CWO Pty Ltd v Muswellbrook Shire Council (No 2) [2024] NSWLEC 115

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: CWO Pty Ltd v Muswellbrook Shire Council (No 2) [2024] NSWLEC 115 Hearing dates: 03 October 2024 Date of orders: 01 November 2024 Decision date: 01 November 2024 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Duggan J Decision: See orders at [65] Catchwords: COSTS – Application for costs in relation to Class 1 proceedings – r 3.7 of the Land and Environment Court Rules 2007 (NSW) – whether fair and reasonable that costs order be made – unreasonableness alleged in bringing proceedings – unreasonableness not made out – application for costs in relation to suppression orders – unreasonableness made out – costs of current motion – mixed result – each party bear their own costs Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Court Suppression and Non-publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) Land and Environment Court Rules 2007 (NSW) Cases Cited: ACM Landmark Pty Ltd v Cessnock City Council [2006] NSWLEC 256 Arden Anglican School v Hornsby Shire Council (2008) 158 LGERA 224 Community Association DP270253 v Woollahra Municipal Council (No 2) [2014] NSWLEC 8 Community Association DP270253 v Woollahra Municipal Council [2015] NSWCA 80 CWO Pty Ltd v Muswellbrook Shire Council [2024] NSWLEC 61 Darcy Peter Smith and D.P. Smith (Homes) Pty Ltd v Wyong Shire Council [2007] NSWLEC 395 DRJ v Commissioner of Victims Rights [2020] NSWCA 136 Dunford v Gosford City Council (No 3) [2015] NSWLEC 96 Fairfax Digital Australia and New Zealand Pty Ltd v Ibrahim (2012) 83 NSWLR 52 Grant v Kiama Municipal Council [2006] NSWLEC 70 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd & Anor v District Court of NSW & Ors (2004) 61 NSWLR 344 Liverpool City Council v Moorebank Recyclers Pty Limited; Benedict Industries Pty Ltd v Minister for Planning (No 4) [2017] NSWLEC 116 Mike George Planning Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council (No 4) [2014] NSWLEC 187 Port Stephens Council v Sansom (2007) 156 LGERA 125 Rinehart v Welker (2011) 93 NSWLR 311 Stockland Development Pty Ltd v Manly Council (2004) 136 LGERA 254 Category: Costs Parties: CWO Pty Ltd (Applicant, Applicant on the Motion) Muswellbrook Shire Council (First Respondent, no appearance on the Motion) Commonwealth of Australia (Second Respondent, Respondent on the Motion) Representation: Counsel: A Stafford and S Hanscomb (Applicant, Applicant on the Motion) No appearance (First Respondent, no appearance on the Motion) D Robertson (Second Respondent, Respondent on the Motion)