Upper Mooki Landcare Inc v Shenhua Watermark Coal Pty Ltd and Minister for Planning

Land and Environment Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Upper Mooki Landcare Inc v Shenhua Watermark Coal Pty Ltd and Minister for Planning [2016] NSWLEC 6 Hearing dates:31 August, 1-3 September 2015Date of orders: 19 February 2016 Decision date: 19 February 2016 Jurisdiction:Class 4Before: Preston CJ Decision: (1)   The proceedings are dismissed. (2)   The question of costs is reserved. Catchwords: JUDICIAL REVIEW – development consent for open cut coal mine – likely significant effect on threatened species of the koala – development application contained indication of likely significant effect – whether misdirection in giving or considering indication – consideration of impact on koala population including by koala translocation – whether failure to consider what was local population of koalas – condition of consent requiring koala plans of management – whether condition deferred consideration of impacts on koalas – whether failure to consider precautionary principle or principle of conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity – application dismissed Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ss 5A, 5A(1), 5A(2), 78A(1), 78A(8A), 79B, 79B(2A), 79B(3), 79C(1)(b), 79C(1)(e), 80(1), 89E(1), 89H National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 ss 5, s 97(2) Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991 s 6(2) Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 s 94A Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 cll 50(1)(a), 50(1)(b), Sch 1 cll 1(1)(e), 1(1)(ea), Sch 2, cll 3(9)(d), 6(e), 7(1)(d) Cases Cited: Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond [1990] HCA 33; (1990) 170 CLR 321 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006)...