M.H. Earthmoving Pty Ltd v Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (No 2) [2018] NSWLEC 101

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: M.H. Earthmoving Pty Ltd v Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (No 2) [2018] NSWLEC 101 Hearing dates: 20 June 2018 Date of orders: 29 June 2018 Decision date: 29 June 2018 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Robson J Decision: See orders at [111] Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – notice of motion – whether appropriate to hear issues raised as separate questions – where similar submissions would be made in hearing of another notice of motion in any event

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – whether amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) have the effect of constituting a new statutory entity or continuing an existing entity – application of interpretive principles

JOINDER – whether appropriate to join planning panel to Class 1 proceedings – where panel is the consent authority but decision is deemed to be made by Council – where panel has power to control and direct Council

COSTS – costs sought in relation to conciliation conference – presumptive rule against costs in Class 1 proceedings – costs sought against non-party – where agreement reached in conciliation conference but planning panel exercised its power to control and direct Council Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) ss 56, 57, 61, 98 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) ss 2.12, 2.15, 8.12, 8.15 Environmental Planning and Assessment (Savings, Transitional and Other Provisions) Regulation 2017 (NSW) cll 6, 7, 9 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) ss 13A, 33, 53 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW) ss 34, 64 Land and Environment Court Rules 2007 (NSW) r 3.7 Joint Regional Planning Panels Order 2009 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 2.1, 28.2 Cases Cited: 820 Cawdor Road Pty Ltd v Wollondilly Shire Council [2013] NSWLEC 8; (2013) 195 LGERA 170 Arden Anglican School v Hornsby Shire Council [2008] NSWLEC 103; (2008) 158 LGERA 224 Cooper Brookes (Wollongong) Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (Cth) (1981) 147 CLR 297; [1981] HCA 26 Diamond v Baulkham Hills Shire Council [1999] NSWCA 277 Dunford v Gosford City Council (No 3) [2015] NSWLEC 96 FPM Constructions Pty Ltd v Council of the City of Blue Mountains [2005] NSWCA 340 Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council [2013] NSWLEC 116 Greetings Oxford Koala Hotel Pty Ltd v Oxford Square Investments Pty Ltd (1989) 18 NSWLR 33 Knight v FP Special Assets Ltd (1992) 174 CLR 178; [1992] HCA 28 Luxcon Developments No 6 Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council [2017] NSWLEC 43 Marshall Rural Pty Ltd v Basscave Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 86 M.H. Earthmoving Pty Ltd v Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council [2018] NSWLEC 56 ROI Properties Pty Ltd v Council of City of Sydney [2010] NSWLEC 22 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Southern Regional Planning Panel (Applicant for Joinder) M.H. Earthmoving Pty Ltd (Applicant) Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: S Nash (Applicant for Joinder) A Galasso SC with C Novak (Applicant) A Hemmings (Respondent)