Lake Macquarie City Council v Australian Native Landscapes Pty Ltd (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 114

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Lake Macquarie City Council v Australian Native Landscapes Pty Ltd (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 114 Hearing dates: 21-22, 25-27 May 2015, 1-2, 9-12, 23-24 June 2015 Date of orders: 17 July 2015 Decision date: 17 July 2015 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Biscoe J Decision: See [225]-[226] Catchwords: CIVIL ENFORCEMENT – whether respondent unlawfully carried out composting operation on rural land that was not authorised by or was in breach of conditions of development consents – consideration of principles of construction of development consents – construction of condition of development consents that development proceed "generally in accordance with" an approved plan – approved plans rudimentary, illustrative and diagrammatic and indicating a developed area of 100x200 metres – dams, bund and woodchip stockpile outside that area – whether conditions of development consents restricting hours of operation of "mechanical equipment" include motor vehicles – whether respondent unlawfully cleared native vegetation – whether respondent unlawfully caused adverse environmental impacts comprising emission of offensive odours, water pollution and land pollution – whether respondent negligent – relevance of applicant council's past representations that the development complied with council's development consent – principles relating to declaratory and injunctive relief. Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 911A, 1041E, 1317E, 1317P Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ss 75D(2), 76A, 90, 109F, 122-127 Evidence Act 1995 s 140(2)(c) Land and Environment Court Act 1979 s 20(2) Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 ss 115, 116, 120, 129(1), 142A, 142C, Chapter 8, Dictionary Native Vegetation Act 2003 ss 12, 19(1), 41-45A National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 ss 99, 118A(2), Schedule 12 Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan 1984 Cases Cited: Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission [1992] HCA 10, 175 CLR 564 Allandale Blue Metal Pty Ltd v Roads and Maritime Services [2013] NSWCA 103, 195 LGERA 182 Ancher, Mortlock, Murray & Woolley Pty Ltd v Hooker Homes Pty Ltd [1971] 2 NSWLR 278 Attorney General for the State of NSW v Now.com.au Pty Ltd [2008] NSWSC 276 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v 4WD Systems Pty Ltd [2003] FCA 850, 200 ALR 491 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dataline.Net.Au Pty Ltd [2007] FCAFC 146, 161 FCR 513 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v TPG Internet Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] FCA 629, [2012] ATPR 42-402 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Z-Tek Computer Pty Ltd (1997) 78 FCR 197 Baulkham Hills Shire Council v Ko-veda Holiday Park Estate Ltd [2009] NSWCA 160, 167 LGERA 395 Baulkham Hills Shire Council v O'Donnell (1990) 69 LGRA 404 Blue Mountains Conservation Society Inc v Delta Electricity (No 3) [2011] NSWLEC 145, 81 NSWLR 407 Briginshaw v Bringinshaw [1938] HCA 34, 60 CLR 336 Cheers v Casey City Council [2006] VCAT 2317 Council of the City of Sydney v Mae [2009] NSWLEC 84 Currumbin Investments Pty Ltd v Body Corporate Mitchell Park Parkwood CTS [2012] QCA 9, [2012] 2 Qd R 511 Director-General, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water v Venn [2011] NSWLEC 118 Environment Protection Authority v N (1992) 26 NSWLR 352, 76 LGRA 114 Forestry Commission of New South Wales v Corkill (1989) 73 LGRA 247 Grace Bros Pty Ltd v Willoughby Municipal Council (1980) 44 LGRA 400 Gray v Greater Bendigo City Council [2000] VCAT 1704 Great Lakes Council v Lani [2007] NSWLEC 681, 158 LGERA 1 F Hannan Pty Ltd v Electricity Commission of New South Wales [No 3] [1985] 66 LGRA 306 Hare v Brugge [2013] NSWCA 74, 84 NSWLR 41 Hill Top Residents Action Group Inc v Minister Administering the Sporting Venues Authorities Act 2008 (No 4) [2011] NSWLEC 6 House of Peace Pty Ltd v Bankstown City Council [2000] NSWCA 44, 48 NSWLR 498 In the matter of Idylic Solutions Pty Ltd – Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Hobbs [2013] NSWSC 106 Joe El-Tarraf v Franklins Ltd [2001] NSWSC 407 Katoomba Gospel Trust v Blue Mountains City Council [1994] NSWLEC 107 Lismore City Council v Ihalainen (No 2) [2014] NSWLEC 198 Marrickville Council v Tanwar Enterprises Pty Ltd [2009] NSWLEC 127 Maybury v Weston Aluminium (Producers) Pty Limited [1998] NSWLEC 17 Meriton Apartments Pty Ltd v Sydney Water Corporation [2004] NSWLEC 699, 138 LGERA 383 Oshlack v Irongates Pty Ltd (1997) 130 LGERA 189 Pace Developments v Port Phillip City Council [2012] VCAT 1277 Parramatta City Council v Shell Co of Australia Ltd [1972] 2 NSWLR 632 Re Ici Australia Operations Pty Limited v Trade Practices Commission [1992] FCA 474, (1992) 38 FCR 248 Ryde Municipal Council v Royal Ryde Homes [1970] 1 NSWR 277, 19 LGRA 321 Sankey v Whitlam [1978] HCA 43, 142 CLR 1 Sydney Serviced Apartments Pty Ltd v North Sydney Municipal Council (No 2) (1993) 78 LGERA 404 Tempe Recreation (D.500215 and D.1000502) Reserve Trust v Sydney Water Corporation [2014] NSWCA 437 Warehouse Group (Australia) Pty Ltd v Woolworths Ltd [2003] NSWCA 270, 137 LGERA 115 Westfield Management Limited v Perpetual Trustee Company Limited [2006] NSWCA 245 Wingecarribee Council v CSR Limited [1993] NSWLEC 184 Winn v Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife [2001] NSWCA 17, 130 LGERA 508 X v Australian Prudential Regulation Authority [2007] HCA 4, 226 CLR 630 Texts Cited: Australian and New Zealand Environmental Conservation Council, Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (October 2000) Department of Environment and Conservation, Composting and Related Organics Processing Facilities Guidelines (July 2004) P W Young QC, Declaratory Orders (Butterworths, 2nd ed, 1984) Soil Conservation Commission of New South Wales, Soils Their Properties and Management, A Soil Conservation Handbook for New South Wales (Sydney University Press, 1st ed, 1994) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Lake Macquarie City Council (Applicant) Australian Native Landscapes Pty Ltd (Respondent) Representation: COUNSEL: P Larkin SC and T To (Applicant) J Robson SC and H El-Hage (Respondent)