M.H. Earthmoving Pty Ltd v Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (No 3) [2018] NSWLEC 1502

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: M.H. Earthmoving Pty Ltd v Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (No 3) [2018] NSWLEC 1502 Hearing dates: 15 – 18 August 2018; written submissions 23 & 27 August and 3 September 2018 Date of orders: 27 September 2018 Decision date: 27 September 2018 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Dickson C Decision: The Court orders that:

(1) The appeal is dismissed; (2) Development Application DA/242/2017 for the expansion of an existing General Solid Waste (non-putrescible) disposal facility at Lots 472 and 502 DP 751421 and Lot 2 DP 111917, 303 Burra Road, Gundagai is refused. (3) The exhibits are returned with the exception of A, B, 1, 2 and 3. Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION: Appeal of refusal by Planning Panel – proposed expansion of landfill– Designated Development– whether the development will impact on ground water– precautionary principle–whether the development poses an unacceptable risk to downstream waters– weight to future risk of failure– suitability of the site– balance benefits of the proposal–public interest. Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 Gundagai Local Environmental Plan 2011 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1979 State Environmental Planning Policy No 33 – Hazardous and Offensive Development State Environmental Planning Policy No 55 –Remediation of Land State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 State Environment Planning Policy (Seniors Living) 2004 State Environmental Planning Policy (State and Regional Development) 2011 Tweed Local Environmental Plan 2000 Visy Mill Facilitation Act 1997 Water Management Act 2000 Cases Cited: Castle Constructions Pty Ltd v North Sydney Council [2007] NSWCA 164; 155 LGERA 52 Coffs Harbour Environment Centre Inc v Minister for Planning (1994) 84 LGERA 324 Hastings Point Progress Association v Tweed Shire Council & Anor (2009) 168 LGERA 99 Hub Action Group Incorporated v Minister for Planning and Orange City Council [2008] NSWLEC 116 Initial Action Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council [2018] NSWLEC 118 Mansfield v Minister for Planning and Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 1063 Stocklands v Manly Council (2004) 136 LGERA 254 Telstra Corporation Limited v Hornsby Shire Council (2006) 146 LGERA 10 Texts Cited: Environmental Guidelines Solid Waste Landfills by NSW Environment Protection Authority, Second Edition, 2016 Landfilling: EIS Guideline by Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, 1996 Managing Land Contamination Planning Guidelines SEPP 55–Remediation of Land, NSW EPA 1998 Macquarie Dictionary Category: Principal judgment Parties: M.H. Earthmoving Pty Ltd (Applicant) Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council (First Respondent) Southern Regional Planning Panel (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsels: T Howard SC (Applicant) C Novak (Applicant) C Leggat SC (Second Respondent) S Nash (Second Respondent)