Australians for Sustainable Development Inc v Minister for Planning [2011] NSWLEC 33

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Australians for Sustainable Development Inc v Minister for Planning [2011] NSWLEC 33 Hearing dates: 31 January 2011, 1-3, 14, 17, 22 (written submissions) February 2011 Decision date: 10 March 2011 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Biscoe J Decision: 1. Proceedings dismissed; 2. Costs reserved. Unless a party applies within three working days for a different costs order accompanied by written submissions, respondents are to pay applicant's costs and first respondent is to pay those costs on an indemnity basis; 3. Exhibits returned. Catchwords: Judicial review - two project approvals in respect of contaminated Barangaroo site - whether approvals invalid or whether proponents should be restrained from carrying out project work - whether remedial action plans failed to comply with cl 17(1)(c) of State Environmental Planning Policy No 55 - Remediation of Land (SEPP 55) - whether cl 17(1)(c) of SEPP 55 applicable to the carrying out of projects approved under Part 3A of Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 - post trial amendment to SEPP 55 making cl 17 inapplicable to the subject project approvals - whether failure to comply with cl 7 of SEPP 55 - whether cl 7 applicable to part 3A projects at approval stage - whether failure to consider principles of ecologically sustainable development as part of the public interest - whether failure to make requisite inquiries and constructive failure to exercise jurisdiction - whether impermissible development as part of a project relating to the extraction of sandstone - costs where applicant would have succeeded but for amendment to SEPP 55 made by Minister post-trial and before judgment. Legislation Cited: Barangaroo Delivery Authority Act 2009 Broadcasting Act 1922 Contaminated Land Management Act 1997, s 15(1) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, ss 4, 75A, 75(2A), s 75I(2)(d), 75F, 75J, s 75O, 75R(2), 75R(3A), 145B, 145C, Schedule 6 cl 89 Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Infrastructure and Other Planning Reform) Act 2005 Interpretation Act 1987, ss 5, 11 State Environmental Planning Policy No 55 - Remediation of Land, cll 4, 7, 8, 9, 17 State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Development) 2005 cll 6, 7, 8, 9 Cases Cited: Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 125 CLR 564 Aldous v Greater Taree City Council [2009] NSWLEC 17, 167 LGERA 13 Aon Risk Management Services Australia Pty Ltd v Australian National University [2009] HCA 27, 239 CLR 175 Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation [1948] 1 KB 123 Baulkham Hills Shire Council v O'Donnell (1996) 69 LGRA 404 Belle Design Group Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council [2004] NSWLEC 284, 136 LGERA 1 Birch v Allen (1942) 65 CLR 621 Board of Fire Commissioners (NSW) v Ardouin (1961) 109 CLR 105 at 116 Bob Blackmore Pty Ltd v Anson Bay Company (Australia) Pty Ltd (Court of Appeal, 23 March 1990, unreported Buck v Bavone [1976] HCA 24, (1975) 135 CLR 110 Chamwell Pty Ltd v Strathfield Council [2007] NSWLEC 114, 151 LGERA 400 Colgate Palmolive Co v Cussons Pty Ltd (1993) 46 FCR 225 Commissioner of Police v Ryan [2007] NSWCA 196, 70 NSWLR 73 Drake-Brockman v Minister for Planning [2007] NSWLEC 490 Foley v Badley (1984) 154 CLR 349 Foodbarn Pty Ltd v Solicitor-General (1975) 32 LGRA 157 Harrison v Schipp [2005] NSWCA 133 Hill Top Residents Action Group Inc v Minister for Planning [2009] NSWLEC 185, 171 LGERA 247 Houssein v Under Secretary of Industrial Relations and Technology (NSW) (1982) 148 CLR 88 Imperial Chemical Industries of Australia and New Zealand v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1972) 46 ALJR 35 Kelly v Jowett [2009] NSWCA 278; 76 NSWLR 405 Kennedy v Minister for Planning [2010] NSWLEC 240 at [77] - [79] Kostrzewa v Southern Electricity Authority of Queensland [1969] HCA 32, (1970) 120 CLR 653 Lake Macquarie Shire Council v Aberdare County Council [1970] HCA 32, 123 CLR 327 Lizzio v Ryde Municipal Council (1983) 155 CLR 211 Miltonbrook Management Pty Ltd v Shellharbour City Council [2004] NSWLEC 86 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd [1986] HCA 40, 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZGUR [2011] HCA 1, 273 ALR 327 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZIAI [2009] HCA 39, 259 ALR 429 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZMDS [2010] HCA 16, 240 CLR 611 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang [1996] HCA 6, 185 CLR 259 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu [1999] HCA 21, 197 CLR 611 Minister for Planning v Walker [2008] NSWCA 224, 161 LGERA 423 Newcastle and Hunter Valley Speleological Society Inc v Upper Hunter Shire Council [2010] NSWLEC 48 Penrith City Council v Waste Management Authority [1983] HCA 22, (1990) 71 LGRA 376 Peters v Manly Municipal Council [2007] NSWCA 343 Plaintiff M 61/2010E v Commonwealth [2010] HCA 41, 272 ALR 14 Prasad v Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs (1985) 6 FCR 155 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28,194 CLR 355 Puntoriero v Water Corporation [1999] HCA 45, 199 CLR 575 R v Connell; Ex parte Hetton Bellbird Collieries Ltd (1944) 69 CLR 407 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Ex parte Applicant S20/2002 [2003] HCA 30, 198 ALR 59 Rivers SOS Inc v Minister for Planning [2009] NSWLEC 213 Royal Agricultural Society of NSW v Sydney City Council (1987) 61 LGRA 305 S J Connelly CPP Pty Ltd v Ballina Shire Council [2010] NSWLEC 128, 174 LGERA 335 Shire of Perth v O'Keefe (1964) 110 CLR 529 Stannic Securities Pty Ltd v Wyong Shire Council [2010] NSWLEC 249 The Queen v Australian Stevedoring Industry Board; Ex parte Melbourne Stevedoring Co Pty Ltd [1953] HCA 22, 88 CLR 100 Tugun Cobaki Alliance Inc v Minister for Planning and RTA [2006] NSWLEC 396 Warriewood Properties Pty Ltd v Pittwater Council [2010] NSWLEC 215 Warringah Shire Council v Raffles (1978) 38 LGRA 306 Williams v NSW Minister for Planning (NSW)(No 3) [2010] NSWLEC 204 Texts Cited: Pearce & Geddes, Statutory Interpretation in Australia, 6th ed (2006) LexisNexis Category: Principal judgment Parties: Australians for Sustainable Developments Inc (Applicant) Minister for Planning (First Respondent) Lend Lease (Millers Point) Pty Ltd (Second Respondent) Barangaroo Delivery Authority (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr J Kirk with Ms F Ramsay (Applicant) Mr J Griffiths SC with Mr H El-Hage (First Respondent) Mr N Williams SC with Ms A M Mitchelmore (Second Respondent) Mr R Lancaster SC with Ms C Spruce (Third Respondent) Solicitors: Environmental Defender's Office (Applicant) Department of Planning (First Respondent) Henry Davis York (Second Respondent) Clayton Utz (Third Respondent) File Number(s): 40965 of 2010