Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

The Land and Environment Court of New South Wales is a Court established by legislation giving it exclusive jurisdiction to determine environmental, development, building and planning disputes. It was set up under the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW) to provide specialist knowledge in the matters relating to the environment and planning laws in New South Wales.

It has the power to review certain administrative decisions, enforce civil rights relating to planning, or to impose penalties for certain breaches of environmental law.

History

The Court was established on 14 April 1980 as the world's first environmental court that was also a superior court of record.

Structure and Jurisdiction

The Court is a superior court of record. It consists of a Chief Judge, severals Judges, and Commissioners.

An appeal may lie to the Court of Appeal (being a division of the Supreme Court of New South Wales) or to the Court of Criminal Appeal of New South Wales, depending on the nature of case.

Appeals on constitutional issues may lie to the High Court of Australia in certain circumstances.

Chief Judges

• The Honourable Justice Jim McClelland - 14 April 1980 to 2 June 1985
• The Honourable Justice Jerrold Cripps - 3 June 1985 to 1 April 1992
• The Honourable Justice Mahla Pearlman AM - 6 April 1992 to 3 July 2003
• The Honourable Justice Peter McClellan - 25 August 2003 to 1 September 2005
• The Honourable Justice Brian Preston - 14 November 2005 to present

Current Judges

• The Honourable Justice Malcolm Craig
• The Honourable Justice Rachel Pepper
• The Honourable Justice Nicola Pain
• The Honourable Justice Peter Biscoe
• The Honourable Justice Terry Sheahan

Former Judges

• The Honourable Justice Paul Stein
• The Honourable Justice Neal Bignold
• The Honourable Justice Angus Talbot - 1992 to 2007
• The Honourable Justice David Lloyd
• The Honourable Justice Jayne Jagot