Hunter Development Corporation v Save Our Rail NSW Incorporated (No 2) [2016] NSWCA 375

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Hunter Development Corporation v Save Our Rail NSW Incorporated (No 2) [2016] NSWCA 375 Hearing dates: 1 September 2016 Decision date: 21 December 2016 Before: Beazley P at [1]; Macfarlan JA at [81]; Meagher JA at [82] Decision: Notice of motion dismissed with costs. Catchwords: APPEALS – supervening enactment of legislation after judgment reserved rendering appellate proceedings "moot except as to costs" – whether in proceeding to judgment Court impermissibly delivered "advisory opinion" – whether Court should set aside principal judgment – appropriateness of proceeding to determination where costs at first instance remain in issue as between the parties

COSTS – costs discretion under Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 98 – usual order as to costs under Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 42.1 – whether proceedings "public interest litigation" such as to warrant departure from usual order as to costs – whether there should be no order as to costs on the basis that appeal rendered moot by supervening enactment of legislation Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 98 Transport Administration Act 1988 (NSW) Transport Administration Amendment (Closure of Railway Line at Newcastle) Bill 2015 (NSW) Transport Administration Amendment (Closure of Railway Line at Newcastle) Act 2015 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Attorney-General (NSW) v XY [2014] NSWCA 466 Australian Conservation Foundation v Forestry Commission (No 2) [1988] FCA 144 Australian Securities Commission v Aust-Home Investments Ltd (1993) 44 FCR 194; [1993] FCA 401 Bat Advocacy NSW Inc v Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts (No 2) (2011) 280 ALR 91; [2011] FCAFC 84 Bonan v Hadgkiss (2007) 160 FCR 29; FCAFC 113 Botany Bay City Council v Minister for Local Government (No 2) [2016] NSWCA 127 Coleman v Power (2004) 220 CLR 1; [2004] HCA 39 Director of Public Prosecutions (SA) v B (1998) 194 CLR 566; [1998] HCA 5 Elders Pastoral Ltd v Bank of New Zealand [1990] 3 NZLR 129 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Industrial Equity Ltd (2000) 98 FCR 573; [2000] FCA 420 Gardner v Dairy Industry Authority of New South Wales (1977) 18 ALR 55 Hastings Point Progress Association Inc v Tweed Shire Council (No 3) (2010) 172 LGERA 157; [2010] NSWCA 39 Jardine and Jardine Investments Pty Ltd v Metcash Ltd [2011] NSWCA 409 Kable v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (1996) 189 CLR 51; [1996] HCA Kiama Council v Grant [2006] NSWLEC 96 Kindimindi Investments Pty Limited v Lane Cove Council (2007) 150 LGERA 333; [2007] NSWCA 38 Kirk v Industrial Relations Commission (2010) 239 CLR 531; [2010] HCA 1 Leibler v Air New Zealand Ltd (No 2) (1998) 2 VR 525 Mellifont v Attorney-General (Qld) (1991) 173 CLR 289; [1991] HCA 53 Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning v Rosemount Estates Pty Ltd [1996] NSWCA 365 Momcilovic v R (2011) 245 CLR 1; [2011] HCA 34 North Ganalanja Aboriginal Corp v State of Queensland (1996) 185 CLR 595; [1996] HCA 2 ONE.TEL Ltd v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (2000) 101 FCR 548; [2000] FCA 270 Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72; [1998] HCA 11 People with Disability Australia Inc v Minister for Disability Services [2011] NSWCA 253 Permanent Trustee Co Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 334; [1999] HCA 9 Prineas v Forestry Commission of NSW (1984) 53 LGRA 160 Re Judiciary and Navigation Acts (1921) 29 CLR 257 Re Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs (Cth); Ex Parte Lai Qin (1997) 186 CLR 622; [1997] HCA 6 Ruddock v Vadarlis (2001) 115 FCR 229; [2001] FCA 1865 Category: Consequential orders (other than Costs) Parties: Hunter Development Corporation (Appellant) Save Our Rail NSW Incorporated (First Respondent) The Minister administering the Transport Administration Act 1988 (Second Respondent) Rail Corporation New South Wales (Third Respondent) Transport for New South Wales (Fourth Respondent) Representation: Counsel: T Robertson SC; J Lazarus (Appellant) S Prince (First Respondent) A Galasso SC; C Norton (Second, Third and Fourth Respondents)