Gold and Copper Resources Pty Ltd v The Hon. Chris Hartcher MP, Minister for Resources and Energy [2015] NSWLEC 116

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Gold and Copper Resources Pty Ltd v The Hon. Chris Hartcher MP, Minister for Resources and Energy [2015] NSWLEC 116 Hearing dates: 7 April 2014 Date of orders: 21 July 2015 Decision date: 21 July 2015 Jurisdiction: Class 8 Before: Craig J Decision: (1) Proceedings dismissed.

(2) The applicant must pay the costs of the respondents unless by 4pm on 31 July 2015 any party notifies my associate and the other parties that it or he wishes to seek a different order for costs.

(3) Exhibits may be returned. Catchwords: JUDICIAL REVIEW – validity of mining leases – mining leases sought and granted for mining purposes only – applications for exploration licences pending when mining lease applications were made – no consent to mining leases by applicant for exploration licences – whether consent required – mining lease applications not accompanied by 'required information' – whether failure to provide that information engages the deemed refusal provision of cl 76(9) of the Mining Regulation 2010 – whether the grant of mining leases was manifestly unreasonable – Mining Act 1992 (NSW), ss 51(4) and (5); s 58(1)(c)(i) Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 118 Mining Act 1992 (NSW) Mining Regulation 2010 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation [1948] 1 KB 223 Australian Communications Network Pty Ltd v ACCC [2005] FCAFC 221; 146 FCR 413 Collector of Customs v Agfa-Gevaert Ltd [1996] HCA 36; 186 CLR 389 Cooper Brookes (Wollongong) Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1981] HCA 26; 147 CLR 297 Cranbrook School v Woollahra Municipal Council [2006] NSWCA 155; 55 NSWLR 379 Exxon Corporation v Exxon Insurance Consultants International Ltd [1982] Ch 119 Gibb v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1966] HCA 74; 118 CLR 628 Kelly v The Queen [2004] HCA 12; 218 CLR 216 Marrickville Metro Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Marrickville Council [2010] NSWCA 145; 174 LGERA 67 Martin v State of New South Wales and Central West Scientific Pty Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 50 Martin v State of New South Wales (No 14) [2012] NSWCA 46 McDowell v Baker [1979] HCA 44; 144 CLR 413 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li [2013] HCA 18; 249 CLR 332 Plaintiff M70/2011 v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2011] HCA 32; 244 CLR 144 Polydor Ltd and RSO Records Inc v Harlequin Record Shops Ltd and Simons Records Ltd [1980] 1 CMLR 669 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; 194 CLR 355 State Government Insurance Office (Qld) v Crittenden [1966] HCA 56; 117 CLR 412 Technical Products Pty Ltd v State Government Insurance Office (Qld) [1989] HCA 24; 167 CLR 45 Travelex Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [2010] HCA 33; 241 CLR 510 Trustees Executors and Agency Co Ltd v Reilly [1941] VLR 110 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Gold and Copper Resources Pty Ltd (Applicant) The Hon. Chris Hartcher MP, Minister for Resources and Energy (First Respondent) Cadia Holdings Pty Ltd (ACN 062 648 006) (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R Beasley SC with A Hemmings (Applicant) J S Emmett (First Respondent) N Williams SC with S Free (Second Respondent)