Anderson v Director General of the Department of Environmental and Climate Change & Anor [2008] NSWCA 337

Reported Decision: 163 LGERA 400

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Anderson v Director General of the Department of Environmental and Climate Change & Anor [2008] NSWCA 337

HEARING DATE(S): 12 November 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 4 December 2008

JUDGMENT OF: Spigelman CJ at 1; Tobias JA at 2; Macfarlan JA at 94

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs

CATCHWORDS: ABORIGINALS – Protection of Aboriginal heritage – Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife – Proposed residential development – Issue of consent to destroy, deface or damage Aboriginal objects – Meaning of 'Aboriginal objects' – Whether cultural significance of land enhanced by asserted relation between objects and spiritual beliefs or historical events - ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Environmental law – Judicial review – Grounds of review – Relevant consideration – Whether test of 'proper, genuine and realistic consideration' of relevant issue appropriate – Inter-generational equity – Whether decision maker misdirected self in relation to meaning of inter-generational equity – Cumulative impact of development on local Aboriginal heritage – Relevant matters considered and not merely adverted to – Dangers of impermissible merits review

LEGISLATION CITED: National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991 (NSW)

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Anderson & Anor v Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change & Anor [2008] NSWLEC 182 Anderson & Anor v Director-General of the Department of Environment & Conservation & Ors [2006] NSWLEC 12; (2006) 144 LGERA 43 Azriel v NSW Land & Housing Corporation [2006] NSWCA 372 Belmorgan Property Development Pty Ltd v GPT Re Ltd [2007] NSWCA 171; (2007) 153 LGERA 450 Broad Henry v Director-General Department of Environment and Conservation & Anor [2007] NSWLEC 722; (2007) 159 LGERA 172 Bruce v Cole (1998) 45 NSWLR 163 Country Energy v Williams [2005] NSWCA 318; (2005) 63 NSWLR 699 CASES CITED: Elias v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [2002] FCA 845; (2002) 50 ATR 253 Khan v Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs (1987) 14 ALD 291 Kindimindi Investments Pty Ltd v Lane Cove Council [2006] NSWCA 23; (2006) 143 LGERA 277 LEK v Minister for Immigration, Local Government & Ethnic Affairs (1993) 117 ALR 455 Mendoza v Minister for Immigration, Local Government & Ethnic Affairs (1991) 31 FCR 405 Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs v Anthonypillai (2001) 106 FCR 426 Notaras v Waverley Council & Anor [2007] NSWCA 333 Turner v Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs (1981) 55 FLR 180 Weal v Bathurst City Council [2000] NSWCA 88; (2000) 111 LGERA 181