Sanderson v Department of Natural Resources and Water

In Sanderson v Department of Natural Resources and Water, Peter and Ann Sanderson, owners of a grazing property known as "Wyanga", appealed the unimproved value applied to their property by the Chief Executive, Department of Natural Resources and Water (the Department). The Department had applied an unimproved value of $1,500,000, or $208/ha, to the property, while the Sandersons argued that the value should be $900,000. The appeal was heard by the Land Court of Queensland, and the President, Mr JJ Trickett, ruled on the matter. The court had to decide whether the Department's valuation was excessive and whether the correct principles of valuation were applied.

The main issue was whether the unimproved value applied by the Department was appropriate, considering the factors and principles of valuation. The court considered the classification of country, carrying capacity, sheep area values, and the comparison with the selected case, "Ravensbourne". The Sandersons argued that the value should be lower due to the larger proportion of scrub and light, fragile sandstone ridge country on "Wyanga", while the Department contended that the value should be similar to "Ravensbourne", considering the superior quality of the Mitchell grass country on "Wyanga".

The court found that some allowance should be made for the cost of developing the larger proportion of scrub on "Wyanga" but offset by the superior quality of its Mitchell grass country. The court decided to adopt a sheep area value of $265 and determined that the unimproved value of "Wyanga" for rental purposes as at 1 October 2005 was One Million, Four Hundred and Sixteen Thousand Dollars ($1,416,000), or approximately $196/ha.

In conclusion, the court allowed the appeal, set aside the valuation of the Chief Executive, and determined the unimproved value of "Wyanga" for rental purposes as at 1 October 2005 to be One Million, Four Hundred and Sixteen Thousand Dollars ($1,416,000). This decision provided clarity on the appropriate valuation of the property, considering the factors and principles of valuation.