Friends of Tumblebee Incorporated v ATB Morton Pty Limited (No 3) [2014] NSWLEC 133

Friends of Tumblebee Incorporated v ATB Morton Pty Limited (No 3) [2014] NSWLEC 133

The Court refused leave because ATB had not established that the proposed planning evidence should be admitted under r 31.19. Although the first part of Mr Dwyer's report was relevant and could be reasonably required as a response to Tumblebee's evidence about approved clearing, it was inadmissible opinion evidence...

Source-derived case information.

Jurisdiction
Australia
Judgment Date
22 August 2014
Procedural Posture
Class 4 Judicial Review Proceedings; Interlocutory Application / First Respondent's Notice of Motion for Leave Under R 31.19 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 to Adduce Expert Town Planning Evidence During the Hearing
Outcome
Leave refused
Legal Topics
['late Application to Rely on Expert Evidence' 'expert Evidence in Judicial Review Proceedings' 'jurisdictional Fact' 'opinion Evidence' 'species Impact Statement' 'threatened Species Habitat']
['civil Procedure' 'evidence' 'environmental Planning and Assessment' 'judicial Review'] ['late Application to Rely on Expert Evidence' 'expert Evidence in Judicial Review Proceedings' 'jurisdictional Fact' 'opinion Evidence' 'species Impact Statement' 'threatened Species Habitat']

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Procedural Posture

Class 4 Judicial Review Proceedings; Interlocutory Application / First Respondent's Notice of Motion for Leave Under R 31.19 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 to Adduce Expert Town Planning Evidence During the Hearing

  1. 1 ['Whether leave should be granted under r 31.19 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 for ATB to rely on the affidavit and report of town planner Mr Robert Dwyer' 'Whether the expert planning evidence was reasonably required to resolve the proceedings' "Whether Mr Dwyer's report was inadmissible opinion evidence because it failed to disclose the reasoning and factual basis for the opinions expressed" "Whether the second part of Mr Dwyer's report was merely submission on planning instruments rather than probative expert evidence"]

Ratio Decidendi

The Court refused leave because ATB had not established that the proposed planning evidence should be admitted under r 31.19. Although the first part of Mr Dwyer's report was relevant and could be reasonably required as a response to Tumblebee's evidence about approved clearing, it was inadmissible opinion evidence because it did not adequately disclose the reasoning, methodology or factual basis for conclusions about clearing undertaken and whether approvals had lapsed. The second part of the report responded to material that was only a submission, concerned planning instruments the Court could interpret without expert assistance, contained matters that could be put as submissions by...

Court Disposition

Leave refused

Orders

  • ['The Court declines leave to ATB to rely on the affidavit of Mr Dwyer pursuant to r 31.19 of the UCPR.']