Boomerang & Blueys Residents Group Inc v New South Wales Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and MidCoast Council (No 2) [2019] NSWLEC 202

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Boomerang & Blueys Residents Group Inc v New South Wales Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and MidCoast Council (No 2) [2019] NSWLEC 202 Hearing dates: 15 to 17 April 2019 Date of orders: 23 December 2019 Decision date: 23 December 2019 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Robson J Decision: See orders at [276] Catchwords: JUDICIAL REVIEW – application seeking declaratory relief in relation to decisions made by the Minister and Council to prepare, certify and adopt the Great Lakes Coastal Zone Management Plan – whether the applicant has standing – whether the impugned decisions were unreasonable – whether there was non-compliance with the Coastal Protection Act 1979 (NSW) and Guidelines for Preparing Coastal Zone Management Plans – whether there was a deficiency of information for the Great Lakes Coastal Zone Management Plan – whether there was a rational basis for the risk assessment in the Great Lakes Coastal Zone Management Plan – application dismissed Legislation Cited: Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (NSW) Coastal Management Act 2016 (NSW) Sch 3 Coastal Protection Act 1979 (NSW) ss 3, 4, 12, 13, 55A, 55B, 55C, 55D, 55E, 55F, 55G, 55H, 55K, 55L, Pt 4A Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) ss 4.15, 79C, 123 Great Lakes Local Environmental Plan 2014 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW) s 20 Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) s 220 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 59.10 Cases Cited: Alliance to Save Hinchinbrook v Cook [2006] QSC 084; (2006) 145 LGERA 32 Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation [1947] 2 All ER 680 Australian Capital Television Pty Ltd v Minister for Transport & Communications (1989) 86 ALR 119 Australian Conservation Foundation v The Commonwealth (1980) 146 CLR 493; [1980] HCA 53 Boomerang & Blueys Residents Group Inc v New South Wales Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government [2019] NSWLEC 201 Chisholm v Pittwater Council [2001] NSWCA 104 Commercial Union Assurance Co of Australia Ltd v Ferrcom Pty Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 389 D'Amore v Independent Commission Against Corruption [2013] NSWCA 187; (2013) 303 ALR 242 Haughton v Minister for Planning and Macquarie Generation; Haughton v Minister for Planning and TRUenergy Pty Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 217; (2011) 185 LGERA 373 Hossain v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2018] HCA 34; (2018) 359 ALR 1 Kruger v Commonwealth of Australia; Bray v Commonwealth of Australia (1997) 190 CLR 1; [1997] HCA 27 La v Federated Furnishing Trade Society of Australasia (1993) 41 FCR 151 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Eden (2016) 240 FCR 158; [2016] FCAFC 28 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Stretton (2016) 237 FCR 1; [2016] FCAFC 11 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZVFW [2018] HCA 30; (2018) 357 ALR 408 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332; [2013] HCA 18 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu (1999) 197 CLR 611; [1999] HCA 21 Norbis v Norbis (1986) 161 CLR 513; [1986] HCA 17 North Coast Environmental Council Inc v Minister for Resources (1994) 55 FCR 492 Onus v Alcoa of Australia Ltd (1981) 149 CLR 27; [1981] HCA 50 Parramatta City Council v Pestell (1972) 128 CLR 305; [1972] HCA 59 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Sharples v Minister for Local Government [2010] NSWCA 36; (2010) 174 LGERA 129 Smoker v Pharmacy Restructuring Authority (1994) 53 FCR 287 South Australia Housing Trust v Development Assessment Commission (1994) 63 SASR 35; (1994) 85 LGERA 92 Timbarra Protection Coalition Inc v Ross Mining NL (1999) 46 NSWLR 55; [1999] NSWCA 8 Victorian Taxi Families Inc v Taxi Services Commission [2018] VSC 594 Visa International Service Association v Reserve Bank of Australia (2003) 131 FCR 300; [2003] FCA 977 Walsh v Parramatta City Council [2007] NSWLEC 255; (2007) 161 LGERA 118 Wattie v Industrial Relations Secretary (No 2) [2018] NSWCA 124 Texts Cited: Mark Aronson, Matthew Groves and Greg Weeks, Judicial Review of Administrative Action and Government Liability (6th ed, 2017, Thomson Reuters) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Boomerang & Blueys Residents Group Inc (Applicant) New South Wales Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (First Respondent) MidCoast Council (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: N Hutley SC with R White (Applicant) S Duggan SC with N Hammond (First Respondent) J Lazarus (Second Respondent)