Kennards Self Storage Pty Ltd v Valuer-General

Kennards Self Storage Pty Ltd, the appellant, challenged the valuation of land conducted by the Valuer-General, the respondent, before the Land Court. The appellant sought an order for disclosure of calculations used by the Valuer-General and argued that the original valuation was relevant in the appeal before the Land Court. The court had to determine whether the application for disclosure should be granted before the pleadings and whether a valuation appeal before the Land Court under the Land Valuation Act 2010 was a hearing de novo.

The court held that the application for disclosure should not be granted before the pleadings. The court reasoned that the disclosure of calculations used by the Valuer-General would be premature at this stage and could potentially prejudice the proceedings. The court also found that a valuation appeal before the Land Court was not a hearing de novo, and therefore, the original valuation was not relevant in the appeal. The court held that the appellant's contention was misconceived.

The court dismissed the application for disclosure and ordered that any submissions seeking a costs order in this proceeding must be filed and served within 14 days of the publication of these reasons. The court did not make any orders for costs in this proceeding. The decision of the Land Court was upheld, and the appeal was dismissed.