Warkworth Mining Limited v Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association Inc [2014] NSWCA 105

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Warkworth Mining Limited v Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association Inc [2014] NSWCA 105 Hearing dates: 14, 15 and 16 August; 5 September 2013 Date of orders: 07 April 2014 Decision date: 07 April 2014 Before: Bathurst CJ; Beazley P; Tobias AJA Decision: 1. Appeal dismissed with costs; 2. Cross-appeal dismissed with costs; 3. Summons dismissed with costs. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING – major infrastructure development – Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, Pt 3A

ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING – major infrastructure development – public interest – Ecologically Sustainable Development

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – appeal on a question of law – error of law – procedural fairness

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – appeal on a question of law – mandatory considerations – 'focal point' or 'fundamental element'

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – appeal on a question of law – irrelevant considerations

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – orders in the nature of prerogative relief – Supreme Court Act 1970, s 69 Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Part 3A Repeal) Act 2011 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 Mining Act 1992 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 Supreme Court Act 1970 Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 Cases Cited: A v Pelekanakis (1999) 91 FCR 70 Alinta LGA Limited v Mine Subsidence Board [2008] HCA 17 Anderson v Director General of the Department of Environmental and Climate Change [2008] NSWCA 337; 163 LGERA 400 Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation [1948] 1 KB 223 Barrick Australia Ltd v Williams [2009] NSWCA 275; 74 NSWLR 733 Blacktown City Council v Hocking [2008] NSWCA 144 Castle Constructions Pty Ltd v North Sydney Council [2007] NSWCA 164 Ceva Logistics (Australia) Pty Ltd v Redbro Investments Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCA 46 Clements v Independent Indigenous Advisory Committee [2003] FCAFC 143; 131 FCR 28 Damjanovic & Sons Pty Ltd v Commonwealth [1968] HCA 42; 117 CLR 390 Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar [2011] HCA 21; 243 CLR 588 Director-General, Dept of Ageing, Disability and Home Care v Lambert [2009] NSWCA 102; 74 NSWLR 523 Dranichnikov v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2003] HCA 26; 77 ALJR 1088 Evans v Marmont (1997) 42 NSWLR 70 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say Dee Pty Ltd [2007] HCA 22; 330 CLR 89 Goodwin v Commissioner of Police [2012] NSWCA 379 Hunter Development Brokerage Pty Ltd v Cessnock City Council (No 2) [2006] NSWCA 292 James Hardie & Coy Pty Limited v Roberts [1999] NSWCA 314; 47 NSWLR 425 Kioa v West [1985] HCA 81; 159 CLR 550 Kirk v Industrial Relations Commission; Kirk Group Holdings Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Childs) [2010] HCA 1; 239 CLR 531 Kostas v HIA Insurance Services Pty Limited [2010] HCA 32; 241 CLR 390 Lowy v The Land and Environment Court of NSW & Ors [2002] NSWCA 353; 123 LGERA 179 Macedon Ranges Shire Council v Romsey Hotel [2008] VSCA 45; 19 VR 422 McKinnon v Secretary, Department of Treasury [2006] HCA 45; 228 CLR 423 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd [1986] HCA 40; 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1987) 14 ALD 291 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf [2001] HCA 30; 206 CLR 323 Minister for Immigration v Li [2013] HCA 13 Minister for Planning v Walker [2008] NSWCA 224; 161 LGERA 423 Mitchell v Cullingral Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 389 Muin v Refugee Review Tribunal [2002] HCA 30; 190 ALR 601 O'Sullivan v Farrer [1989] HCA 61; 168 CLR 210 Osland v Secretary to Department of Justice [2008] HCA 37; 234 CLR 275 Osland v Secretary to Department of Justice [No 2] [2010] HCA 24; 241 CLR 320 Pollard v RRR Corporation Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 110 R v Hunt; Ex Parte Sean Investments Pty Ltd [1979] HCA 32; 180 CLR 322 R v Toohey; Ex parte Meneling Station P/L [1982] HCA 69; 158 CLR 327 Rana v Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission [2011] FCAFC 80 RCB v The Honourable Justice Forrest [2012] HCA 47; 247 CLR 304 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; ex parte Applicant S154/2002 (2003) 77 ALJR 1909 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Lam [2003] HCA 6; 214 CLR 1 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Miah [2001] HCA 22; 206 CLR 57 Resource Pacific Pty Ltd v Wilkinson [2013] NSWCA 33 Roads & Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Peak [2007] NSWCA 66 RTA v Damjanovic [2006] NSWCA 166 RTA v Peak [2007] NSWCA 66 Segal v Waverley Council [2005] NSWCA 310; 64 NSWLR 177 Singh v the Minister for Immigration [2001] FCA 389 Stead v State Government Insurance Commission [1986] HCA 54; 161 CLR 141 SZBEL v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2006] HCA 63; 228 CLR 152 The Pilbara Infrastructure Pty Ltd v Australian Competition Tribunal [2012] HCA 36; 246 CLR 379 Tickner v Chapman (1995) 57 FCR 451 Turner v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1981) 35 ALR 388 Ucar v Nylex Industrial Products Ltd [2007] VSCA 181 Walker Corporation Pty Ltd v Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority [2009] NSWCA 178 Walkerville v Adelaide Clinic Holdings (1985) 38 SASR 161 Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission (NSW) v Browning [1947] HCA 21; 74 CLR 492 Wen v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2000] FCA 320 Zhang v Canterbury City Council [2001] NSWCA 167; 51 NSWLR 589 Texts Cited: M Aronson, M Groves, Judicial Review of Administrative Action, 5th ed (2013, Thomson Reuters) M J Beazley, The Scope of Judicial Review (The Joint Seminar on Legality of Administrative Behaviours and Types of Adjudication, Xian, People's Republic of China, 11-13 April 2006) E Campbell and M Groves, 'Polycentricity in Administrative Decision-Making' in Matthew Groves (ed), Law and Government in Australia (2005, Federation Press) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Warkworth Mining Limited (Appellant/Second Cross-Respondent) Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association Inc (First Respondent/First Cross-Appellant) Minister for Planning and Infrastructure (Second Respondent/Cross-Appellant) Representation: Counsel: N J Williams SC; R C Scruby; T Z Phillips (Warkworth Mining Limited) J Robson SC; R White (Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association Inc) R Lancaster SC; N Kelly (Minister for Planning and Infrastructure) Solicitors: Minter Ellison (Appellant) Environmental Defender's Office (First Respondent) Department of Planning and Infrastructure (Second Respondent) File Number(s): CA 2013/124340; 2013/136441 Decision under appeal Court or tribunal: Land and Environment Court Citation: Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association Inc v Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and Warkworth Mining Limited [2013] NSWLEC 48 Date of Decision: 15 April 2013 Before: Preston CJ of LEC File Number(s): 10224 of 2012