Allastar Pty Ltd v Logan City Council
[2000] QPEC 86
•24/11/2000
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT COURT
OF QUEENSLAND
CITATION: Allastar Pty Ltd v Logan City Council & Ors [2000] QPE 086 PARTIES: ALLASTAR PTY LTD
ACN 086 077 330
Appellant
V
LOGAN CITY COUNCIL
Respondent
And
SHANE AND DONNA WEAVER
First Co-Respondents
And
RAYMOND AND SONIA MORRIS
Second Co-Respondents
And
ALLAN MAAS
Third Co-Respondent
And
MICHELLE RAINEY
Fourth Co-Respondent
And
HELEN PARKER AND PETER HYDE
Fifth Co-Respondents
And
GEORGE BUTLER
Sixth Co-Respondents
And
MICHAEL JOHN TURNHAM & NICHOLAS
DETSIMAS
Seventh Co-Respondents
And
FRAN WILKINS
Eighth Co-Respondent
And
JANELLE, IAN AND SARAH GIBSON
Ninth Co-Respondents
And
MARTIN AND LINDA CONNAH
Tenth Co-RespondentsFILE NO/S: Appeal No. 1209 of 2000 PROCEEDING: Appeal DELIVERED ON: 24 November 2000 DELIVERED AT: Brisbane HEARING 30-31 October; 1 November and 10 November 2000 DATES: JUDGE: Judge Brabazon QC ORDER: APPEAL ALLOWED IN PART. CATCHWORDS: BUILDING CONTROL AND TOWN PLANNING -
amenity - traffic safety – landscapingLarsen v Caboolture Shire Council (1981) APA 202
Bowlden v Redland Shire Council 24 LGRA 331
Knox v BCC (1975) 31 LGRA 108
Logan City Council v Harderan Pty Ltd (1989) QPLR 11COUNSEL: Mr J Haydon for the appellant
Mr T Trotter for the respondent
Mr Sammon for the Department of Main Roads
Ms Rainey (4th co-respondent in person)SOLICITORS:
Geoff Klooger & Associates for the appellant Corrs Chambers Westgarth for the respondent Crown Law Office for the Department of Main Roads
JUDGMENT
This is an appeal about conditions imposed by the Logan City Council. Allastar
had applied to the Council for approval to build a service station and shop at the
corner of Beenleigh-Redland Bay Road and Brindabella Street, Cornubia. On 8
March 2000 the Council decided to allow the application, subject to numerous
conditions. That approval was given despite many objections from local residents.
This appeal seeks to vary several of those conditions.
In summary, these are the contentious issues:
(a) Should the service station have access to Brindabella Street (as the appellant wishes or not (as the Council decided). This has proved to
be the most substantial issue in the appeal.
(b) In any case, should Allastar have to pay a contribution of $32,875 towards the signalization of the intersection of Redland Bay Road
and Brindabella Street?
(c) Should some additional roadworks be carried out in Brindabella Street should Brindabella Street be widened? What landscaping
should be required, both on the service station site, around its
perimeter, and on the footpaths of Brindabella Street and the main
road?
The Subject Land
The total site has an area of 1.1238 hectares. It presently contains two large house
blocks, with their back gardens running onto Beenleigh-Redland Bay Road. The
two houses face Bromley Street, which is parallel to that road. Brindabella Street
connects the main road and the street, on the western side. Allastar's application for
a material change of use proposed that the house at the corner of Bromley Street
and Brindabella Street be demolished, while the other house should remain. The
land would then be divided into two lots. Lot 1, running along Bromley Street,
would contain the existing brick house with its back garden over the area where the
house to be demolished presently stands. The service station site would then be on
the southern half of the land, adjoining Beenleigh-Redland Bay Road.
That proposal can be seen in the site development plan (Appeal Book p. 28). There
is also a coloured representation of the proposal, prepared by the landscape architect, Mr Greg O'Brien (see Exhibit 4A). As his illustration shows, this service
station is somewhat unusual, in that it will contain a large area of lawn and trees -
an area almost as big as the usual service station buildings and driveway.
The principal access to the service station is from Beenleigh-Redland Bay Road.
That is a left in-left out access, available for eastbound traffic. The proposal
contains another access onto Brindabella Street. It is that access which has become
the central part of this appeal. Mr O'Brien's drawing shows the proposed
landscaping, which is also a contentious issue.
It is proposed that the service station and shop will be open 24 hours a day.
Town Planning Controls
The subject land is part of the Park Residential Zone. The proposed use, as a
service station, is a prohibited use in the Park Residential Zone. The extent of that
zone can be seen from the zoning map - see Figure 3 to Professor Brannock's report.
The Neighbourhood
As the zoning indicates, the surrounding properties on the same side of Beenleigh-
Redland Bay Road are private houses. They are on 5,000 square metre lots. High
front fences are unusual in the area - most of the fences are low and prevent no
visual barriers. Along Beenleigh-Redland Bay Road there is a single row of
houses, which have their frontages to Bromley Street. That is, the front gardens of
the houses all face Bromley Street to the north, while their rear gardens adjoin the main road. The result is a rather untidy collection of fences and garages, facing the
main road.
Directly across Brindabella Street, and occupying the other corner block on
Beenleigh-Redland Bay Road, is the Rainey residence. Its position was
considerably discussed during the appeal, because of the impact of the proposed
access road to the service station, on the other side of Brindabella Street. It is a
large lowset house, surrounded by a low wire fence, and with trees mainly along the
boundary facing towards the main road.
The southern side of Beenleigh-Redland Bay Road presents a different picture. It
has been developed as a local shopping centre, the Logandale Plaza. It is zoned
Local Business. The shopping centre is about directly opposite this proposed
service station. Then, to the south-west, also facing the main road, there is the
Logandale gated community which is zoned Residential. It contains a much denser
level of housing, than the Park Residential zone to the north.
Therefore, the site forms part of the Urban Fringe - it is in a transitional area,
between the urban residential and rural parts of the city.
The Legal Framework
This is an appeal against the Council's decision. It is now heard under the
provisions of the Integrated Planning Act. It is an appeal by way of hearing anew.
That is, the court replaces the Council in making an entirely fresh decision about
the matter, based on evidence given to it. As it is an appeal by the applicant for a development application, it is for Allastar to establish that the appeal should be
upheld (s.4.1.50(1)).
Since the introduction of the Integrated Planning Act, the Planning Scheme for
Logan City Council is a transitional scheme. See s.6.1.12 of IPA. It is necessary to
pay attention to the criteria set out in the repealed Local Government (Planning and
Environment) Act, as their effect is still preserved by s.6.1.29 of IPA. In this case,
under the former legislation, there would have been an application for a rezoning.
It is therefore necessary to consider the criteria which might apply, in s.4.4 of the
P&E Act. In particular, s.4.4(3)(a) is relevant here, and must be considered in the
assessment of this application:
"Where the proposal, if approved, or buildings erected in conformity with the proposal, or both the proposal if approved and the buildings so erected would -
(i) create a traffic problem increase an existing traffic problem or detrimentally affect the efficiency of the existing road network;
(ii) detrimentally affect the amenity of the neighbourhood;
(iii) … "
Sub-section 5A requires the court to refuse the application if it conflicts with any
relevant strategic plan or development control plan, and there not sufficient
planning grounds to justify approving the application despite the conflict.
Section 6.1.2(3) of IPA now states that a prohibited use in a transitional planning
scheme is to be taken as an expression of policy that the use is inconsistent with the
intent of the zone in which the use is prohibited.
The Main Roads Department
At the commencement of the appeal, the Department of Main Roads was not a party
to the appeal. However, during the hearing, it became appropriate to order that the
Chief Executive of the Department be given a chance to be heard, particularly in
relation to the question of access to Brindabella Street. That order arose out of ss.
41-43 of the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994. Mr Sammon appeared towards the
end of the hearing, and then, having elected to call no further evidence, addressed
the court during final submissions.
The effect is that the views of the Main Roads Department are being taken into
account in deciding this appeal, in relation to the access to Brindabella Street.
Appearances
In addition to Allastar, the Council, and the Department of Main Roads, all the
other co-respondents (with the exception of the seventh co-respondents) were
represented at the hearing. They were represented by Ms Rainey and Ms Parker,
themselves co-respondents. Ms Rainey made capable submissions on behalf of
herself and the others.
The Second Access
The issue arises out of condition 2 of the Development Approval. See p. 201 of the
Appeal Book. Drawing 3239/99 (Sheet 2) prepared by Stephen D'Andrea, dated
March 1999, showed the second access to Brindabella Street. However, condition 2
specifically states -
"No ingress or egress from the development shall be permitted on
Brindabella Street."The Council, and the represented co-respondents, maintained that position at the
hearing. Allastar wishes to have the second access.
It is necessary to identify those parts of the Council's planning instruments which
are relevant:
(a) Paragraph 1.6 of the Strategic Plan is part of the Residential Fringe Area strategy. The Park Residential Area is intended to be
developed for low density housing lots within a parklike
environment. It should be developed in accordance with the Park
Residential Zone.
It is an objective, that the parklike environment of the Park
Residential Area should be protected and enhanced. Development
must not detrimentally affect the amenity of existing or future
residential development within that area, as a result of noise, glare,
light, or the introduction of non-residential traffic or through traffic.
(See paras. 1.6.1 and 1.6.2)
(b) Part 4 of the Planning Scheme contains residential fringe development controls. The above elements of the Strategic Plan
must be considered. The Park Residential Zone is intended to
provide for low density housing in a parklike environment, with high
levels of residential amenity on lots generally with a minimum area
of 5,000 metres square. (4.2.1). The provisions of local service
stations will be determined in accordance with any relevant Local
Planning Policy relating to local service functions (4.2.1.5). In
particular, para. 11.11.10 deals with service stations. It provides:
"Development for the purpose of a service station
must :
…
(f)
not cause a lighting nuisance to adjoining premises; and
(g)
ensure that headlight glare from vehicles does not cause a lighting nuisance to adjoining residential premises … "
(c) Planning Policy 12 is relevant. It deals with local service functions. A service station, by definition, is a local service function.
However, para. 1.1.4.3 specifically directs attention to the dominant
requirements of a specific local planning policy. In this case, that is
Planning Policy No. 20, dealing specifically with service stations.
Its policy provisions have the aim of ensuring that service stations
are sited in convenient locations to service local and through traffic
without significantly affecting the character or amenity of the
locality. Their location and design should encourage safe and
efficient traffic movement into and within the site (paras. 1.1.2.1 and
1.1.2.2.).
There are two relevant performance objectives - to ensure that
service stations are located appropriately to prevent intrusion into
residential areas which result in a loss of amenity or significant
alteration to the character of the locality (para 2.1.1.1) and to avoid
the establishment of service stations on isolated sites where the
situation can result in a loss of residential security and amenity (para
2.1.1.2).
To give effect to those objectives, there are two performance criteria
- a service station must be located proximate to existing non- residential development wherever practical, and a service station
must not introduce non-local traffic into a residential area (paras.
2.1.2.1 and 2.1.2.2).
The evidence revealed several matters that should be taken into account, with
regard to the second access. First, there is the likely impact of vehicles entering and
leaving the Brindabella Street access. In particular, the impact on the Rainey
residents should be considered. As it will be a 24 hour service station, attention
was focussed on the night-time traffic. In particular, the traffic between 10 p.m.
and 5 a.m. is during the usual sleeping hours. The application suggested that only
five vehicles an hour would use the entire service station between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.
However, the evidence of the traffic experts indicated a higher usage. With regard
to Brindabella Street, during that seven hour period, the estimates range from 10
vehicle movements to 32 vehicle movements. Increased movements during the
other hours of darkness should not be ignored.
As Exhibit 4A shows, the access will be almost directly opposite the driveway of
the Rainey residence. Presently, there is little vegetation on the footpaths, while
there is some vegetation scattered about the garden of the Rainey residence. The
existing background light levels in the street are very low. The evidence of Mr
Kamst was persuasive, in dealing with both headlight glare and noise of cars using
the secondary access. Headlight glare will sweep along the full length of the
Rainey house, as cars turn either to their right or their left on leaving the service
station. The impact of the headlights will be significant. It is not sufficient to point
to the fact that the Rainey property is already on a busy main road. Those vehicles
which enter the intersection from the opposite side of the road, and turn towards the city, have a much lower impact than those leaving the access driveway - they are
much further away.
Mr Kamst dealt with noise issues. Mr Rumble also submitted a report. His report
dealt with noise measurements taken at the actual site of the proposed service
station. Mr Kamst's measurements specifically dealt with the impact on the Rainey
residence. He says, and it should be accepted, that use of the access would cause
sleep disturbances. That is because there are likely to be sudden noises, above the
background noise (the background noise is substantially created by the flow of
traffic on the main road). It is much less at night, and it also tends to be a steady
noise, rather than a sudden or sharp noise.
Issues involving a possible fenced Rainey residence, and landscaping on the
footpath of each side of Brindabella Street, are linked to the glare issue. As his plan
illustrates, Mr O'Brien has attempted to use dense planting to soften that impact on
the Rainey residence.
The possibility of a 1.8 metre high solid fence along Brindabella Street should not
be seriously considered. It only crept in as a possibility mentioned during the
hearing. Most of the houses in the area have low fences. The Raineys do not want
a high fence. There is also a difficulty with Mr O'Brien's dense plantings on the
footpath. First, the evidence shows that they would not be completely successful in
blocking out headlight glare. Secondly, as a matter of law, it is established that a
condition cannot be validly imposed, if it would require constant supervision by a
Council. Indeed, the court has no power to order the Council to provide
infrastructure, such as landscaping, to facilitate the development. See the decisions in Larsen v Caboolture Shire Council (1981) APA 202 at 210; Bowlden v Redland
Shire Council 24 LGRA 331; Knox v BCC (1975) 31 LGRA 108; and Logan City
Council v Harderan Pty Ltd (1989) QPLR 11 (Full Court of Queensland).
As the evidence revealed, it is not possible to predict how many vehicles will
choose to use Brindabella Street to reach this new service station, if permitted to do
so. However, it must be obvious that there will be some increase in traffic, and that
will include traffic coming from other than the local area. For example, it can be
expected that traffic from across the main road, in the more densely settled areas,
would choose to frequent this service station. The use of Brindabella Street would
provide a convenient way for them to return home, across the main road.
A separate issue, is whether or not the second access would generally increase the
traffic safety of those using the service station. Allastar and the Department of
Main Roads have an allied interest, in supporting such safety issues, as a positive
reason for allowing the second access. The Main Roads' submissions were put in
relation to traffic safety only. It made it clear that the Department did not view its
role as that of a planning authority in the way that the Council had to. Accordingly,
it made no submissions with regard to amenity, or other issues.
The submission for the Department shows the reasons why the second access might
promote traffic safety. There are three situations where the second access would be
used:
(a) it would be used by local traffic from the neighbourhood, which could use the service station without any need for it to travel on to
the main road;
(b) local traffic from across the main road, particularly from the shopping centre and the Logandale gated community could use it to
make an easy return trip across the intersection, without travelling
along the main road; and
(c) cars travelling towards the city from the east could access the service station by turning right into Brindabella Street and then rejoining the
highway by turning right out of Brindabella Street.
If the second access is not provided, then the constraints on traffic movements
along the main road need to be kept in mind. There is a median strip opposite the
proposed access off the main road. Cars travelling towards the city would not be
able to directly access the service station from the main road. Cars travelling away
from the city and into the service station on their left, would then have to continue
along the main road after they leave it. If they wished to do a U-turn, their only
legal choice is to travel 1.2 kilometres to Fairview Street to do so. If they choose to
make an illegal U-turn, they can do so at the end of the formed median strip.
Therefore, the Department suggests, from a traffic point of view, access through
Brindabella Street would actually improve traffic safety for the local population,
and those travelling either east or west along the main road, who wish to use this
service station without making a U-turn. The Brindabella Street access would offer
easier departure from the service station to motorists at various destinations, and
remove the temptation to make an illegal U-turn at the end of form median strip on
the main road.
The traffic engineers dealt with those matters. Mr Viney, who thought that the
second access was a desirable solution from the traffic point of view, agreed that
the service station proposal could operate safely without it. That is because those
motorists making U-turns on the main road would be a very minor proportion of the
overall traffic. Another expert, Mr Douglas, thought that the removal of the
proposed ingress/egress in Brindabella Street would not be a particular concern,
from the point of view of traffic engineering. He pointed out that motorists
travelling inbound on the main road could use the BP service station near California
Creek Road - not far away, to the west. He also pointed out that the access
arrangements proposed for this service station were similar to a number of service
stations elsewhere in Brisbane. The level of hazard associated with this
development, without the second access, would be similar to a number of those
other established service stations. He also thought (as did Mr Kumskov) there was
some prospect of an undesirable element among the younger population visiting the
convenience store, late at night, and doing so along Brindabella Street.
Town planning considerations were dealt with by Professor Brannock and Mr
Kumskov. Professor Brannock gave weight to the views of Mr Viney, and the
Department of Main Roads, with respect to traffic safety issues. He did not discuss
the impact of glare on the Rainey residents. He appears to be in favour of the
second access for that reason. On the other hand, Mr Kumskov paid more attention
to the potential impacts on the amenity of the adjacent houses. He thought that
access to Brindabella Street should not be permitted, because of those potential
adverse impacts. If this service station and shop, with one access on the main road,
can be visually and physically separated from the Park Residential development,
then access via Brindabella Street should not be permitted. As he put it: "the potential loss of service to local residents is outweighed by the potential adverse
impacts on the amenity of the area."
Overall, the evidence of Mr Kumskov should be preferred to that of Professor
Brannock. It appeared to pay more attention to the amenity issues, and that
attention is demanded by the requirements of the Strategic Plan and the Town Plan,
set out above.
Ms Rainey gave a written statement and oral evidence, about the likely impact on
her residence, and family. Her concerns are genuine ones. They include safety
issues, such as restriction on the view of a driver backing out of their driveway, if
thee should be denser trees on the footpath. While her house is affected by noise
from the main road, she quite reasonably believed that the additional traffic in
Brindabella Street would have an additional, and unacceptable impact.
There is, therefore, a need to balance the competing considerations - convenience to
some, detriment to the amenity of others, some improvement in traffic safety, and
the degree of risk, if this second access is not allowed. The wise and flexible
concept of amenity, should be kept in mind - a residents' subjective perception of a
locality may be taken into account. The evidence shows that the Council reached
the right conclusion. Allastar has not demonstrated that Condition No. 2 should be
amended, to allow the second access. The town planning provisions emphasize the
need to protect the amenity of the area surrounding the service station. They should
prevail.
Signalization
The Department of Main Roads has not sought a financial contribution for the
future signalization of the intersection of the main road and Brindabella Street. The
best that can be said is that signalization lies some 5-10 years in the future. The
correspondence from Main Roads does not mention a contribution. Even after the
Department of Main Roads became involved in the hearing, and represented by
counsel, there was no further evidence on this question. It may be noted, as a
matter of interest, that when an earlier possible development of this land was being
considered in 1992, Queensland Transport sought a financial contribution on that
occasion.
The power to seek a contribution comes from s. 40(1)(3) of the Transport
Infrastructure Act. In this case, the approval of the Chief Executive was sought,
and the Department had an opportunity to request compensation.
As there will be no access to Brindabella Street, then the service station will not
generate further traffic at the intersection.
Section 3.5.30(1) of IPA provides that any condition must be:
(a) relevant to, but not an unreasonable imposition on, the development or use of premises as a consequence of the development; or (b) be reasonably required in respect of the development … "
The evidence does not show that a condition requiring contribution would be
relevant, or reasonably required. It follows that Condition No. 5 should be deleted.
Roadworks
Conditions 6 and 7 deal with roadworks in the area of the Brindabella Street and
main road intersection. As I understand the parties submissions, they are generally
uncontentious, even without access to Brindabella Street. However, it may be that
there should be no widening of the carriageway in Brindabella Street, as there is
now no need (see Mr Viney's report).
[43] In any case, the parties will have an opportunity to propose any agreed
consequential amendments to Conditions 6 and 7. If there is no agreement, then the
court will decide the final form of a condition.
Main Roads Approval
Condition 9, which is in issue, requires Allastar to submit an "application for access
approval" to Main Roads prior to commencement of building works.
It is understood that the parties are agreed, that s.52 of the Transport Infrastructure
Act will require at least a formal application to Main Roads. There seems to be no
need to vary that condition. (There is an interesting issue, about the power of Main
Roads to continue a position which would be contrary to the present findings of this
court. It would appear to be odd, if that could be done. However, it is not presently
an issue, so there is no need to express a concluded view about it.)
Conditions 37 and 41 - Noise
Opposition to Condition 37 was abandoned, during the appeal. The evidence also
reveals that Condition 41 should remain - see Mr Kamst's report.
Landscaping
Allastar's proposals about landscaping, developed by Mr O'Brien, are shown in
Exhibit 4A.
The controversial aspect of Condition 17 requires:
"Advanced trees of a minimum container size of 25 litres with a minimum spacing of 5 metres from centres along the Brindabella Street and Redland Bay Road frontages and the northern and eastern boundaries of the site. "
Mr O'Brien thought that a literal reading of that condition would see continuous
planting along the main road frontage (apart obviously, from the driveway entrance
and exit) and that such foliage would obstruct the ability of passing motorists to see
the garage, and to read information on the pylon sign, to be erected towards the
eastern end of the service station.
On the other hand, Ms Rainey submitted that the condition should stand, to soften
the views of the building, and that the tall pylon sign would be visible in any event.
Those competing considerations can be understood if one looks at Mr O'Brien's
simulations of the appearance of the service station. See Exhibit 4B.
The evidence suggests that a compromise position might be the best. That is, Ms
Rainey's concerns could see the proposed plantings remain along the frontage to the
main road to the edge of the access road. The condition should also require similar
planting on the eastern side of the exit road. That will allow Allastar to move the
pylon sign if it wishes, to the rectangular island opposite the canopy. There should
be no need for such high planting on that island.
In my opinion, the landscaping on the main road frontage should be done generally
in accordance with Mr Kumskov's evidence at T.195-198. That describes a sensible
balance between landscaping, as the Council wished, and the need of the service
station to advertise prices on the pylon sign and the need for the motorists to have
clear sight lines as they enter and leave.
Now that there will be no access road, attention should be paid to reworking the
landscape plans for the western half of the site. It also seems that Mr Kumskov's
evidence should be accepted, to the effect that landscaping on the northern
boundary should be on the service station land, rather than being partly on the
private property to the north. That will achieve the best chance of having the
landscaping adequately maintained in the long term. It should also be possible to
straighten the rear boundary, as he suggests. That should not be, at least for the
moment, an order of this court, as it involves the exercise of a discretion to reduce
the area of the private property to less than 5,000 square metres. That would seem
to be the preferable course. If such a condition can be imposed, and the parties
agree, then it can be reflected in the final orders.
(Paragraph 5.3 of Mr O'Brien's report should be kept in mind, where he deals with
the apparently ambiguous impact of the expression "with a minimum of five metres
from centres" in Condition 17. The condition should be re-worded to remove any
ambiguity. In removing that ambiguity, it should be kept in mind that the preferred
evidence is that of Mr Kumskov, rather than Mr O'Brien, with regard to the
commercial visibility of the site.)
Condition 19
Condition 19 provides that:
"Footpath treeplanting shall be provided in accordance with
Council's Development Manual -
§ All trees should have a minimum container size of 25 litres; § Tree species shall be as approved by the Director
of Development Health and Environment;§ … "
Paragraph 5.4 of Mr O'Brien's report explains that the practical consequence of that
condition is to require the planting of an avenue of "major trees" along the main
road. As Mr O'Brien explains, there are overhead powerlines in both Brindabella
Street and the main road. While the choice of plantings can assist in avoiding the
power lines in Brindabella Street (which is a minor road) the consequence of
Council's Manual will require an unacceptably high trees in the main road. They
will then have to be lopped to accommodate the power lines. They will also
provide visual barriers to motorists looking for the entrance driveway.
There appears to be considerable force in those observations. They should be
accepted. Condition 19 should be reworked, with regard to the footpath planting, to
generally accord with Mr O'Brien's views.
Orders
It is apparent that the appeal should be allowed, in part, consistently with these
reasons. The parties should have an opportunity to settle the appropriate amended
conditions. If there are any difficulties, the appeal can be re-listed, and the court
will settle the conditions.
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