Arnold v Minister Administering the Water Management Act 2000 [2014] NSWCA 386

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Arnold v Minister Administering the Water Management Act 2000 [2014] NSWCA 386 Hearing dates: 21, 22 July 2014 Decision date: 13 November 2014 Before: Meagher JA at [1]; Barrett JA at [2]; Tobias AJA at [3] Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. [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: JUDICIAL REVIEW - whether Minister failed to comply with a mandatory requirement - whether decision manifestly unreasonable - misleading information provided to Minister - consequences of failure to adopt a particular method of establishing socio-economic impact of a decision - Water Management Act 2000 (NSW), s 50

LAND & ENVIRONMENT - where water sharing plan reduces water extraction entitlements - whether water sharing plan valid - where plan based on flawed groundwater management model - whether Minister obliged to consider recharge and sustainable yield - whether sound and reliable numerical groundwater model required to determine recharge and sustainable yield - whether adoption of flawed groundwater model manifestly unreasonable or irrational - whether misleading information invalidates Minister's decision - whether obligation to consider socio-economic impacts of proposals considered for inclusion in plan requires formal socio-economic study - Water Management Act 2000 (NSW), ss 3, 5, 9, 18, 50 Legislation Cited: Water Act 1912 (NSW) Water Act 2007 (Cth) Water Management Act 2000 (NSW), ss 3, 5, 6, 9, 12, 15(1)(a), 16(1), 18, 20, 21, 43A, 44, 50, 57(1)(h) Cases Cited: Arnold v Minister Administering the Water Management Act 2000 (No 6) [2013] NSWLEC 73 Attorney General for the State of New South Wales v Quin [1990] HCA 21; (1990) 170 CLR 1 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond [1990] HCA 33; (1990) 170 CLR 321 Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation [1948] 1 KB 223 Johnson v Williams [2000] FCA 3; (2000) 58 ALD 1 McHugh Holdings Pty Ltd v Director General Communities New South Wales [2009] NSWSC 1359 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd [1986] HCA 40; (1986) 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li [2013] HCA 18; (2013) 249 CLR 332 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZMDS [2010] HCA 16; (2010) 240 CLR 611 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf [2001] HCA 30; (2001) 206 CLR 323 Oates v Attorney-General (Cth) [2001] FCA 84; (2001) 181 ALR 559 Phosphate Resources Ltd v Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts (No 2) [2008] FCA 1521; (2008) 251 ALR 80 Vasiljkovic v O'Connor [2010] FCA 1246; (2010) 276 ALR 326 Zentai v O'Connor (No 3) [2010] FCA 691; (2010) 270 ALR 293 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Alan Arnold and 107 others (Appellants) Minister Administering the Water Management Act 2000 (First Respondent) State of New South Wales (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: FC Corsaro SC / PE King (Appellants) SB Lloyd SC/ JJ Hutton (Respondents) Solicitors: Taylor & Whitty Pty Ltd (Appellants) Crown Solicitor's Office (Respondents) File Number(s): 2013/184593 Decision under appeal Citation: [2013] NSWLEC 73 Date of Decision: 2013-05-31 00:00:00 Before: Biscoe J File Number(s): 2007/40049