Environmental law in Australia

1738 Pages·2016·12.521 MB·English

by  Gerard Maxwell Bates

Environmental Law in Australia
9th edition
Gerry Bates
LLB (Hons), PhD (Birm)
Specialist in Environmental Law and Policy
LexisNexis Butterworths
Australia
2016
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National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry
Author: Bates, G M (Gerard Maxwell).
Title: Environmental law in Australia.
Edition: 9th edition.
ISBN: 9780409341935 (pbk).
9780409341942 (ebk).
Notes: Includes index.
Subjects: Environmental law — Australia.
Dewey Number: 344.94046
© 2016 Reed International Books Australia Pty Limited trading as
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Preface
Since the eighth edition of this book was published in 2013, legislative reform
and government policy initiation in most jurisdictions have continued at an
accelerated rate. We have seen the demise of the Clean Energy legislation in
favour of the Emissions Reduction package, the roll out of biodiversity offsets
across all jurisdictions, new national measures on biosecurity, and a host of
new cases and legislative reforms that build on the implementation and
interpretation of existing laws. And finally, we also have a new global
agreement to limit carbon emissions.
Defending the environment through the courts and tribunals has come
under scrutiny from some governments, which have tried to wind back the
ability of ordinary citizens to question government compliance with
environmental laws and test the quality of decision-making. Public interest
environmental litigation has been hit by the removal of legal aid and
withdrawal of funding from Environmental Defenders Offices. Nevertheless,
this will not deter citizens, or the organisations that support them, from
questioning the legality or quality of government decision-making. As the
cases show, the courts and tribunals will not be distracted by the expressed
frustrations of government, or by the loud voices of those that have the ear of
government. They will continue, as they always have, to interpret the intent
and the substance of environmental laws, and the quality of decision-making
under those laws, in an objective and independent manner.
Like the stock market, governmental support for environmental regulation
waxes and wanes. ‘Green-tape reduction’ is trendy with some governments,
but the trend line representing environmental regulation is always clearly
upward, as environmental policies and regulation respond to democratic
expressions of concern, and the findings and advice of science.
Encouragement of voluntary action is always welcome, but it does not
necessarily establish a ‘level playing field’. As the consequences of ‘a climate
on steroids’ begin to take hold, laws that command and encourage
appropriate action to manage development, control pollution, ensure the
uptake of renewable sources of energy, and protect biodiversity, will be
needed ever more urgently. I fully expect that in the next edition of this book,
I will be able to report on further serious reforms to environmental policies
supported by complementary environmental laws.
As with previous editions, Environmental Law in Australia will be
supported with periodic updates that will try to keep the reader up to date
with changes to legislation and significant case law.
Thanks to Lachlan, Euan and Annabel for providing the musical
background that inspires the continuation of this work.
Gerry Bates
Sydney
January 2016
Table of Cases
References are to paragraph numbers
A
Abacus Funds Management v Sunshine Coast Regional Council [2012] QPEC
46 …. 10.36
Abacus Property Group v Ashfield Municipal Council [2009] NSWLEC 1097
…. 10.23
Aberline Associates Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2009] NSWLEC 1335
…. 10.23
Able Demolitions & Excavations Pty Ltd v Yarra Ranges Shire Council [2008]
VSC 294 …. 16.17
Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund Pty Ltd v Batemans Bay Local
Aboriginal Land Council (1996) 92 LGERA 212 …. 19.30
— v — (1997) 93 LGERA 345 …. 19.30
Acciona Energy Oceania Pty Ltd v Corangamite Shire Council [2008] VCAT
1617 …. 11.58, 17.57
Ackroyd v McKechnie (1986) 66 ALR 287 …. 5.43, 5.45, 14.7
— v Whitehouse [1985] 2 NSWLR 239 …. 22.32
ACR Trading Pty Ltd v Fat-Sel Pty Ltd (1987) 11 NSWLR 67 …. 21.6
Adams v Advocate General for Scotland [2002] UKHRR 1189 …. 2.46
ADI Ltd v Hawkesbury City Council (2001) 117 LGERA 117 …. 19.55
AGC (Advances) Ltd v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales
(1993) 30 NSWLR 391 …. 11.14
AGC Earthmoving Group Pty Ltd and Shire of Mundaring, Re [2008]
WASAT 151 …. 11.76
Agonic Holdings Pty Ltd v Lithgow City Council [2008] NSWLEC 1347 ….
8.78
Ajka Pty Ltd and Australian Fisheries Management Authority [2001] AATA
258 …. 18.46
Al Oshlack v Iron Gates Pty Ltd [1997] NSWLEC 89 …. 14.81
Alanvale Pty Ltd v Southern Rural Water [2010] VCAT 480 …. 8.67, 17.57
Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (2009)
239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41 …. 2.66, 2.67, 7.14, 7.15
Alcock v Commonwealth of Australia [2009] FCA 820 …. 18.48
— v — [2012] FCA 524 …. 18.48
Aldous v Greater Taree City Council (2009) 167 LGERA 13; [2009] NSWLEC
17 …. 8.32, 8.33, 17.55
Alec Finlayson Pty Ltd v Armidale City Council (1994) 51 FCR 378; 84
LGERA 225; 123 ALR 155 …. 3.29, 16.25
Alexander v District Council of Robe [2009] SAERDC 4 …. 18.57
— v Yass Valley Council [2011] NSWLEC 148 …. 22.66
Ali v Liverpool City Council [2009] NSWLEC 107 …. 19.55
Allandale Blue Metal Pty Ltd v Roads and Maritime Services [2013] NSWCA
103 …. 2.67
Allders International Pty Ltd v Commissioner for State Revenue (Victoria)
(1996) 140 ALR 189 …. 5.46
Allen v Gulf Oil Refining Ltd [1981] AC 1001 …. 3.44, 3.45
— v United Carpet Mills Pty Ltd [1989] VR 323 …. 20.39, 20.40, 20.79
Alliance to Save Hinchinbrook v Chief Executive, Environmental Protection
Agency (2006) 145 LGERA 32; [2006] QSC 84 …. 8.23, 12.62, 17.55, 19.34,
19.35, 22.59
— v Cook [2005] QSC 355 …. 21.36
Alphacell Ltd v Woodward [1972] 2 All ER 475 …. 20.32, 20.43, 20.49
Alphapharm Pty Ltd v Smithkline Beecham (Australia) Pty Ltd (1994) 49 FCR
250 …. 19.30
Alpharma Inc v Council T-70/99 …. 8.74
Altamura v Director of Fisheries Policy, South Australia [2003] SASC 277 ….
18.48
Alumino (Aust) Pty Ltd v Minister Administering the Environmental
Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) [1996] NSWLEC 102 …. 8.63
And Jombi and Minister for the Environment and Heritage [2004] AATA
1380 …. 14.5
Anderson v Ballina Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 76 …. 22.57
— v Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change
(2008) 163 LGERA 400; [2008] NSWCA 337 …. 7.27, 8.28, 8.39, 8.40, 8.78,
22.57, 22.65
— v Director-General, Department of Environment and Conservation (2006)
144 LGERA 43 …. 8.78, 22.34, 22.57
— v Minister for Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources (2006) 151
LGERA 229 …. 22.55, 22.57, 22.70, 22.72
Anderson on behalf of Numbahjing Clan within Bundjalung Nation v NSW
Minister for Planning (No 2) (2008) 163 LGERA 132 …. 21.25, 21.29
Andreae v Selfridge & Co Ltd [1937] 3 All ER 255 …. 3.21
Angel and Department of Arts, Heritage and Environment, Re (1986) 9 ALD
113 …. 22.24
Animal Liberation v Conservator of Flora and Fauna (Administrative Review)
[2009] ACAT 17 …. 8.25, 8.53
— v — [2014] ACAT 35 …. 14.80
Animal Liberation Ltd v Department of Environment and Conservation
[2007] NSWSC 221 …. 19.37
Animals’ Angels e.V. v Secretary, Department of Agriculture [2014] FCAFC
173 …. 19.35
Annetts v McCann (1990) 170 CLR 596 …. 22.40
Anthony Lagoon Station v Maurice (1987) 74 ALR 77 …. 22.53
Antoniou v Roper (1990) 70 LGRA 351 …. 10.9, 22.40
Anvil Hill Project Watch Association Inc v Minister for the Environment and
Water Resources (2007) 97 ALD 398; [2007] FCA 1480 …. 6.9, 6.18, 14.25
— v — [2008] FCAFC 3 …. 6.13, 6.15, 6.18, 22.46
Anzbrook Pty Ltd v Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
[2010] FMCA 34 …. 14.5
APP Corp Pty Ltd v City of Perth [2008] WASAT 291 …. 8.53
— v — [2011] WASAT 132 …. 8.53
Architype Australia Pty Ltd v Yarra City Council [2009] VCAT 662 …. 16.45
Argentum Reductions (UK) Ltd, Re [1975] 1 WLR 186 …. 19.38
Argos Pty Ltd v Corbell, Minister for the Environment and Sustainable
Development [2013] ACTCA 51 …. 19.18, 19.35
— v — [2014] HCA 50 …. 19.28
Armidale City Council v Alec Finlayson Pty Ltd (1999) 104 LGERA 9 …. 3.29,
3.30, 16.25, 16.27
Arnold v Minister Administering Water Management Act 2000 [2008]
NSWCA 338 …. 5.22
— v — [2010] HCA 3 …. 2.31, 5.1, 5.22, 5.36
Arnold (on behalf of Australians for Animals) v Queensland (1987) 73 ALR
607 …. 21.24, 21.40, 22.24
Arora Construction Pty Ltd v Gold Coast City Council [2012] QPEC 52 ….
18.19
Asbestos case (Canada v France) ‘European Communities — Measures
Affecting Asbestos and Asbestos-containing Products’, Report, 12 March
2001 …. 4.35
Asher v Melbourne Water (General) [2009] VCAT 1079 …. 1.24
Ashfield Municipal Council v Armstrong [2003] NSWCA 353 …. 9.53
Ashton Coal Operations Pty Ltd v Director-General, Department of
Environment, Climate Change and Water (No 3) [2011] NSWLEC 1249
…. 8.40, 8.78
— v Hunter Environment Lobby Inc [2015] NSWCA 358 …. 18.62
Ashworth v Victoria [2003] VSC 194 …. 18.20
Associated Minerals Consolidated Ltd v Wyong Shire Council [1975] AC 538
…. 7.18
Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation [1947]
EWCA Civ 1; [1948] 1 KB 223 …. 22.71, 22.72, 22.74
Atkinson v Newcastle and Gateshead Waterworks Co (1877) 2 Ex D 441 ….
19.8