Hunter’s Hill Council v Minister for Local Government;; Lane Cove Council v Minister for Local Government;; Mosman Municipal Council v Minister for Local Government;; North Sydney Council v Minister for Local Government;; Strathfield Municipal Council v Minister for Local Government [2016] NSWLEC 124

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hunter's Hill Council v Minister for Local Government;; Lane Cove Council v Minister for Local Government;; Mosman Municipal Council v Minister for Local Government;; North Sydney Council v Minister for Local Government;; Strathfield Municipal Council v Minister for Local Government [2016] NSWLEC 124 Hearing dates: 30, 31 May, 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 15, 16, 17 June and 4 July 2016; written submissions 10 August 2016 Date of orders: 20 September 2016 Decision date: 20 September 2016 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Moore J Decision: Orders in Matter No 158774 of 2016 at [524] Orders in Matter No 161918 of 2016 at [525] Orders in Matter No 155301 of 2016 at [528] Orders in Matter No 158919 of 2016 at [527] Orders in Matter No 158221 of 2016 at [526] Catchwords: JUDICIAL REVIEW – proposal for amalgamation of local government areas – Minister's referral of proposal to Departmental Chief Executive for examination and report– inquiry required to be held – Chief Executive appoints Delegate to conduct inquiry – whether reasonable public notice given of the holding of inquiry – whether identification of locations of public inquiry sessions adequate – whether inquiry sessions needed to be held in each area proposed to be amalgamated – whether inquiry held in accordance with Act – whether examinations and reports on proposals in accordance with Act – whether affected councils denied procedural fairness by Delegate – publicly accessible material in support of proposal represented that KPMG analysis and modelling was independent – whether representations misleading – whether allegedly misleading representations invalidated statutory process of amalgamation – whether failure to provide all KPMG analysis and modelling material meant the council was denied procedural fairness WORDS AND PHRASES – requirement for local government areas proposed to be amalgamated to be contiguous – term not defined in legislation – meaning of contiguous – requirement of contiguous areas to be touching – statutory provision deeming extension of local government areas below low-water mark in certain circumstances – areas deemed to be extended – areas therefore contiguous Legislation Cited: Acts Interpretation Act 1931 (Tasmania), s 46 Civil Procedure Act 2005, s 98 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Local Government Act 1906, ss 3 and 15(1)(a) Local Government Act 1919, ss 4, 16(e) and 18 Local Government Act 1993 ss 46, 47, 204, 205(3), 213, 218, 218A, 218B, 218C, 218D, 218E, 218F, 218F(1), 218F(2), 218F(6), 218F(7), 218F(8), 260, 261, 262, 263, 263(1), 263(2), 263(2A), 263(2B), 263(3), 263(5), 263(7), 264, 265, 702, 705, 706, 713 Pts 1, 2 and 3 of Ch 6, 9, Pt 2 of Ch 17, Sch 2 Local Government (Bayside) Proclamation 2016 Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016 Interpretation Act 1987, s 34(2) Prices Regulation Act 1948 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Pt 42 r 42.1 Cases Cited: Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1991-1992) 175 CLR 564 Albion Insurance Company Limited v Government Insurance Office (NSW) (1969) 121 CLR 342 Anderson v Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (2006) 151 LGERA 229; [2006] NSWLEC 725 Auckland Lai v Warringah Shire Council (1985) 58 LGRA 276 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321; [1990] HCA 33 Botany Bay City Council v Minister for Local Government [2016] NSWCA 74 Botany Bay City Council v The State of New South Wales [2016] NSWCA 243 Botany Bay City Council v The State of New South Wales and Minister for Local Government [2016] NSWSC 583 Castle Constructions Pty Limited v North Sydney Council & Anor [2008] NSWLEC 137 Casuarina Beach Holdings Pty Limited v Tweed Shire Council [2013] NSWLEC 1214 Cave v Horsell [1912] 3 KB 533 Commonwealth of Virginia v Comptroller of the Currency, 333F. Supp. 847 (1971) Coverdale v West Coast Council (2016) 90 ALJR 562; [2016] HCA 15 First Federal Savings and Loan Association v the State of New Hampshire Board 245 A.2d 835 (1969) Gardner v Dairy Industry Authority (NSW) (1977) 52 ALJR 180 Geneff v Shire of Perth (1966) 14 LGRA 145 Haynes v King [1893] 3 Ch 439 Hornsby Shire Council v Malcolm (1986) 60 LGRA 429 House of Peace Pty Ltd & Anor v Bankstown City Council (2000) 48 NSWLR 498; 106 LGERA 440; [2000] NSWCA 44 Hoxton Park Residents Action Group Inc v Liverpool City Council (2011) 81 NSWLR 638; [2011] NSWCA 349; Kioa v West [1985] 159 CLR 550 Ku-ring-gai Council v Mr Garry West in his capacity as delegate of the Acting Director-General of the Office of Local Government & Ors [2016] NSWLEC 62 Ku-ring-gai Council v Mr Garry West in his capacity as Delegate of the Acting Director-General of the Office of Local Government (No 2) [2016] NSWLEC 118 Litevale Pty Ltd v Lismore City Council (1997) 96 LGERA 91 Michael Realty Pty Ltd v Carr (1975) 2 NSWLR 812 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend (1986) 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZSSJ [2016] HCA 29 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZIAI (2009) 259 ALR 429; [2009] HCA 39 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf (2001) 206 CLR 323; 180 ALR 1; 75 ALJR 1105; [2001] HCA 30 Minister for Local Government v South Sydney City Council (2002) 55 NSWLR 381; [2002] NSWCA 288 Pancho Properties Pty Ltd v Wingecarribbee Shire Council (1999) 110 LGERA 352; [1999] NSWLEC 245 Permanent Trustee Company of New South Wales Limited v Council of the Municipality of Campbelltown and Another [1960] 105 CLR 401 Project Blue Sky v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; 153 ALR 490; 72 ALJR 841; [1998] HCA 28 Risk v The Northern Territory of Australia (2002) 210 CLR 392; [2002] HCA 23 Rivers SOS Inc v Minister for Planning (2009) 178 LGERA 347; [2009] NSWLEC 213 Robson v Tweed Council [2000] NSWLEC 170 Ryan v Edna May Junction Gold Mining (1916) 21 CLR 487 Scurr v Brisbane City Council (1973) 133 CLR 242 SZSSJ v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (No 2) (2015) 234 FCR 1; [2015] FCAFC 125 Sharples v Minister for Local Government (2008) 166 LGERA 302; [2008] NSWLEC 328 Shellharbour City Council v Minister for Local Government (No 2) [2016] NSWLEC 119 TAL Life Ltd v Shuetrim; MetLife Insurance Ltd v Shuetrim [2016] NSWCA 68 Spillers Limited v Cardiff (Borough) Assessment Committee [1931] 2 KB 21 Truth about Motorways Pty Limited v Macquarie Infrastructure Investment Management Limited (2000) 200 CLR 591; [2000] HCA 11 Waihi Grand Junction Gold-Mining Co Ltd v Dudson (1909) 29 NZLR 499 Walcha Council and Ors v Minister for Local Government and Ors [2016] NSWLEC 57 Walsh v Visionstream Pty Limited [2004] NSWCA 104 Waterford v The Commonwealth (1987) 163 CLR 54; [1987] HCA 25 Waterways Authority of New South Wales v Coal and Allied Operations Pty Limited [2005] NSWSC 1285 Woollahra Municipal Council v Minister for Local Government [2016] NSWLEC 44 Woollahra Municipal Council v Minister for Local Government [2016] NSWLEC 86 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Matter No 158774 of 2016 Hunter's Hill Council (Applicant) Minister for Local Government (First Respondent) Dr Robert Lang (Second Respondent) Chief Executive, Office of Local Government (Third Respondent) Local Government Boundaries Commission (Fourth Respondent) Lane Cove Council (Fifth Respondent) City of Ryde Council (Sixth Respondent)