On 9 February 2016, the NSW Court of Appeal handed down the decision of Roads and Maritime Services v Allandale Blue Metal Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 7. This decision involved the interpretation of compensation under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (NSW) (Just Terms Act).
In 2010, the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) acquired some land for constructing the F3 Freeway to Branxton Highway Link (Hunter Expressway). Allandale Blue Metal Pty Ltd (ABM) was the owner of the acquired land. The land was used both for grazing and as a quarry. ABM did not operate the quarrying business itself and granted a lease to Quarry Products (Newcastle) Pty Ltd (QPN), a related company, to carry on the quarrying business.
Both ABM and QPN claimed compensation under the Just Terms Act. Whilst QBN commenced proceedings for financial loss as lessee, the proceedings were discontinued for the sum of $807,758 in compensation. ABM rejected an offer of compensation, and continued with its claim in the Land and Environment Court. On 17 February 2015, Pain J of the Land and Environment Court ordered payment of $3,387,796 in compensation to ABM.
RMS has appealed the judgment of Pain J, arguing that ABM and QPN could not be compensated for the same loss, for which one of the parties had already received compensation.
The Court of Appeal upheld the original decision in part, stating that a loss suffered by two different entities cannot be "the same loss". The Court of Appeal also stated that the Just Terms Act did not preclude the recovery of losses from different entities from the same circumstance. Section 56(2) of the Just Terms Act prevents generally, former owners of land receiving a sum for the market values of each interest which, together, will exceed the market value of the land. However, in this case, QPN did not receive any amount in relation to market value.
The RMS was successful on a separate issue in reducing the award for restriction on access to the timbered land. The timbered land was land not acquired by RMS, although the only means of access was an underpass constructed as part of the Hunter Expressway. Pain J had allowed compensation for "injurious affection", at 15% of the value of this land.
The Court of Appeal considered the question of whether adequate
access was provided. The Court of Appeal stated that ABM already
had unrestricted access to this area through an underpass, which
was soon to be legally secured by registration of the necessary
instrument under section 46 of the Roads Act 1993 (NSW).
There was also no evidence suggesting that RMS would depart from
its legal obligations in this respect. Therefore, ABM was not
entitled to this component of compensation.
Change of date – 2016 NSW Government Lawyers
Day
Please note, having regard to the NSW Government Legal
Services Panel tender period, Holding Redlich's third annual
NSW Government Lawyers Day will now be held in July. Stay tuned for
further information soon about dates and session topics.
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In the media
Department takes court action on AGLs political donation
disclosures
The Department of Planning and Environment welcomes
AGL's guilty plea in response to an investigation into the
company's political donation disclosures (12 February
2016). Department takes court action on AGLs political
donation disclosures
Public to have its say in Independent Review of
Lockouts, Last Drinks and 10pm Liquor Laws
The public is being invited to have its say in an
independent, evidence-based review of the 1.30am lockouts, 3am last
drinks and 10pm takeaway liquor laws that will be led by a former
High Court judge, Deputy Premier and Minister for Justice Troy
Grant (11 February 2016). Public to have its say in Independent Review of Lockouts,
Last Drinks and 10pm Liquor Laws
Liquor licence freeze extension gives community,
business certainty
The NSW Government will extend the freeze on new liquor
licences in the Kings Cross and Sydney CBD Entertainment Precincts
for a further year to allow the upcoming statutory review of the
lockout and last drinks legislation to be completed (06 February
2016). Liquor licence freeze extension gives community, business
certainty
Auburn Council suspended, dodgy deals investigated
Auburn City Council has been temporarily suspended and an
independent public inquiry mounted into alleged dodgy dealings of
some of its councillors, NSW Local Government Minister Paul Toole
announced today (10 February 2016). Auburn
Council suspended, dodgy deals investigated
Public inquiries into NSW council mergers kick off
Residents, councillors, organisations and council staff
spoke across a wide range of issues with almost all speaking in
opposition to the creation of a new super council (03 February
2016). Public
inquiries into NSW council mergers kick off
In practice and courts
ICAC: Prosecution outcomes and briefs with the DPP
Tables listing briefs with the Director of Public
Prosecutions, and outcomes of ICAC-related Prosecutions. Updated 2
February 2016
Prosecution outcomes and briefs with the DPP
Independent Review of Lockouts, Last Drinks and 10pm
Liquor Laws: submissions
The review's terms of reference include
examination of the impacts on alcohol-related violence and other
harms and impacts on business, patrons and community amenity.
Submissions can be made online or by mail. Further details of the
review and consultation process are available at http://www.justice.nsw.gov.au/liquorlawreview
and
View Terms of Reference (06 February 2016)
NSW Parliament - This month in committees
Upcoming hearings
Reparations for the Stolen Generations in New South Wales (Wed 17)
Reparations for the Stolen Generations in New South Wales (Thu 18)
Inquiry into elder abuse in New South Wales (Mon 22)
Inquiries receiving submissions
Inquiry into Legislative Council committee system, closes 6 March.
Inquiry into Reparations for the Stolen Generations in New South Wales, closes 10 March.
Government responses due
Progress of the Ombudsman's investigation 'Operation Prospect' (response due) (Thu 25)
Companion Animal Breeding Practices in New South Wales (response due) (Sat 27)
NCAT: Security
update for NCAT Online
A security update will soon be made to the NCAT
Online application lodgement website with the latest
encryption standards (09/02/2016)
Security update for NCAT Online
NCAT: New and updated NCAT
policies
Publishing
Reasons for
Decisions - The updated
NCAT Policy 2 - Publishing Reasons for Decisions [PDF,
50kB] sets
out the practices and considerations which apply to the publication
of reasons for decisions made in the various
Divisions ofthe Tribunal and by the Appeal Panel.
Provision of Statistical Data - The updated NCAT Policy 3 - Provision of Statistical Data [PDF, 33kB] sets out the circumstances in which statistical data might be provided to external bodies and individuals, and the procedures for dealing with statistical data requests.
Access to and Publication of Information -The new NCAT Policy 4 - Access to and Publication of Information Derived from Proceedings [PDF, 45kB] sets out the legislative provisions, protocols and procedures that apply where persons who are not parties to proceedings wish to gain access to, or publish, information derived from proceedings in the Tribunal.
(02/02/2016) New and updated NCAT policies
Cases
BMY v Department of Family and Community Services [2016]
NSWCATAD 24
The decision that access is refused is set aside and a
substitute decision is made
ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW- privacy-whether alteration of record needed
to ensure accuracy, completeness and not misleading-whether
personal information used or disclosed
Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998; Privacy Code
of Practice (General) 2003
More...
Roads and Maritime Services v Allandale Blue Metal Pty
Ltd [2016] NSWCA 7
APPEAL – grounds – question of law –
factual finding not challengeable where some evidence available and
finding reasonably open – Land and Environment Court Act 1979
(NSW), s 58 STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – statutory
provision for compensation on just terms – whether expression
of elements of compensation varies effect of general law principles
WORDS AND PHRASES – "market value" –
Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (NSW), s 55, s
56; "special value of the land" - Land Acquisition (Just
Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (NSW), s 55(b); "loss
attributable to disturbance" – Land Acquisition (Just
Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (NSW), s 55(d), s 59.
More...
Power Grid Cables Pty Ltd v Endeavour Energy [2016]
NSWSC 34
INJUNCTIONS - Interlocutory injunctions – whether
status quo can be preserved pending trial – expedited hearing
ordered since interim relief not practical
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – whether decision by state-owned
corporation to remove items from approved materials list is an
administrative decision which attracts requirements of procedural
fairness
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – transfer of proceedings –
"special federal matter"
Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), ss 46, 47; Electricity
Supply Act 1995 (NSW), ss 26, 31
More...
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