El Boustani v The Minister administering the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 [2014] NSWCA 33

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: El Boustani v The Minister administering the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 [2014] NSWCA 33 Hearing dates: 12 November 2013 Decision date: 28 February 2014 Before: Beazley P at [1] Gleeson JA at [2] Preston CJ of LEC at [3] Decision: 1. Extend the time for the appellants to file and serve the notice of appeal to 24 April 2014. 2. Allow the appeal. 3. Set aside the orders made by the Land and Environment Court of 6 December 2012. 4. Remit the matter to the Land and Environment Court to determine the appellants' claim for compensation under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 according to law. 5. Order the respondent to pay the appellants' costs of the proceedings in this Court. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: APPEAL - appeal on a question of law -compensation for compulsory acquisition of land - primary judge rejected appellants' claim for relocation costs on the basis of s 61 of the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 relating to market value assessed on potential of land - consideration of the proper construction of s 61 of the Act - primary judge erred on questions of law in construing and applying s 61 of the Act - primary judge's assessment of loss attributable to disturbance - primary judge erred on questions of law in assessing amount of compensation for lost profits - primary judge reached conclusions that were without evidentiary foundation and constructively failed to exercise jurisdiction - appeal allowed - matter remitted to court below to be determined according to law - costs follow the event Legislation Cited: Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 ss 20, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 66(2) Land and Environment Court Act 1979 ss 24(1), 57(1) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 r 36.17 Cases Cited: Amaba Pty Ltd v Booth [2010] NSWCA 344 AMP Capital Investors Ltd v Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation [2008] NSWCA 325; (2008) 163 LGERA 245 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321 Boland v Yates Property Corporation Pty Ltd [1999] HCA 64; (1999) 74 ALJR 209 Bruce v Cole (1998) 45 NSWLR 163 Crisp v Gunn Co-operative Ltd v Hobart Corporation (1963) 110 CLR 538 D'Amore v Independent Commission Against Corruption [2013] NSWCA 187 Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Authority v House [2009] FCA 302; (2009) 49 AAR 525 El Boustani v Minister Administering the Environmental Planning and Assessment 1979 (No 2) [2013] NSWLEC 25 Horn v Sunderland Corporation [1941] 2 KB 26 Housing Commission of NSW v Falconer [1981] 1 NSWLR 547 Kostas v HIA Insurance Services Pty Ltd [2010] HCA 32; (2010) 241 CLR 390 Leichhardt Council v Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) [2006] NSWCA 353; (2006) 149 LGERA 439 Maurici v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue [2003] HCA 8; (2003) 212 CLR 111 McDonald v Roads and Traffic Authority [2009] NSWLEC 105; (2009) 169 LGERA 352 Myers v Milton Keynes Development Corporation [1974] 1 WLR 696 Pike v Minister of Housing (1979) 20 LCR 166 Resource Pacific Pty Ltd v Wilkinson [2013] NSWCA 33 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v McDonald [2010] NSWCA 236; (2010) 79 NSWLR 155; (2010) 175 LGERA 276 Royal Agricultural Society of NSW v Sydney City Council (1987) 61 LGRA 305 Shire of Perth v O'Keefe (1964) 110 CLR 529 State Super SAS Trustee Corporation v Cornes [2013] NSWCA 257 Sydney Water Corporation v Caruso [2009] NSWCA 391; (2009) 170 LGERA 298 The Commonwealth v Milledge (1953) 90 CLR 157 Walker Corporation Pty Ltd v Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority [2008] HCA 5; (2008) 233 CLR 259 Texts Cited: ALRC Report No 14, Land Acquisition and Compensation (Canberra, 1984) Macquarie Dictionary (4th ed, 2005) (1942) 58 Law Quarterly Review 29 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Elias El Boustani (First Appellant) Guita El Boustani (Second Appellant) The Minister Administering the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (Respondent) Representation: Mr T F Robertson SC with Mr J E Lazarus and Ms J Walker (Appellants) Mr I J Hemmings SC with Mr S B Nash (Respondent) HWL Ebsworth (Appellants) Hunt & Hunt (Respondent) File Number(s): 397031 of 2012 Publication restriction: No Decision under appeal Citation: [2012] NSWLEC 266 Date of Decision: 2012-12-06 00:00:00 Before: Pepper J File Number(s): 30818 of 2010