Muswellbrook Shire Council v Hunter Valley Energy Coal Pty Ltd (No 3) [2018] NSWLEC 193

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Muswellbrook Shire Council v Hunter Valley Energy Coal Pty Ltd (No 3) [2018] NSWLEC 193 Hearing dates: 17-20 September, 7-8 November 2018, further written submissions 13 November 2018 Date of orders: 30 November 2018 Decision date: 30 November 2018 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Robson J Decision: See orders at [345] Catchwords: JUDICIAL REVIEW – whether condition of mine approval requiring rehabilitation strategy to be prepared imports objective requirements as to content of the strategy – whether rehabilitation strategy meets the definition of rehabilitation strategy in the conditions of consent – whether Secretary was able to form opinion of satisfaction in respect of the strategy prepared

JUDICIAL REVIEW – whether Secretary failed to take mandatory considerations into account – whether Secretary's state of satisfaction with respect to rehabilitation strategy was legally unreasonable

EVIDENCE – admissibility of expert evidence – criteria which need to be established for expert evidence to be admitted – considerations which go to admissibility – considerations which go to weight

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT – construction of development consents – whether document explicitly incorporated into development consent – circumstances in which it is appropriate to consider extrinsic material in construing development consent Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) ss 4.17, 9.46, 75R, 75W, 80A Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 76, 79 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) s 3 Cases Cited: Allandale Blue Metal Pty Ltd v Roads and Maritime Services [2013] NSWCA 103; (2013) 195 LGERA 182 Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation [1947] 2 All ER 680 Auburn Municipal Council v Szabo (1971) 67 LGRA 427 Barrick Australia Ltd v Williams (2009) 74 NSWLR 733; [2009] NSWCA 275 Bunderra Holdings Pty Ltd v Pasminco Cockle Creek Smelter Pty Ltd (2017) 96 NSWLR 434; [2017] NSWCA 263 Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar (2011) 243 CLR 588; [2011] HCA 21 Foley v Padley (1984) 154 CLR 349; [1984] HCA 50 Gedeon v Commissioner of NSW Crime Commission (2008) 236 CLR 120; [2008] HCA 43 GPT RE Limited v Belmorgan Property Development Pty Limited (2008) 72 NSWLR 647; [2008] NSWCA 256 Kindimindi Investments Pty Ltd v Lane Cove Council [2006] NSWCA 23; (2006) 143 LGERA 277 Kyluk Pty Ltd v Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage (2013) 298 ALR 532; [2013] NSWCCA 114 Lake Macquarie City Council v Australian Native Landscapes Pty Ltd (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 114 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705; [2001] NSWCA 305 Miller v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd (1986) 161 CLR 556; [1986] HCA 60 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24; [1986] HCA 40 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZVFW [2018] HCA 30; (2018) 92 ALJR 713 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332; [2013] HCA 18 MLC Properties v Camden Council [1997] NSWLEC 130; (1997) 96 LGERA 52 Muswellbrook Shire Council v Hunter Valley Energy Coal Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 184 Muswellbrook Shire Council v Hunter Valley Energy Coal Pty Ltd (No 2) [2018] NSWLEC 53 Parramatta City Council v Hale (1982) 47 LGRA 319 Parramatta City Council v Shell Co of Australia Ltd (1972) 2 NSWLR 632 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 R v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal; Ex parte Hardiman (1980) 144 CLR 13; [1980] HCA 13 Ryde Municipal Council v Royal Ryde Homes (1970) 19 LGRA 321 Snowy Monaro Regional Council v Tropic Asphalts Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCCA 202 Taub v R (2017) 95 NSWLR 388; [2017] NSWCCA 198 Timbarra Protection Coalition Inc v Ross Mining Ltd & Ors (1999) 46 NSWLR 55; [1999] NSWCA 8 Trives v Hornsby Shire Council (2015) 89 NSWLR 268; [2015] NSWCA 158 Westfield Management Limited v Perpetual Trustee Company Limited [2006] NSWCA 245 Woolworths Ltd v Pallas Newco Pty Ltd & Anor (2004) 61 NSWLR 707; [2004] NSWCA 422 Wotton v State of Queensland (2012) 246 CLR 1; [2012] HCA 2 Texts Cited: Macquarie Dictionary, (6th ed, 2013) 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: P Tomasetti SC with R Lovas (Applicant) R Lancaster SC with C Trahanas (First Respondent) N Kelly (Second Respondent)