Caroona Coal Action Group Inc v Coal Mines Australia Pty Limited and Minister for Mineral Resources (No 3) [2010] NSWLEC 59

Reported Decision : 173 LGERA 280

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Caroona Coal Action Group Inc v Coal Mines Australia Pty Limited and Minister for Mineral Resources (No 3) [2010] NSWLEC 59

APPLICANT Caroona Coal Action Group Inc

PARTIES : FIRST RESPONDENT Coal Mines Australia Pty Limited

SECOND RESPONDENT Minister for Mineral Resources

FILE NUMBER(S) : 80003 of 2009

CORAM: Preston CJ

KEY ISSUES: COSTS :- unsuccessful judicial review proceedings - whether departure from usual costs rule justified - whether litigation can be characterised as public interest litigation - whether additional circumstances exist - whether there are any countervailing considerations

LEGISLATION CITED: Civil Procedure Act 2005 ss 11, 98

Alliance to Save the Hinchinbrook Inc v Cook [2005] QSC 355 Anderson on behalf of Numbahjing Clan within Bundjalung Nation v Director General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change [2008] NSWLEC 299 Anderson v Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council (No 2) [2009] NSWLEC 222 Anderson on behalf of Numbahjing Clan within Bundjalung Nation v NSW Minister for Planning & Ors (No 2) [2008] NSWLEC 272; (2008) 163 LGERA 132 Arnold (on behalf of Australians for Animals) v Queensland (1987) 73 ALR 607 Australian Conservation Foundation v Forestry Commission of Tasmania (1988) 76 LGERA 381 Blue Wedges Inc v Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts [2008] FCA 8; (2008) 165 FCR 211 Bolton Metropolitan District Council v Secretary of State for the Environment [1995] 1 WLR 1176 Botany Bay City Council v Minister for Planning (No 2) [2006] NSWLEC 718 Bridgetown/Greenbushes Friend of the Forest Inc v Department of Conservation and Land Management (1997) 93 LGERA 436 Buddhist Society of Western Australia (Inc) v Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale [1999] WASCA 55 Campbell (on behalf of Lord Howe Island Preservation Movement) v Minister for Environment and Planning, (NSWLEC, Cripps CJ, 24 June 1988, unreported) Caroona Coal Action Group Inc v Coal Mines Australia Pty Ltd (No 1) [2009] NSWLEC 165; (2009) 170 LGERA 22 Caroona Coal Action Group Inc v Coal Mines Australia Pty Ltd and Minister for Mineral Resources (No 2) [2010] NSWLEC 1 Corowa v Geographe Point Pty Ltd (No 2) [2007] NSWLEC 272 Darlinghurst Residents' Association v Elarosa Investment (No 3) (1992) 75 LGRA 214 Drake-Brockman v Minister for Planning (No 2) [2007] NSWLEC 777 Engadine Area Traffic Action Group Inc v Sutherland Shire Council (No 2) [2004] NSWLEC 434; (2004) 136 LGERA 365 F & D Bonaccorso Pty Ltd v City of Canada Bay Council (No 5) [2008] NSWLEC 235 Friends of Hay Street Inc v Hastings Council (1995) 87 LGERA 44 Harvey v Minister Administering the Water Management Act 2000; Tubbo Pty Ltd v Minister Administering the Water Management Act 2000 (No 2) [2008] NSWLEC 213 Hastings Point Progress Association Inc v Tweed Shire Council (No 3) [2010] NSWCA 39 Kennedy v Director-General of Department of Environment and Conservation (No 2) [2007] NSWLEC 271 Kent v Cavanagh (1973) 1 ACTR 43 CASES CITED: Kindimindi Investments Pty Ltd v Lane Cove Council [2006] NSWLEC 17; (2006) 143 LGERA 268 Ku-ring-gai Council v Minister for Planning (No 2) [2008] NSWLEC 276 Lansen v Minister for Environment and Heritage (No 3) [2008] FCA 1367; (2008) 162 LGERA 258 Liverpool City Council v Roads and Traffic Authority and Interlink Roads Pty Ltd (No 2) (1992) 75 LGRA 210 McGovern v Ku-ring-gai Council [2008] NSWCA 209; (2008) 72 NSWLR 504; (2008) 161 LGERA 170 Minister for Planning v Walker (No 2) [2008] NSWCA 334 Nettheim v Minister for Planning and Local Government (No 2), (NSWLEC, Cripps CJ, 28 September 1988, unreported) New Zealand Maori Council v Attorney General of New Zealand [1994] 1 AC 466 Oshlack v Richmond River Council [1998] HCA 11; (1998) 193 CLR 72 Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1994) 82 LGERA 236 Plumb v Penrith City Council [2003] NSWLEC 161; (2003) 126 LGERA 109 R (Davey) v Aylesbury Vale District Council [2007] EWCA Civ 1166; [2008] 1 WLR 878; [2008] JPL 1145 R (on the application of Corner House Research) v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry [2005] EWCA Civ 192; [2005] 1 WLR 2600; [2005] 4 All ER 1 R (on the application of Friends of the Earth Ltd) v Secretary of the State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs [2001] EWCA Civ 1950 Ruddock v Vadarlis (No 2) [2001] FCA 1865; (2001) 115 FCR 229 Rundle v Tweed Shire Council (No 2) (1989) 69 LGRA 21 Save the Ridge Inc v Commonwealth of Australia [2006] FCAFC 51; (2006) 230 ALR 411 Sharples v Minister for Local Government (No 2) [2009] NSWLEC 62 Sharples v Minister for Local Government [2010] NSWCA 36 Sinclair v Maryborough Mining Warden (1975) 132 CLR 473 South-West Forest Defence Foundation Inc v Executive Director, Department of Conservation and Land Management (WA) (No 2) (1998) 72 ALJR 1008; 101 LGERA 114 Telstra Corporation Ltd v Hornsby Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 133, (2006) 67 NSWLR 256; (2006) 146 LGERA 10 Teoh v Hunters Hill Council (No 3) [2009] NSWLEC 121; (2009) 167 LGERA 432 The Queen v The Australian Broadcasting Tribunal; Ex parte Hardiman (1980) 144 CLR 13 Trustees for time being of the Biowatch Trust v Registrar, Genetic Resources & Ors [2009] ZACC 14 Wilderness Society Inc v Minister for Environment and Water Resources [2008] FCAFC 19; (2008) 157 LGERA 413