Peregrine Mineral Sands Pty Ltd v Wentworth Shire Council [2014] NSWCA 429

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Peregrine Mineral Sands Pty Ltd v Wentworth Shire Council [2014] NSWCA 429 Hearing dates: 15 May 2014 Decision date: 11 December 2014 Before: McColl JA at [1]; Meagher JA at [31]; Ward JA at [32] 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: CONTRACTS - general contractual principles - construction and interpretation of contracts - where local council signed agreement with mining company for rates before land valuation was obtained - whether primary judge erred in finding that the agreement as to rates was not authorised by, or was inconsistent with, the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) - whether the primary judge erred by not holding that the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) authorised the agreement as to rates

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - fetter on abdicating exercise of discretionary power by contract - whether primary judge erred in finding that execution of the Road Agreement was ultra vires of the local council's power

PROCEDURE - costs - appeals as to costs - discretion - where local council signed agreement as to rates and then successfully argued that the agreement was invalid - whether primary erred in exercise of discretion in allowing the council their costs Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) Land and Environment Court Rules 2007 (NSW) Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) Local Government Amendment (Legal Status) Act 2008 Local Government Bill 1992 (NSW) Local Government (Rates and Charges) Regulation 1999 (NSW) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Cases Cited: Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund Pty Ltd v Batemans Bay Local Aboriginal Land Council (1996) 92 LGERA 212 Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund Pty Ltd v Batemans Bay Local Aboriginal Land Council (1997) 41 NSWLR 494 Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd v The Commonwealth [1977] HCA 71; (1977) 139 CLR 54 Ayr Harbour Trustees v Oswald (1883) 8 AC 623 Bateman's Bay Local Aboriginal Land Council v Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund Pty Ltd [1998] HCA 49; (1998) 194 CLR 247 Birkdale District Electric Supply Company Ltd v Corporation of Southport [1926] AC 355 Camberwell City Council v Camberwell Shopping Centre Pty Ltd [1994] 1 VR 163 City of Subiaco v Heytesbury Properties Pty Ltd [2001] WASCA 140; (2001) 24 WAR 146 City of Sydney v Streetscape Projects (Aust) Pty Ltd [2011] NSWSC 1214; (2011) 94 IPR 35 Commercial Union General Insurance Co Ltd v Patchell Industries Ltd (1993) 7 ANZ Insurance Cases 61-171 Cudgen Rutile (No. 2) Pty Ltd v Chalk [1975] AC 520 Dansar Pty Ltd v Byron Shire Council [2014] NSWCA 364 Darkinjung Pty Ltd v Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council [2006] NSWSC 1008 Dowty Boulton Paul Ltd v Wolverhampton Corporation [1971] 1 WLR 204 Drummond and Rosen Pty Ltd v Easey (No. 2) [2009] NSWCA 331 Franklins Pty Ltd v Metcash Trading Ltd [2009] NSWCA 407; (2009) 76 NSWLR 603 Hazell v Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council [1992] 2 AC 1 Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council v Sanpine Pty Ltd [2007] HCA 61; (2007) 233 CLR 115 Maiden v Maiden [1909] HCA 16; (1909) 7 CLR 727 Maralinga Pty Ltd v Major Enterprises Pty Ltd [1973] HCA 23; (1973) 128 CLR 336 Marrickville Metro Shopping Centre v Marrickville Council [2010] NSWCA 145; (2010) 174 LGERA 67 Norfolk v Roberts (1913) 13 DLR 463 Penola and District Ratepayers' and Residents' Association v Wattle Range Council [2011] SASCFC 62; (2011) 110 SASR 110 Pukallus v Cameron [1982] HCA 63; (1982) 180 CLR 447 Raftland Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [2008] HCA 21; (2008) 238 CLR 516 Ransom & Luck Ltd v Surbiton Borough Council [1949] Ch 180 RHG Mortgage Securities Pty Ltd v Elektra Purchase No 19 Ltd [2009] NSWSC 258 Rocca v Ryde Municipal Council [1962] NSWR 600; (1961) 79 WN (NSW) 299 Ryledar Pty Ltd v Euphoric Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 65; (2007) 69 NSWLR 603 Sanpine v Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council [2005] NSWSC 365 Southend-on-Sea Corporation v Hodgson (Wickford) Ltd [1962] 1 QB 416 Stead v State Government Insurance Commission [1986] HCA 54; (1986) 161 CLR 141 Streetscape Projects (Aust) Pty Ltd v City of Sydney [2013] NSWCA 2; (2013) 92 ACSR 417 The Power Co Ltd v Gore District Council [1997] 1 NZLR 537 Trade Practices Commission v Nicholas Enterprises Pty Ltd (No 3) [1979] FCA 143; (1979) 42 FLR 213 Watson's Bay & South Shore Ferry Co Ltd v Whitfeld [1919] HCA 69; (1919) 27 CLR 268 Wentworth v Rogers (No 3) (1986) 6 NSWLR 642 Wentworth Shire Council v Bemax Resources Limited and Ors [2013] NSWSC 1047 Windsor and Maidenhead Royal Borough Council v Brandrose Investments Ltd [1981] 1 WLR 1083 Texts Cited: R P Meagher, J D Heydon and M J Leeming, Meagher, Gummow and Lehane's Equity: Doctrines & Remedies, (4th ed 2002, Butterworths LexisNexis) Harry Whitmore and Mark Aronson, Review of Administrative Action (1978, The Law Book Company Ltd) "Distributive justice, ordinary rates and the categorisation of land for rating purposes in New South Wales: An update", Guy J Dwyer, (2014) 19 LGLJ 3 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Peregrine Mineral Sands Pty Ltd (First Appellant) Imperial Mining (Aust) Pty Ltd (Second Appellant) Probo Mining Pty Ltd (Third Appellant) Pooncarie Operations Pty Ltd (Fourth Appellant) Wentworth Shire Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: A Galasso SC with RJ Carruthers (Appellants) DAC Robertson with Ms P Blackadder (Respondent) Solicitors: Baker & McKenzie (Appellants) Buckworth Keady Lawyers (Respondent) File Number(s): 2013/00262674 Publication restriction: Nil Decision under appeal Citation: Wentworth Shire Council v Bemax Resources Ltd [2013] NSWSC 1047 Wentworth Shire Council v Bemax Resources Ltd (costs) [2013] NSWSC 1364 Before: Rein J File Number(s): 2012/00299456