Cudgegong Australia Pty Ltd v Transport for New South Wales [2018] NSWSC 929

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Cudgegong Australia Pty Ltd v Transport for New South Wales [2018] NSWSC 929 Hearing dates: 22 March 2018 Date of orders: 21 June 2018 Decision date: 21 June 2018 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Davies J Decision: (1) The proceedings are summarily dismissed pursuant to r 13.4.

(2) The plaintiff is to pay the defendant's costs of the proceedings. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – summary disposal – dismissal of proceedings – no reasonable cause of action disclosed – UCPR r 13.4 – where proceedings concerned validity of Crown's exercise of power to acquire land compulsorily in which plaintiff had an interest – whether proceedings should be summarily dismissed on the basis of estoppel – whether proceedings should be summarily dismissed on the basis that proceedings were brought outside time limited in UCPR r 59.10

ESTOPPEL – estoppel in pais - estoppel by representation – knowledge or intention of representor – whether plaintiff represented that it accepted the validity of the acquisition by suing for and accepting compensation – detrimental reliance – where Crown incurred legal costs, made advance compensation payments and undertook construction on the land – estoppel provided a complete defence to the proceedings in support of summary dismissal

CIVIL PROCEDURE – time – UCPR r 59.10 – whether rule had retrospective application to proceedings concerning a decision which predated the commencement of the rule – whether substantive rights affected - rule did not operate retrospectively in support of summary dismissal Legislation Cited: Closer Settlement (Amendment) Act 1907 (NSW) Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (NSW) ss 11, 13, 37, 39, 42, 45, 66-68 Land Administration Act 1997 (WA) Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) Local Government Act 1919 (NSW) s 99 Mines Inspection Act 1901 (NSW) s 29 Transport Administration Act 1988 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 13.4, 59.1, 59.10 Cases Cited: Agricultural Equity Investments Pty Ltd v Westlime Pty Ltd [2013] NSWLEC 122 Boeckh v Gowganda-Queen Mines Ltd (1912) 6 DLR 292 Brock v Roads And Maritime Services (formerly Roads and traffic Authority of NSW) [2012] NSWCA 404 Edwards v Culcairn Shire Council (1963) 9 LGRA 316; (1963) 64 SR (NSW) 62 Golden Mile Property Investments Pty Ltd (in liq) v Cudgegong Australia Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 100 Golden Mile Property Investments Pty Ltd (in liq) v Cudgegong Australia Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 224 Grundt v Great Boulder Pty Ltd Gold Mines Ltd (1937) 59 CLR 641; [1937] HCA 58 Hillebrand v Penrith Council [2000] NSWSC 1058 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 Hungerfords v Walker (1989) 171 CLR 125 Kirk v Industrial Court of New South Wales (2010) 239 CLR 531 Kolundzic v Quickflex Constructions Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 1523 Mandurah Enterprises Pty Ltd v Western Australia Planning Commission [2008] WASCA 211 Newbon v City Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited (1935) 52 CLR 723 O'Connor v State of New South Wales [2017] NSWCA 335 Parramatta City Council and Another v R & R Fazzolari Pty Ltd (2009) 237 CLR 603; [2009] HCA 12 Patsalis v Attorney General for the State of New South Wales [2013] NSWCA 98 Pye v Hawkins (1967) 87 WN (Pt 1) (NSW) 143 Regional Express Holdings Ltd v Dubbo City Council (No. 2) [2013] NSWLEC 113 Screenco Pty Ltd v R L Dew Pty Ltd (2003) 58 NSWLR 720; [2003] NSWCA 319 Simmons v NSW Trustee and Guardian [2014] NSWCA 405 The Australian Workers Union New South Wales Branch v The Minister for Natural Resources (1991) 26 ALD 461; (1991) 43 IR 158 Vaughan Construction Co. Ltd v Attorney-General of Nova Scotia (1967) 60 DLR (2d) 692 Webster v Lampard (1993) 177 CLR 598 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Cudgegong Australia Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) Transport for New South Wales (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: P Tomasetti SC & M Fozzard (Plaintiff) R Lancaster SC & E Bathurst (Defendant)