Scevola v Minister Administering National Parks and Wildlife [2017] NSWLEC 106

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Scevola v Minister Administering National Parks and Wildlife [2017] NSWLEC 106 Hearing dates: 19 July 2017 Date of orders: 24 August 2017 Decision date: 24 August 2017 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Pain J Decision: (1) The Respondents' notices of motion filed on 2 June 2017 are upheld. (2) The Applicant's summons filed on 5 April 2017 is dismissed pursuant to r 13.4 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005. (3) Costs are reserved. (4) The exhibits be returned. Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – notices of motion seeking summary dismissal – voluntary scheme for purchase of land at Jervis Bay administered by non-profit foundation – land transferred to Minister Administering National Parks and Wildlife Act – no compulsory acquisition of land under Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 – no reservation of land for national park under National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 – no "taking" of land by rezoning under Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 triggering Just Terms Act – no reasonable cause of action – no jurisdiction of Court identified – summons dismissed Legislation Cited: Australian Constitution s 51(xxxi) Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ss 26, 35, 56 Federal Court Act 1976 s 32 Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 ss 3, 4, 5, 21, 37, 38, 55, 66 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 ss 16, 19, 20, 24, 25 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 ss 145, 146 Roads Act 1993 ss 16, 116 Shoalhaven Local Environment Plan 2014 (Amendment No 4) Shoalhaven Local Environmental Plan 2014 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 rr 6.24, 6.29, 13.4, 59.10 Cases Cited: Agar v Hyde (2000) 201 CLR 552; [2000] HCA 41 Certain Lloyd's Underwriters v Cross (2012) 248 CLR 378; [2012] HCA 56 Cosmos E-C Commerce Pty Ltd v Bidwell & Associates Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 81 Dennis v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2008] NSWCA 37 Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioners (1949) 78 CLR 62; [1949] HCA 1 Esposito v Commonwealth of Australia [2013] FCA 546 Esposito v Commonwealth of Australia [2013] FCA 1039 Esposito v Commonwealth of Australia [2014] FCA 1440 Esposito v Commonwealth of Australia (2015) 235 FCR 1; [2015] FCAFC 160 Esposito v Commonwealth of Australia [2016] HCASL 87 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125; [1964] HCA 69 Health Administration Corporation v George D Angus Pty Ltd (2014) 88 NSWLR 752; [2014] NSWCA 352 Leichhardt Council v Roads & Traffic Authority of NSW (2006) 149 LGERA 439; [2006] NSWCA 353 Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Pty Ltd (1981) 147 CLR 589; [1981] HCA 45 R v Hickman; Ex parte Fox and Clinton (1945) 70 CLR 598; [1945] HCA 53 Simmons v Protective Commissioner of NSW [2012] NSWSC 455 Tanner v The Minister for Education and Training (2002) 117 LGERA 321; [2002] NSWLEC 40 Texts Cited: Gray, K "Can environmental regulation constitute a taking of property at common law?" (2007) 24 Environmental and Planning Law Journal 161 New South Wales, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), Legislative Assembly, 11 April 1991, 1974 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Salvatore Scevola (Applicant) Minister Administering National Parks and Wildlife (First Respondent) Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife (Second Respondent) Shoalhaven City Council (Third Respondent) Minister for Planning (Fourth Respondent) Representation: COUNSEL: S Scevola, in person (Applicant) C Lenehan (First & Fourth Respondents) S Duggan (Second Respondent) H El-Hage (Third Respondent)