2007) 160 LGERA 1; [2007] NSWLEC 806 VicForests v Kinglake Friends of the Forest Inc (2021) 66 VR 143; (2021) 248 LGERA 28; [2021] VSCA 195 Texts Cited: Coastal Integrated Forestry Operations Approval 2018 (published by NSW Environment Protection Authority, November 2018) Category: Procedural rulings Parties: South East Forest Rescue Incorporated INC9894030 (Applicant) Forestry Corporation of New South Wales (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J Korman and L Sims (Applicant) I Hemmings SC and R Coffey (Respondent) Solicitors: XD Law (Applicant) Norton Rose Fulbright (Respondent) File Number(s): 2024/17196 Publication restriction: Nil