Environment Protection Authority v Crush and Haul Pty Ltd [2024] NSWLEC 15

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Crush and Haul Pty Ltd [2024] NSWLEC 15 Hearing dates: 11 December 2023 Date of orders: 11 March 2024 Decision date: 11 March 2024 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Pain J Decision: The Court orders: (1) Appeal no. 2023/260897 is dismissed. (2) The Appellant is to pay the Respondent's costs of the appeal as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: APPEAL – s 56A appeal from decision of acting commissioner on question of law in finding that applicant company a fit and proper person under Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) – no failure to consider matter not identified to acting commissioner at hearing – no failure to consider correct statutory test – no failure to consider specific paragraphs of judgment in separate criminal case – attribution of weight to relevant factors by acting commissioner not reviewable under statutory scheme – decision not legally unreasonable – appeal dismissed Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW), ss 38, 39, 56A Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), ss 45, 48, 55, 83, 287, Sch 1, cll 16, 19 Cases Cited: Attorney General (NSW) v X (2000) 49 NSWLR 653; [2000] NSWCA 199 Bankstown City Council v Hanna (2014) 205 LGERA 39; [2014] NSWLEC 152 Bankstown City Council v Mohamad El Dana [2009] NSWLEC 68 Bankstown Council v Hanna (2014) 205 LGERA 39; [2014] NSWLEC 152 Bat Advocacy NSW Inc v Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts (2011) 180 LGERA 99; [2011] FCAFC 59 Bonim Stanmore Pty Ltd v Marrickville Council (2007) 156 LGERA 12; [2007] NSWLEC 286 Brimbella Pty Ltd v Mosman Municipal Council (1985) 79 LGERA 367 Carstens v Pittwater Council (1999) 111 LGERA 1; [1999] NSWLEC 249 Ceerose Pty Ltd v A-Civil Aust Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 215 Craig v South Australia (1995) 184 CLR 163; [1995] HCA 8 Crush and Haul Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority [2023] NSWLEC 1367 Davis v Gosford City Council [2013] NSWLEC 49 Design Power Associates Pty Ltd v Willoughby City Council (2005) 148 LGERA 233; [2005] NSWLEC 470 Dial A Dump Industries Pty Ltd v Roads and Maritime Services (2016) 216 LGERA 285; [2016] NSWLEC 39 Environment Protection Authority v Ace Demolition & Excavation Pty (No 2) [2023] NSWLEC 3 Environment Protection Authority v Crush and Haul Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Cauchi [2022] NSWLEC 113 Environment Protection Authority v M A Roche Group Pty Ltd [2014] NSWLEC 114 Environment Protection Authority v M A Roche Group Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 29 Friends of King Edward Park Inc v Newcastle City Council (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 76 Georges River Council v S A F Group Pty Ltd [2021] NSWLEC 151 Housing Commission of New South Wales v Tatmar Pastoral Co Pty Ltd (1983) 3 NSWLR 378 Hoskins v Waverley Council [1999] NSWLEC 236 Hoy v Coffs Harbour City Council [2015] NSWLEC 128 Hurstville City Council v Goreski [2011] NSWLEC 188 Immigration and Border Protection v MZYTS (2013) 230 FCR 431; [2013] FCAFC 114 Jabari v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs (2023) 298 FCR 431; [2023] FCAFC 98 Ku-ring-gai Council v Bunnings Properties Pty Ltd (2019) 236 LGERA 35; [2019] NSWCA 28 Liverpool City Council v Moorebank Recyclers Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 7 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24; [1986] HCA 40 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332; [2013] HCA 18 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v MZYTS (2013) 230 FCR 431; [2013] FCAFC 114 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZMTA (2019) 264 CLR 421 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1996) 185 CLR 259; [1996] HCA 6 Muscat Developments Pty Ltd v Wollondilly Shire Council [2023] NSWLEC 121 MZAPC v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2021) 390 ALR 590; [2021] HCA 17 Nathanson v Minister for Home Affairs (2022) 96 ALJR 737; [2022] HCA 26 Peacock v Repatriation Commission (2007) 161 FCR 256; [2007] FCAFC 156 Plaintiff M1/2021 v Minister for Home Affairs (2022) 96 ALJR 497; [2022] HCA 17 Randwick City Council v Belle Living Pty Ltd (No 2) [2023] NSWLEC 100 Segal v Waverley Council (2005) 64 NSWLR 177; [2005] NSWCA 310 Stambe v Minister for Health (2019) 270 FCR 173; [2019] FCA 43 Sydney Metro v Expandamesh Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 200 Sydney Water Corporation v Caruso (2009) 170 LGERA 298; [2009] NSWCA 391 Tanious v Georges River Council [2016] NSWLEC 142 Terrace Tower Holdings Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2003] NSWCA 289; (2003) 129 LGERA 195 Torbey Investments Corporated Pty Ltd v Ferrara [2017] NSWCA 9 Village McEvoy Pty Ltd v Council of the City of Sydney (No 2) (2010) 176 LGERA 119; [2010] NSWLEC 17 Warkworth Mining Pty Ltd v Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association Inc (2014) 86 NSWLR 527; [2014] NSWCA 105 Wattie v Industrial Relations Secretary on behalf of the Secretary of the Department of Justice (No 2) [2018] NSWCA 124 Weal v Bathurst City Council (2000) 111 LGERA 181; [2000] NSWCA 88 Woodhouse v Comcare (2021) 285 FCR 14; [2021] FCAFC 95 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Appellant) Crush and Haul Pty Ltd (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: B Kaplan with K Morris (Appellant) J Lazarus SC with C Novak (Respondent)