Hunter v Wyong Shire Council

Applicable Legal Principles 12The legal principles governing whether or not this matter is appropriate for determination by separate question have been summarised by Jagot J in Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2006] NSWLEC 57; 145 LGERA 276 (at [12]) and repeated by her Honour in Young v Parramatta City Council [2006] NSWLEC 116; (2006) 144 LGERA 193 (at [6]-[9]). The principles were restated by Biscoe J in Fobitu Pty Ltd v Marrickville Council [2012] NSWLEC 81 as follows (at [11]): (11)In this Court, the principles to guide the exercise of the discretion to order the decision of any question separately from any other question in proceedings were identified by Jagot J in Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2006] NSWLEC 57, 145 LGERA 276 at [12], and have been affirmed in Young v Parramatta City Council [2006] NSWLEC 116, 144 LGERA 193 (Jagot J) and Wollongong City Council v Vic Vellar Nominees Pty Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 138 (Craig J). They may be summarised as follows: (a) Generally speaking, all issues should be tried at the same time. If an issue of law or fact is raised which, if decided in one way, will dispose of the claim then a separate determination of that issue may be appropriate. (b) Care must be taken to ensure that any such question is "ripe" for separate and preliminary determination. This will be so where the matter is a central issue in contention between the parties, the resolution of which will either obviate the necessity of litigation altogether or substantially narrow the field of controversy. (c) Where the issue sought to be separated involves a question of law, there should be a clear definition of what the point of law raised is and the facts upon which that question has to be considered should be clearly ascertainable. (d) Special problems can arise where the question sought to be separated is one of mixed fact and law. (e) In order to dispose of what may first appear to be a pure question of law, the inquiry might range round questions of fact and the proper inferences to be drawn from the primary facts. Hence, it should be able to be seen with clarity that the determination of the separate question will be beneficial to the conduct of the proceedings and resolution of the dispute. 13These principles have been endorsed and applied by this Court in a number of decisions (see, for example, Wollongong City Council v Vic Vellar Nominees Pty Limited [2011] NSWLEC 138 at [19] and Reysson v Roads and Traffic Authority [2011] NSWLEC 153 at [10]). In particular, the proposed separate question should be one that has the capacity to substantially narrow the field of controversy (Reysson at [10]). 14Two additional matters that have been emphasised by the case law should be noted. First, is the caution that regularly attends the separate determination of a question or issue and the confidence to be had that the determination of this question will in reality involve saving some time and costs. In Young Jagot J stated (at [11], embraced by Craig J in Vic Vellar at [20]-[22], Reysson at [12] and Fobitu at [12]-[14] per Biscoe J): A number of the decisions referred to above identify the appropriate degree of confidence (that the procedure will be fair and involve real savings in time and cost) to warrant the making of an order for separate determination. In Tallglen, the criterion was described as one where the beneficial results should be able to be seen "with clarity". In Poynting, the formula adopted was that the procedure ought "far more likely than not be convenient and save significant expense". In Tepko, the standard identified as appropriate was that the "utility, economy and fairness to the parties" of the making of the order ought to be "beyond question". 15Second, the determination of a separate question ought ordinarily be made on the basis of either facts found or agreed (Vic Vellar at [23]). Where determination of the question depends on facts about which there is genuine dispute, the efficacy of the separate or preliminary question process is likely to be diminished.

It is Appropriate to Order the Determination of a Separate Question 16When regard is had to the proposed separate question and the affidavit evidence of Mr Glendenning and Ms Green, it is tolerably clear that a real saving of time and costs will result if the separate question is ordered by the Court. 17In particular, Ms Green states that the ordering of a separate question will result in a significant savings in costs. In Ms Green's experience in similar Court matters with comparable contentions raised in relation to the social impact of the proposed development, it is her estimate that the cost of engaging a social impact consultant ranges between $50,000 to $200,000. At the higher end, Ms Green states that the costs include surveys and studies, in addition to the work that a social impact consultant must necessarily engage in. Moreover, Ms Green estimates that the length of the hearing if both the social impact and permissibility issues are heard together, will be somewhere between three to five days, whereas if the Court simply determines the permissibility issue as a preliminary matter and finds against Mr Hunter on this single issue no more than half a day of hearing time will be necessary, with a resultant marked saving in legal costs to the parties. 18Mr Glendenning gives a similar estimate in terms of time for the preliminary hearing versus that required for a full hearing dealing with both permissibility and social impact issues. In particular, Mr Glendenning notes that the council has received 18 submissions concerning the proposed development, including two petitions with over 140 signatories, and objections from the New South Wales Police Service and New South Wales Health. It is Mr Glendenning's expectation that a significant number of those who have submitted objections to the council will seek to give evidence at the hearing in relation to the social impact of the proposed development. It is his estimate that the council will incur external costs of between $82,000 and $105,000 in respect of the preparation for and hearing of these issues. 19Although the parties have not presented the Court with a statement of agreed facts governing the hearing of the separate question, I do not think that in the circumstances of this application such a statement is necessary given that the question posed for separate determination is concerned solely with a legal issue of characterisation and the proper construction of the WLEP. 20For these reasons, it is my opinion that the determination of the preliminary question posed has the prospect of substantially narrowing the field of controversy between the parties with a consequence that there will be a significant saving of costs and time, particularly if the question is resolved in favour of the council. It is therefore appropriate to make the order Mr Hunter seeks. This approach not only accords with the legal principles expressed above but also with the overriding purpose contained in s 56 of the Civil Procedure Act 2005 of the just, quick and cheap resolution of the real issues for determination in the proceedings.

Orders 21The Court therefore makes the following orders: (1) that the following question be determined separately from any other question before any further trial in the proceedings: Whether the proposed development is prohibited under the Wyong Local Environmental Plan 1991. (2) leave granted forthwith to approach the Registrar for the hearing of a separate question (estimate of a half day), not before 14 December 2012; (3) the applicant is to file and serve its statement of facts and contentions in reply, if any, in accordance with Practice Note - Class 1 Development Appeals. This statement is not to repeat any facts not in dispute; (4) by 30 November 2012 the parties are to file an agreed bundle of documents and any agreed statement of facts; (5) the parties are to promptly notify the Court if there is any material slippage in the timetable; (6) the parties have liberty to restore on three working days' notice; and (7)the parties are to file and serve written submissions by 7 December 2012 with respect to the separate question for determination.

DISCLAIMER - Every effort has been made to comply with suppression orders or statutory provisions prohibiting publication that may apply to this judgment or decision. The onus remains on any person using material in the judgment or decision to ensure that the intended use of that material does not breach any such order or provision. Further enquiries may be directed to the Registry of the Court or Tribunal in which it was generated. Decision last updated: 12 November 2012