Haughton v Minister for Planning and Macquarie Generation; Haughton v Minister for Planning and TRUenergy Pty Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 217

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Haughton v Minister for Planning and Macquarie Generation; Haughton v Minister for Planning and TRUenergy Pty Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 217 Hearing dates: 15 - 17 September 2010 Decision date: 02 December 2011 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Craig J Decision: 1. The applicant's summons is dismissed. 2. Costs are reserved. 3. Exhibits may be returned. Catchwords: JUDICIAL REVIEW: whether applicant has standing to bring proceedings - s 75T of Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 - review sought for jurisdictional error - section not read down to exclude standing under s 123 of the EPA Act when review sought on that ground - ouster clause not operative

JUDICIAL REVIEW: whether critical infrastructure declaration in relation to two Major Projects validly made under s 75C of the EPA Act - projects for the purpose of energy supply - statutory interpretation of relevant and interrelated sections of the legislation - category of development the subject of declaration - declaration validly made

JUDICIAL REVIEW: concept plan approvals under Part 3A of the EPA Act - matters for consideration - whether Ecologically Sustainable Development is a mandatory relevant consideration - greenhouse gas emissions - climate change - whether Minister failed to consider ESD principles - extended review of materials for concept plan approval - balancing of impacts - the public interest - need to secure electricity generation - no error in weighing competing considerations - decision was not manifestly unreasonable - summons dismissed Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Evidence Act 1995 Industrial Relations Act 1996 Interpretation Act 1987 Liquor Act 1982 (now repealed). Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Projects) 2005 Supreme Court Act 1970 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Cases Cited: Aldous v Greater Taree City Council [2009] NSWLEC 17; (2009) 167 LGERA 13 Attorney-General for the Northern Territory v Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (1989) 23 FCR 536 Attorney General (NSW) v Quin [1990] HCA 21; (1990) 170 CLR 1 Attorney General v World Best Holdings Limited [2005] NSWCA 261; (2005) 63 NSWLR 557 Australian Conservation Foundation v Commonwealth [1980] HCA 53; (1980) 146 CLR 493 Bateman's Bay Local Aboriginal Land Council v Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund Pty Ltd [1998] HCA 49; (1998) 194 CLR 247 Buck v Bavone [1976] HCA 24; (1976) 135 CLR 110 Corporation of the City of Enfield v Development Assessment Commission [2000] HCA 5; (2000) 199 CLR 135 Coles Myer Limited v O'Brien (1992) 28 NSWLR 525 Corporation of the City of Enfield v Development Assessment Commission [2000] HCA 5; (2000) 199 CLR 135 Craig v State of South Australia [1995] HCA 58; (1995) 184 CLR 163 Croome v State of Tasmania [1997] HCA 5; (1997) 191 CLR 119 Drake-Brockman v Minister for Planning [2007] NSWLEC 490; (2007) 158 LGERA 349 Environment East Gippsland Inc v VicForests [2010] VSC 335 Harrison v Melhem [2008] NSWCA 67; (2008) 72 NSWLR 380 Kindimindi Investments Pty Ltd v Lane Cove Council [2006] NSWCA 23; (2006) 143 LGERA 277 Kirk v Industrial Court of New South Wales [2010] HCA 1; (2010) 239 CLR 531 Magrath v Goldsborough Mort & Co Limited [1932] HCA 10; (1932) 47 CLR 121 McCormack v Commissioner of Taxation [2001] FCA ; (2001) 114 FCR 574 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Limited [1986] HCA 40; (1986) 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZJSS [2010] HCA 48; (2010) 273 ALR 122 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZMDS [2010] HCA 16; (2010) 84 ALJR 369 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf [2001] HCA 30; (2001) 206 CLR 323 Minister for Planning v Walker [2008] NSWCA 224; (2008) 161 LGERA 423 North Coast Environment Council Inc v Minister for Resources [1994] FCA 1556; (1994) 55 FCR 492 Onus v Alcoa of Australia Limited [1981] HCA 50; (1981) 149 CLR 27 Pape v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [2009] HCA 23; (2009) 238 CLR 1 Prasad v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1995) 6 FCR Saeed v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2010] HCA 23; (2010) 87 ALJR 507 Telstra Corporation v Hornsby Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 133; (2006) 67 NSWLR 256 Tickner v Chapman [1995] 55 FCR 316; (1995) 133 ALR 74 Truth About Motorways Pty Ltd v Macquarie Infrastructure Investment Management Limited [2000] HCA 11; 2000 CLR 591 Tugun Cobaki Alliance Inc v Minister for Planning and RTA [2006] NSWLEC 396 Walsh v Parramatta City Council [2007] NSWLEC 255; (2007) 161 LGERA 118 Category: Principal judgment Parties: 40423 of 2010 Ned Richard Haughton (Applicant) Minister for Planning (First Respondent) Macquarie Generation (Second Respondent)