Muswellbrook Shire Council v Hunter Valley Energy Coal Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 184

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Muswellbrook Shire Council v Hunter Valley Energy Coal Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 184 Hearing dates: 19 December 2017 Date of orders: 20 December 2017 Decision date: 20 December 2017 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Preston CJ Decision: (1) The applicant is granted leave to amend its summons in the form annexed to the notice of motion filed 3 November 2017 and as indicated to the Court on 19 December 2017. (2) The applicant is granted leave to serve expert evidence of Dr Cherie McCullough. (3) The costs of the notice of motion be costs in the proceedings. Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – civil enforcement and judicial review proceedings – conditions of project approval requiring rehabilitation of open cut coal mine – motion to amend summons and seek directions for expert evidence – leave to amend summons granted – whether expert evidence necessary or admissible – judicial review for lack of jurisdiction and manifest unreasonableness – expert evidence potentially relevant and admissible – civil enforcement of breaches of conditions – expert evidence sought to establish breaches – leave granted to serve expert evidence Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ss 75J, 76A(1) Evidence Act 1995 s 192A Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 r 31.19(1) Cases Cited: 4nature Inc v Centennial Springvale Pty Ltd (2017) 224 LGERA 301; [2017] NSWCA 191 Arnold v Minister administering the Water Management Act 2000 (No 6) [2013] NSWLEC 73 Attorney-General (NT) v Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (1989) 23 FCR 536 Australian Retailers Association v Reserve Bank of Australia (2005) 148 FCR 446; [2005] FCA 1707 Bienke v Minister for Primary Industries and Energy (1994) 125 ALR 151 Bienke v Minister for Primary Industries and Energy (1996) 63 FCR 567 Buck v Bavone (1976) 135 CLR 110; [1976] HCA 24 Friends of King Edward Park Inc v Newcastle City Council (2012) 194 LGERA 226; [2012] NSWLEC 113 McCormack v Commissioner of Taxation (Cth) (2001) 114 FCR 574; [2001] FCA 1700 Shellharbour City Council v Minister for Planning (2011) 189 LGERA 348; [2011] NSWCA 195 Telstra Corporation v ACCC (2008) 176 FCR 153; [2008] FCA 1758 The King v Connell; Ex parte The Hetton Bellbird Collieries Ltd (No 2) (1944) 69 CLR 407; [1944] HCA 42 Timbarra Protection Coalition Inc v Ross Mining NL (1999) 46 NSWLR 55; [1999] NSWCA 8 ULV Pty Ltd v Scott (1990) 19 NSWLR 190 Woolworths Ltd v Pallas Newco Pty Ltd (2004) 61 NSWLR 707; [2004] NSWCA 422 Texts Cited: N Williams SC and A Shearer, 'Evidence in Public Law Cases' in N Williams (ed) Key Issues in Judicial Review (2014) 131 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Muswellbrook Shire Council (Applicant) Hunter Valley Energy Coal Pty Ltd (First Respondent) The Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr P Tomasetti SC and Mr R Lovas (Applicant) Mr R Lancaster SC and Ms J Taylor (First Respondent) Mr N Kelly (Second Respondent)