Croghan v Blacktown City Council [2019] NSWCA 248

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Croghan v Blacktown City Council [2019] NSWCA 248 Hearing dates: 3 September 2019 Decision date: 15 October 2019 Before: Meagher JA at [1] McCallum JA at [47] Simpson AJA at [48] Decision: 1. Grant leave to the applicant, Alan Croghan, to appeal from orders (2), (3) and (4) made by Molesworth AJ on 7 February 2019 on ground 1 in the draft notice of appeal. 2. Direct that within 7 days the applicant file a notice of appeal limited to ground 1 of the draft notice of appeal. 3. Appeal allowed. 4. Set aside orders (2), (3) and (4) made by the Land and Environment Court on 7 February 2019. 5. The respondent pay the applicant's costs of the proceedings in the Land and Environment Court, assessed on the ordinary basis. 6. The respondent pay the applicant's costs of the appeal and application for leave to appeal. Catchwords: COSTS – party/party – exceptions to general rule that costs follow the event – Land and Environment Court – Class 3 compensation proceedings – where UCPR r 42.1 does not apply and offer of compromise rejected and judgment obtained for less than amount of offer – application of UCPR r 42.15(2) – principles relevant to exercise of discretion to "order otherwise" – whether primary judge erred in applying those principles

ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING – Land and Environment Court – practice and procedure – costs –Class 3 compensation proceedings – where presumption that costs follow the event does not apply – whether primary judge erred in applying UCPR r 42.15 Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 98 Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (NSW), ss 3, 10, 37, 41, 42, 43, 47, 55, 66 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW), ss 34, 57 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 1.5, 20.25-20.32, 42.13-42.18, Sch 1 Cases Cited: Aukuso v Tahan (No 2) [2018] NSWCA 302 Banno v Commonwealth (1993) 45 FCR 32 Brock v Roads and Maritime Services [2012] NSWCA 404; (2012) 191 LGERA 267 Cooee Communications Pty Limited v Primus Telecommunications Pty Limited (No 2) [2008] NSWCA 85 Croghan v Blacktown City Council [2019] NSWLEC 2 Dillon v Gosford City Council [2011] NSWCA 328; (2011) 184 LGERA 179 Elite Protective Personnel Pty Ltd v Salmon [2007] NSWCA 322 Fairall v Hobbs (No 2) [2017] NSWCA 133 Hazeldene's Chicken Farm v Victorian WorkCover Authority (No 2) (2005) 13 VR 435; [2005] VSCA 298 Leach v Nominal Defendant (QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited) (No 2) [2014] NSWCA 391 Maitland Hospital v Fisher (No 2) (1992) 27 NSWLR 721 Minister for Environment v Florence (1979) 21 SASR 108 Miwa Pty Limited v Siantan Properties Pte Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWCA 344 Morgan v Johnson (1998) 44 NSWLR 578 New South Wales Insurance Ministerial Corporation v Reeve (1993) 42 NSWLR 100 Perisher Blue v Nair-Smith (No 2) [2015] NSWCA 268 Purfleet Farms Limited v Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions [2003] I P & CR 324 Ridehalgh v Horsefield [1994] Ch 205 Tempe Recreation (D.500215 & D.1000502) Reserve Trust v Sydney Water Corporation (2014) 88 NSWLR 449; [2014] NSWCA 437 The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) v Takacs (No 2) [2008] NSWCA 172 White Industries Qld v Flower & Hart (a firm) (1998) 156 ALR 169 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Alan Croghan (Applicant) Blacktown City Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: M Hall SC / M Evetts (Applicant) N Eastman (Respondent)