HUNTER DEVELOPMENT BROKERAGE PTY LTD v CESSNOCK CITY COUNCIL [NO. 2] [2006] NSWCA 292

Reported Decision : 151 LGERA 46

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: HUNTER DEVELOPMENT BROKERAGE PTY LTD v CESSNOCK CITY COUNCIL [NO. 2] [2006] NSWCA 292 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): 22 September 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 1 November 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Santow JA at 1; Bryson JA at 2; Basten JA at 8

DECISION: (1) Leave to appeal granted; (2) Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: COSTS – Land and Environment Court Class 1 proceedings – Land and Environment Court Rules Part 16, Rule 4(2) – whether costs should follow the event in proceedings where questions of legal capacity arise – whether the decision of the primary judge inconsistent with an established approach of the Land and Environment Court – whether inconsistency constitutes error of law

Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW), s 114 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), s 95 Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), s 117 LEGISLATION CITED: Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW), ss 17, 57, 69 Land and Environment Court Rules 1996, Part 16, r 4 Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), s 85A Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 42 Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth), s 824

Australian Postal Commission v Dao (No. 2) (1986) 6 NSWLR 497 Broadwater Action Group Inc v Richmond Valley Council (No. 2) (2003) 129 LGERA 409 CSR Ltd v Fairfield City Council (2001) 117 LGERA 77 Gee v Port Stephens Council (2003) 131 LGERA 325 Heidt v Chrysler Australia Ltd (1976) 26 FLR 257 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 Hunter Development Brokerage Pty Ltd v Cessnock City Council [2004] NSWLEC 454 Hunter Development Brokerage Pty Ltd v Cessnock City Council [2005] NSWLEC 727 Hunter Development Brokerage Pty Ltd v Cessnock City Council (2005) 63 NSWLR 124 Kinder Investments Pty Ltd v Sydney City Council (2005) 143 LGERA 237 Knight v F P Special Assets Ltd (1992) 174 CLR 178 Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 534 CASES CITED: Lowe v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 606 Maurici v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue (2001) 51 NSWLR 673 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24 Norbis v Norbis (1986) 161 CLR 513 Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72 Outdoor Australia Pty Ltd v Auburn Council (1996) 89 LGERA 365 Pancho Properties Pty Ltd v Wingecarribee Shire Council [2004] NSWLEC 620 Parkes v Byron Shire Council [2004] NSWLEC 722 Penfold v Penfold (1980) 144 CLR 311 Raiti v Leichhardt Municipal Council (1991) 72 LGRA 333 Ruddock v Vadarlis [2001] FCA 1865; (2001) 188 ALR 143 Shaynd v Ku-Ring-Gai Council (2005) 138 LGERA 395 Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission (NSW) v Browning (1947) 74 CLR 492 Wong v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 584