Murrumbidgee Groundwater Preservation Association Inc v Minister for Natural Resources [2005] NSWCA 10

Reported Decision : 138 LGERA 11

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Murrumbidgee Groundwater Preservation Association Inc v Minister for Natural Resources [2005] NSWCA 10

HEARING DATE(S): 3/11/04, 4/11/04, 5/11/04, 6/11/04

JUDGMENT DATE: 9 February 2005

JUDGMENT OF: Spigelman CJ at 1; Beazley JA at 156; Tobias JA at 157

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs

CATCHWORDS: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - Minister's water management plan - Whether invalid for extraneous purpose - ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - Minister's water management plan - Contemplates right not supported by statute - Right could be created by series of interconnected executive acts - Whether invalid - ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - Minister's water management plan - Whether invalid for irrationality - CONSTRUCTION AND INTERPRETATION - Minister's water management plan - Whether formula mathematically impossible - CONSTRUCTION AND INTERPRETATION - Minister's water management plan - Difficulty arising from commencement date of Plan - Whether invalid - Whether amendments to Act save provisions - WATER RIGHTS - Minister's Sharing Plan - Whether invalid - WORDS AND PHRASES: Requirements

Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) Fisheries Act (1952) (Cth) Water Act 1912 LEGISLATION CITED: Water Management Act 2000 Water Management (General) Regulation 2004 Water Sharing Plan for the Lower Murrumbidgee Groundwater Sources 2003

Attorney-General (NSW) v Quinn (1990) 170 CLR 1 Bienke v Minister for Primary Industries and Energy (1994) 125 ALR 151 Bienke v Minister for Primary Industries and Energy (1996) 63 FCR 567 Bruce v Cole (1998) 45 NSWLR 163 Cooper Brookes (Wollongong) Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (Cth) (1981) 147 CLR 297 Meggitt Overseas Limited v Grdovic (1998) 43 NSWLR 527 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Applicant S20/2002 (2003) HCA 30; (2003) 77 ALJR 1165 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Anthonypillai [2001] FCA 274; (2001) 106 FCR 426 CASES CITED: Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs v SGLB (2004) HCA 32; (2004) 74 ALJR 992 Minister for Primary Industries and Energy v Austral Fisheries Pty Ltd (1993) 40 FCR 381 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 335 Ramsay v Aberfoyle Manufacturing Co (Australia) Pty Ltd (1935) 54 CLR 230 R v Young (1999) 46 NSWLR 681 Sydney City Council v Ke-Su Investments Pty Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 246 Williams v Melbourne Corporation (1933) 49 CLR 142 Willow-Wren Canal Carrying Company Limited v British Transport Commission [1956] 1 WLR 213