People for the Plains Incorporated v Santos NSW (Eastern) Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 46

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: People for the Plains Incorporated v Santos NSW (Eastern) Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 46 Hearing dates: 1 November 2016 Decision date: 14 March 2017 Before: Meagher JA at [1]; Ward JA at [10]; Payne JA at [201] Decision: 1. The appeal is dismissed. 2. The appellant pay the costs of the first, second and fourth respondents. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING – Development control – when consent required – validity of approval – whether development consent not required due to cl 6 of the State Environment Planning Policy (Mining, Petroleum Production and Extractive Industries) 2007 (NSW) – whether treatment on one petroleum title of produced water generated on another title is use for the purposes of "petroleum exploration"

ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING – Development control – classification of uses – whether development was for the purpose of petroleum exploration – whether development properly characterised as a waste disposal facility or resource recovery facility

ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING – environmental planning – planning schemes and instruments – relationship between Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991 (NSW) and State Environment Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 (NSW) and State Environment Planning Policy (Mining, Petroleum Production and Extractive Industries) 2007 (NSW) Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), ss 4, 33A, 36, 111, 123, 125 Environment Planning & Assessment Regulations 2000 (NSW), Sch 3, cl 32 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 8(b), 35(l) Narrabri Local Environmental Plan 2012 Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991 (NSW), ss 3, 7, 23, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47 Petroleum (Onshore) Bill 1991 (NSW) Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) State Environment Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 (NSW), cll 5, 7, 10, 15, 17, 105, 106, 107, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124 State Environment Planning Policy (Mining, Petroleum Production and Extractive Industries) 2007 (NSW), cll 6, 18 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69(1) Cases Cited: Abret Pty Ltd v Wingecarribee Shire Council (2011) 180 LGERA 343; [2011] NSWCA 107 Australians for Sustainable Development v Minister for Planning (2011) 182 LGERA 370; [2011] NSWLEC 33 Baulkham Hills Shire Council v O'Donnell (1990) 69 LGRA 404 Canyonleigh Environment Protection Society v Wingecarribee Shire Council (1997) 95 LGERA 294 Chamwell Pty Ltd v Strathfield Council (2007) 151 LGERA 400; [2007] NSWLEC 114 Cooper Brooks (Wollongong) Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1981) 147 CLR 297; [1981] HCA 26 Director-General, Department of Planning and Infrastructure v Glass Recovery Services Pty Ltd (2015) 207 LGERA 397; [2015] NSWLEC 49 Foodbarn Pty Ltd v Solicitor-General (1975) 32 LGRA 157 Hynes Urban Planners Pty Ltd v Hawkesbury City Council (2003) 123 LGERA 312; [2003] NSWLEC 1 Inco Europe Ltd v First Choice Distribution [2000] 1 WLR 586; [2000] 2 All ER 109 Jones v Wrotham Park Settled Estates [1980] AC 74 Lizzio v Ryde Municipal Council (1983) 155 CLR 211; [1983] HCA 22 Momentum Architects Pty Ltd v Hornsby Shire Council (2002) 123 LGERA 207; [2002] NSWLEC 192 North Sydney Municipal Council v Hall (1987) 62 LGRA 1 Pathold No 176 Pty Ltd v Minister for Transport Services [2005] NSWLEC 184 Penrith City Council v Waste Management Authority (1990) 71 LGRA 376 People for the Plains Incorporated v Santos NSW (Eastern) Pty Limited [2016] NSWLEC 93 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 R v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal; Ex parte Hardiman (1980) 144 CLR 13; [1980] HCA 13 Sweetwater Action Group Inc v Minister for Planning [2011] NSWLEC 106 Tasmanian Conservation Trust Inc v Minister for Resources and Gunns Ltd [No 2] (1996) 65 FCR 25; (1996) 90 LGERA 106 Taylor v The Owners-Strata Plan No 11564 (2014) 253 CLR 531; [2014] HCA 9 Warringah Shire Council v Raffles [1979] 2 NSWLR 299 Texts Cited: NSW Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 30 April 1991 Category: Principal judgment Parties: People for the Plains Incorporated (INC 130 14 43) (Appellant) Santos NSW (Eastern) Pty Ltd (ACN 009 321 662) (First Respondent) Santos NSW Pty Ltd (ACN 094 269 780) (Second Respondent) Secretary, NSW Department of Industry (Third Respondent) EnergyAustralia Narrabri Gas Pty Ltd (ACN 147 609 729 (Fourth Respondent) Representation: Counsel: B Walker SC with J Johnson (Appellant) N Williams SC with M Astill and Ms M Ellicott (1st, 2nd and 4th Respondents) R Lancaster SC with P Herzfeld (3rd Respondent)