Zhang v Woodgate and Lane Cove Council [2015] NSWLEC 10

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Zhang v Woodgate and Lane Cove Council [2015] NSWLEC 10 Hearing dates: 19 and 20 November 2014 Date of orders: 06 February 2015 Decision date: 06 February 2015 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Preston CJ Decision: (1) Declare that the notice issued by Mr Woodgate on 29 August 2014 to Mr Ferguson to attend a place to answer questions is invalid.

(2) Order that the respondents pay the applicant's costs of the proceedings. Catchwords: JUDICIAL REVIEW – statutory notice requiring answers to questions – statutory power to give notice only to enable a council to exercise its functions under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ('EPA Act') – prosecution for an offence against the EPA Act already commenced against an accused person when notice given – whether statutory power authorised the notice – notice given to a potential witness to enable council to exercise its prosecutorial function in aid of the pending criminal proceedings – prosecutorial function not a function under the EPA Act – notice ultra vires statutory power as not given to enable exercise of function under EPA Act – notice not ultra vires merely because given after a prosecution commenced – notice to potential witness, and not the accused, does not necessarily interfere with administration of justice – whether issue of notice involves a contempt of court – no actual or real risk of interference with administration of justice – no improper advantage to council such as would be contempt of court – whether notice defective – notice not defective in not stating functions of council or that person suspected of having knowledge – notice not defective in identifying authorised person giving notice – notice is defective in not identifying matter in relation to which person required to answer questions – notice declared invalid Legislation Cited: Criminal Procedure Act 1986 ss 3(1), 14, 172-174, 246, Div 1 Pt 2 Ch 4 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ss 4, 22, 23A, 76A(1)(b), 118A, 118BA, 118N, 121B, 122U, 123, 125(1), 127 Interpretation Act 1987 ss 33, 50(1)(e) Land and Environment Court Act 1979 s 41 Local Government Act 1993 ss 21, 22, 23, 23A, 220(4), 684, 685, 687, Pt 2 Ch 17 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulations 2000 cl 284(3)(c) Land and Environment Court Rules 2007 r 5.3 Cases Cited: ASIC v Elm Financial Services Pty Ltd [2004] NSWSC 859; (2004) 186 FLR 295 Attorney-General (NSW) v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1985) 6 NSWLR 695 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (No 2) (1980) 44 FLR 182 D'Anastasi v Environment, Climate Change and Water (NSW) [2011] NSWCA 374; (2011) 81 NSWLR 82 De Greenlaw v National Companies and Securities Commission (1989) 7 ACLC 789 Environment Protection Authority v Caltex Refining Co Pty Limited (1993) 178 CLR 477 Hammond v The Commonwealth (1982) 152 CLR 188 Lee v NSW Crime Commission [2013] HCA 39; (2013) 251 CLR 196; (2013) 87 ALJR 1082 Mison v Randwick Municipal Council (1991) 23 NSWLR 734 NSW Food Authority v Nutricia Australia Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCCA 252; (2008) 72 NSWLR 456 Pioneer Concrete (Vic) Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1982) 152 CLR 460 Proprietors of Strata Plan No 6522 v Furney [1976] 1 NSWLR 412 Sydney Catchment Authority v Bailey [2006] NSWLEC 616; (2006) 149 LGERA 298 The Melbourne Steamship Company Ltd v Moorehead (1912) 15 CLR 333 Tumney (NSW Food Authority) v Nutricia Australia Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 1215 Victoria v Australian Building Construction Employees' and Builders Labourers' Federation (1982) 152 CLR 25 Warringah Council v Kazi [2008] NSWCCA 6; (2008) 71 NSWLR 84 X7 v Australian Crime Commission [2013] HCA 29; (2013) 248 CLR 92 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mr Jian Wen Zhang (Applicant) Mr Matthew Woodgate (First Respondent) Lane Cove Council (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr T G Howard SC with Ms P O'Dea (Barrister) (Applicant) Mr A Isaacs (Barrister) (Respondents)