Inner West Council v Transport for NSW [2024] NSWLEC 138

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Inner West Council v Transport for NSW [2024] NSWLEC 138 Hearing dates: 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 April 2024 Date of orders: 19 December 2024 Decision date: 19 December 2024 Jurisdiction: Class 3 Before: Duggan J Decision: See orders at [218] and [219] Catchwords: COMPLUSORY ACQUISTION – assessment of compensation for acquired land under Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 – claim for reinstatement value under s 56(3) – factual preconditions of reinstatement not made out – particular purpose for which acquired land was used a detention basin – Council failed to demonstrate genuine intention to use other land for such a purpose – alternative claim for market value under s 56(1) – valuation methodology based on comparable sales – 'heavily constrained' sites deemed most appropriate – adjustments made – parties agreed as to disturbance under ss 55(d) and 59 Legislation Cited: Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (NSW) Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) Roads Act 1993 (NSW) Callan Park (Special Provisions) Act 2002 (NSW) Cases Cited: Chamwell Pty Ltd v Strathfield Council (2007) 151 LGERA 400 Leichhardt Council v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales [2006] NSWCA 353 Leichhardt Council v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales (No 3) [2009] NSWLEC 3 New South Wales Cremation Company Pty Limited v Valuer General [2016] NSWLEC 135 Roads & Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Blacktown City Council [2007] NSWCA 20 Royal Agricultural Society (NSW) v Sydney City Council (1987) 61 LGRA 305 Spencer v The Commonwealth (1907) 5 CLR 418 Sydney Metro v G & J Drivas Pty Limited [2024] NSWCA 5 Sydney Water Corporation v Marrickville Council [2014] NSWCA 438 The Crown v Murphy (1990) 64 ALJR 593 Valuer-General v Fivex Pty Ltd (2015) 206 LGERA 450 Willoughby City Council v Roads and Maritime Services [2014] NSWLEC 6 Texts Cited: Macquarie Dictionary (online) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Inner West Council (Applicant) Transport for NSW (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R Lancaster SC and T To (Applicant) J Steele SC and M Astill (Respondent)