Phelps and Ors v Minister Administering the Water Management Act 2000 [2025] NSWLEC 4

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Phelps and Ors v Minister Administering the Water Management Act 2000 [2025] NSWLEC 4 Hearing dates: 8, 9 and 10 April and 27 May 2024 Date of orders: 14 February 2025 Decision date: 14 February 2025 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Robson J Decision: See orders at [183] Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW — Judicial review — Decision authorised or not — Irrelevant and relevant considerations — Statutory construction ADMINISTRATIVE LAW — Bias rule — Actual or apprehended — Apprehended ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING — Water — Licences — Access licences — Where applicants' share entitlement for access to water is reduced by decision made using new hydrologic computer model Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 181 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), s 35 Land and Environment Court Rules 2007 (NSW), r 4.2 Water Management Act 2000 (NSW), Ch 3, Pt 2, Ch 2, Pts 3, 4, ss 3, 5, 8, 9, 20, 21, 24, 50, 55A 58, 59, 60, 85 Water Sharing Plan for the Upper Namoi and Lower Namoi Regulated River Water Sources 2016, Pt 8, cll 4, 9, 29, 30, 31, 38, 40, 44, 59, 69 Water Sharing Plan for the Upper Namoi and Lower Namoi Regulated River Water Sources 2003, cl 4 Cases Cited: CNY17 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2019) 268 CLR 76; [2019] HCA 50 Hot Holdings Pty Ltd v Creasy (2002) 210 CLR 438; [2002] HCA 51 LPDT v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2024] HCA 12; (2024) 418 ALR 152 One.Tel Limited (in Liq) v John David Rich [2005] NSWSC 226; (2005) 190 FLR 443 Polsen v Harrison [2021] NSWCA 23 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 QYFM v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2023] HCA 15; (2023) 409 ALR 65 Webb v R (1994) 181 CLR 41; [1994] HCA 30 Texts Cited: Macquarie Dictionary, 9th ed (2023) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Jonathon Phelps (First Applicant) Dale Smith (Second Applicant) Richard Schwager (Third Applicant) Minister Administering the Water Management Act 2000 (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: S Prince SC with A Searle (Applicants) H El-Hage SC with M Thompson (Respondent)