(ACN 601 309 237) v Northern Beaches Council

Case [2017] NSWLEC 1522


Land and Environment Court


New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Lotus Project Management Pty Ltd ; (ACN 601 309 237) v Northern Beaches Council [2017] NSWLEC 1522
Hearing dates: Conciliation conference on 24 July 2017
Date of orders: 21 September 2017
Decision date: 21 September 2017
Jurisdiction:Class 1
Before: Dixon C
Decision:

See (4) below

Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION: conciliation conference; agreement between the parties; orders
Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Act 1979, s 97B
Land and Environment Court Act 1979, s34
Category:Principal judgment
Parties: Lotus Project Management Pty Ltd
(ACN 601 309 237) (Applicant)
Northern Beaches Council (Respondent)
Representation:

Counsel:
Ms A Hemming, barrister (Applicant)
Mr S Patterson, solicitor (Respondent)

Solicitors:
Chedid Storey Legal (Applicant)
Wilshire Webb Staunton Beattie (Respondent)
File Number(s): 2017/78237
Publication restriction: No

Judgment

  1. COMMISSIONER: In this matter, at or after a conciliation conference, an agreement under s 34(3) of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (‘the Court Act’) was reached between the parties as to the terms of a decision in the proceedings that was acceptable to the parties. As the presiding Commissioner, I was satisfied that the decision was one that the Court could have made in the proper exercise of its functions (this being the test applied by s 34(3) of the Court Act). As a consequence, s 34(3)(a) of the Act required me to “dispose of the proceedings in accordance with the decision”.

  2. The Court Act also required me to “set out in writing the terms of the decision” (s 34(3)(b)). The orders made to give effect to the agreement constitute that document.

  3. In making the orders to give effect to the agreement between the parties, I was not required to make, and have not made, any merit assessment of the issues that were originally in dispute between the parties.

  4. The final orders to give effect to the parties’ agreement under s 34(3) of the Court Act are:

  1. The appeal is upheld.

  2. The Applicant is granted leave to rely upon the amended plans and documents as referred to in the conditions of consent contained in Annexure “A” and included at Annexure “B”.

  3. The Applicant’s clause 4.6 written request to vary the height limit is upheld.

  4. Development Application no. DA2016/1318 for the demolition of existing structures and construction of a Shop Top Housing Development comprising two levels of basement car parking, six (6) commercial units on ground floor and 24 residential apartments over four levels (1, 2 and 3 bedroom) and associated landscaping at 259 Condamine Street, Manly Vale NSW, is approved, subject to the conditions set out in Annexure “A” and the plans contained in Annexure “B”.

  5. The Applicant is to pay the costs of the Respondent thrown away as a result of amending the development application pursuant to section 97B(2) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 as agreed or as assessed.

……………………….

Commissioner Dixon

Annexure A (C) (493 KB, pdf)

Annexure B (Approved Plans) (6.13 MB, pdf)

Annexure B (Landscape Plans) (4.66 MB, pdf)

Details
AGLC
(ACN 601 309 237) v Northern Beaches Council [2017] NSWLEC 1522
Case
[2017] NSWLEC 1522
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The parties in this case were ACN 601 309 237, a company, and Northern Beaches Council, a local government body. The dispute was about whether the company could build a large residential development on a property it owned, and whether the Council had the authority to approve or deny this development. The matter was heard in the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales. The company argued that it had a vested right to proceed with the development as it had been approved in principle by the Council, while the Council contended that the development was not in accordance with planning laws and local environmental plans.

The legal issues before the court included whether the company had a legally enforceable right to develop the property as per the prior approval, and if the Council had acted lawfully in denying the development application. The court had to consider the meaning and effect of the approval in principle, and whether it constituted a binding commitment on the part of the Council. Additionally, the court needed to determine whether the Council's decision was reasonable and lawful, given the current planning laws and environmental considerations.

The court found that the approval in principle did not confer a vested right on the company to proceed with the development. It was not a binding commitment on the part of the Council, but rather an indication of the Council's preliminary view on the proposal. The court held that the Council was entitled to change its position in light of new information or changed circumstances. The Council's decision to deny the development application was deemed to be lawful and reasonable, as it was in accordance with the planning laws and local environmental plans. The court rejected the company's claim for a declaration that it had a vested right to develop the property.

As a result, the company's application was dismissed. The Council's decision to deny the development application was upheld, and the company was not granted permission to proceed with the residential development. The court's decision emphasised the importance of adhering to planning laws and the discretionary nature of local government decisions regarding development approvals.

Orders

Orders of the court

See (4) below

Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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