Overton Investments Pty Ltd v The Minister administering the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 [2001] NSWCA 137

Reported Decision : (2001) 113 LGERA 439

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Overton Investments Pty Ltd v The Minister administering the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 [2001] NSWCA 137 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40336/98 HEARING DATE(S) : 24 April 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 11 May 2001

PARTIES : Overton Investments Pty Ltd - Appellant The Minister Administering the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 - Respondent JUDGMENT OF : Powell JA at 1; Stein JA at 2; Ipp AJA at 77

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Land & Environment Court LOWER COURT LEC 30178/95 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Sheahan J JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : J J Webster - Appellant T S Hale SC/M White - Respondent SOLICITORS : Gadens Lawyers - Appellant Minter Ellison - Respondent CATCHWORDS : ENVIRONMENTAL LAW - resumption of land - compensation for resumption of land - severance - highest and best use - comparable sales - PROCEDURE - disqualification for bias - association or interest - reasonable apprehension of bias by a fair-minded lay observer - COSTS - exercise of discretion - consideration of irrelevant factor - whether error constitutes a miscarriage in the exercise of discretion - D Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (NSW) Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED : Bankstown Planning Scheme Ordinance 1979 County of Cumberland Planning Scheme Ordinance 1951 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW) R v Watson; Ex parte Armstrong (1976) 136 CLR 248 CASES CITED: Webb v The Queen (1984) 181 CLR 41 Ebner v Official Trustee (2000) 75 ALJR 277 Lasseter v Blacktown City Council (Unreported, Court of Appeal, 5 December 1996) DECISION : Appeal dismissed with costs; Cross Appeal dismissed with costs