Verde Terra Pty Ltd v Central Coast Council [2019] NSWLEC 166

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Verde Terra Pty Ltd v Central Coast Council [2019] NSWLEC 166 Hearing dates: 28 October 2019 Date of orders: 01 November 2019 Decision date: 01 November 2019 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Pepper J Decision: Notice of motion dismissed. Costs in the cause. Catchwords: PROCEDURE: application to set aside subpoenas and a notice to produce—whether oppressive—whether lacking any legitimate forensic purpose—applicable legal principles—application dismissed.

EVIDENCE: whether a claim for legal professional privilege or without prejudice privilege is a proper basis to set aside subpoenas and a notice to produce—exceptions to claim of privilege to communications made to further an illegal purpose—loss of privilege where joint-retainer—loss of privilege by reason of waiver—privileges not established. Legislation Cited: Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979 s 124 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 sch 3 cls 35, 37A Evidence Act 1995 ss 118, 119, 124, 131 Local Government Act 1919 Pt XIIA Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 s 50 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 rr 33.4, 21.11 Cases Cited: Attorney-General for the Northern Territory of Australia v Kearney [1985] HCA 60; (1985) 158 CLR 500 Australasian Memory Pty Ltd v Brien (1998) 45 NSWLR 111 Azar Building and Construction Services Pty Ltd v Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation [2010] NSWLEC 110 Beck v Weinstock [2012] NSWCA 289; (2012) 8 BFRA 279 Black Hill Residents Group Incorporated v Marist Youth Care Limited [2019] NSWLEC 112 C G Maloney Pty Ltd v Noon [2011] NSWCA 397 Field v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) [1957] HCA 92; (1957) 99 CLR 285 Hamod v New South Wales (No 8) [2008] NSWSC 125 Lane v Registrar, Supreme Court of New South Wales [1981] HCA 35; (1981) 148 CLR 245 Mann v Carnell [1999] HCA 66; (1999) 201 CLR 1 Patonga Beach Holdings Pty Ltd v Lyons [2009] NSWSC 869 Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Proprietary Limited [1981] HCA 45; (1981) 147 CLR 589 Rinehart v Rinehart [2018] NSWSC 1102 Sharpe v Grobbel [2017] NSWSC 1065 The Daniels Corporation International Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2002] HCA 49; (2002) 213 CLR 543 Timbercorp Finance Pty Ltd (in liquidation) v Collins [2016] HCA 44; (2016) 259 CLR 212 Tony Azzi (Automobiles) Pty Ltd v Volvo Car Australia Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 283 UBS AG v Tyne [2018] HCA 45; (2018) 92 ALJR 968 Verde Terra Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (No 1) [2018] NSWLEC 159 Verde Terra Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (No 3) [2018] NSWLEC 161 Warringah Shire Council v Sedevic (1987) 10 NSWLR 335 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Verde Terra Pty Ltd (Applicant) Central Coast Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr P Larkin SC with Mr G Tsang (Applicant) Mr M Astill with Ms C Novak (Respondent)