Barrington - Gloucester - Stroud Preservation Alliance Inc v Minister for Planning and Infrastructure [2012] NSWLEC 197

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Barrington - Gloucester - Stroud Preservation Alliance Inc v Minister for Planning and Infrastructure [2012] NSWLEC 197 Hearing dates: 18, 19 and 20 October 2011 Decision date: 27 August 2012 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Pepper J Decision: Amended summons dismissed. The applicant is to pay the respondents' costs of the proceedings, unless within 21 days a notice of motion is filed, together with appropriate affidavit evidence in support, seeking an alternative costs order. Catchwords: JUDICIAL REVIEW: whether conditions of a project approval under Pt 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 are invalid for uncertainty - applicable legal principles - conditions not impermissibly uncertain - whether the Minister failed to take into account a mandatory relevant consideration - whether the principles of ecologically sustainable development, including the precautionary principle, are mandatory relevant considerations under Pt 3A - ecologically sustainable development principles, including the precautionary principle, are mandatory relevant considerations forming part of the public interest - ecologically sustainable development principles were correctly formulated and taken into account by the Minister granting approval. Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, ss 4(1), 5, 7, 23(1)(f), 23D(1)(a), 75A, 75B, 75C, 75I, 75J, 75L, 75M, 75O, 75W 75X(5), Sch 6 cl 3(1), Pts 3, 3A, 4 Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Part 3A Repeal) Act 2011, Pt 3A Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991, s 6(2) Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, s 120 State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Projects) 2005, Sch 1 Cases Cited: Aldous v Greater Taree City Council [2009] NSWLEC 17; (2009) 167 LGERA 13 Anderson v Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change [2008] NSWCA 337; (2008) 163 LGERA 400 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond [1990] HCA 33; (1990) 170 CLR 321 Australians for Sustainable Development Inc v Minister for Planning [2011] NSWLEC 33; (2011) 182 LGERA 370 Coffs Harbour City Council v The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure [2012] NSWLEC 4 Drake-Brockman v Minister for Planning [2007] NSWLEC 490; (2007) 158 LGERA 349 Foster v Minister for Customs and Justice [2000] HCA 38; (2000) 200 CLR 442 Gray v Minister for Planning [2006] NSWLEC 720; (2006) 152 LGERA 258 Haughton v Minister for Planning and Macquarie Generation; Haughton v Minister for Planning and TRUenergy Pty Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 217; (2011) 185 LGERA 373 Hunter Environment Lobby Inc v Minister for Planning [2011] NSWLEC 221 Kennedy v NSW Minister for Planning [2010] NSWLEC 240 Kindimindi Investments Pty Ltd v Lane Cove Council [2006] NSWCA 23; (2006) 143 LGERA 277 King Gee Clothing Co Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1945) 71 CLR 184 Leatch v National Parks and Wildlife Service (1993) 81 LGERA 270 Mid Western Community Action Group Inc v Mid-Western Regional Council & Stockland Development Pty Limited [2007] NSWLEC 411 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) 243 CLR 164 Minister for Planning v Walker [2008] NSWCA 224; (2008) 161 LGERA 423 Mison v Randwick Municipal Council (1991) 23 NSWLR 734 MyEnvironment Inc v Vic Forests [2012] VSC 91 Newcastle & Hunter Valley Speleological Society Inc v Upper Hunter Shire Council and Stoneco Pty Limited [2010] NSWLEC 48 Notaras v Waverley Council [2007] NSWCA 333; (2007) 161 LGERA 230 Pittwater Council v Minister for Planning [2011] NSWLEC 162; (2011) 184 LGERA 419 Rivers SOS Inc v Minister for Planning [2009] NSWLEC 213; (2009) 178 LGERA 347 Sean Investments Pty Ltd v MacKellar (1981) 38 ALR 363 South East Forest Rescue Incorporated v Bega Valley Shire Council and South East Fibre Exports Pty Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 250 Telstra Corporation Ltd v Hornsby Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 133; (2006) 67 NSWLR 256 Ulan Coal Mines Ltd v Minister for Planning [2008] NSWLEC 185; (2008) 160 LGERA 20 Walsh v Parramatta City Council [2007] NSWLEC 255; (2007) 161 LGERA 118 Williams v Minister for Planning (No 2) [2011] NSWLEC 62 Williams v NSW Minister for Planning (No 3) [2010] NSWLEC 204 Texts Cited: Oxford English Dictionary, online edition Macquarie Dictionary, online edition Category: Principal judgment Parties: Barrington - Gloucester - Stroud Preservation Alliance Inc (Applicant) Minister for Planning and Infrastructure (First Respondent) AGL Upstream Infrastructure Investments Pty Ltd (Second Respondent) Representation: Mr R P L Lancaster SC with Mr N M Eastman (Applicant) Mr A Shearer (First Respondent) Mr N J Williams SC with Ms A M Mitchelmore (Second Respondent) Environmental Defender's Office (Applicant) Department of Planning (First Respondent) Freehills (Second Respondent) File Number(s): 40411 of 2011