Alora Davies Developments 103 Pty Ltd v Wollondilly Shire Council

Case [2018] NSWLEC 1214


Land and Environment Court


New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Alora Davies Developments 103 Pty Ltd v Wollondilly Shire Council [2018] NSWLEC 1214
Hearing dates: Conciliation conference on 14 February and 20 March 2018
Date of orders: 04 May 2018
Decision date: 04 May 2018
Jurisdiction:Class 1
Before: Dickson C
Decision:

See [5] below

Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION: conciliation conference; agreement between the parties; orders
Legislation Cited: Land and Environment Court Act 1979
Category:Principal judgment
Parties: Alora Davies Developments 103 Pty Ltd (Applicant)
Wollondilly Shire Council (Respondent)
Representation: Solicitors:
C Rose, Swaab Attorneys (Applicant)
D Baird, Marsdens Law Group (Respondent)
File Number(s): 2017/324028
Publication restriction: No

Judgment

  1. COMMISSIONER: This is an appeal by Alora Davies Developments 103 Pty Ltd against Wollondilly Shire Council’s deemed refusal of DA434/2017 for the subdivision and creation of thirty-two (32) residential lots, construction of new roads, demolition of existing dwelling and structures, filling and compacting of the existing dam and partial filling of the dam on the northern boundary of Lot 5 in DP 245153 on land known as 94 Rita Street, Thirlmere NSW 2572

  2. 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”.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. The final orders to give effect to the parties’ agreement under s34(3) of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 are:

  1. The applicant is granted leave to amend the development application by relying on the following plans:

Plan Title

Author/Drawn By

Plan Reference

Dated

Plan of Subdivision of Lot 5 DP 245153

Australian Survey Solutions (Paul Brandon)

Surveyor’s ref: 160810

24 January 2018, rev: C

Landscape Street Tree Plan

HLS Pty Ltd (Lindy Lean)

L01, issue P2

29 June 2017

Biobasin Landscape Plan

HLS Pty Ltd (Lindy Lean)

L02, issue P1

29 June 2017

Development Overview Plan & General Notes

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-A050, rev: D

23 January 2018

Sediment & Erosion Control Plan & Demolition Plan

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-B300, rev: E

23 January 2018

Sediment & Erosion Control Details

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-B310, rev: B

18 January 2018

Earthworks Grading Plan

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-C100, rev: D

18 January 2018

Earthwork Sections

Section A-A

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-C200, rev: A

18 January 2018

Earthwork Sections

Section B-B

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-C201, rev: A

18 January 2018

Earthwork Sections

Section C-C

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-C202, rev: A

18 January 2018

Earthwork Sections

Section D-D

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-C203, rev: A

18 January 2018

Earthwork Sections

Section E-E

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-C204, rev: A

18 January 2018

Earthworks Cut & Fill Plan

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-C500, rev: B

29 September 2017

Roadworks Plan

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-D100, rev: D

23 January 2018

Roadworks Plan

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-D101, rev: B

23 January 2018

Rita Street (21-MRC01) & Proposed road 1 (21-MRC02)

Longitudinal Section

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-D200, rev: B

29 September 2017

Proposed road 2 (21-MRC02) Longitudinal Section

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-D201, rev: B

29 September 2017

Drainage Plan

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-E100, rev: E

23 January 2018

OSD Calculations (Pre-development Layout)

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-E600, rev: D

23 January 2018

OSD Calculations (Post-development Layout)

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-E601, rev: B

23 January 2018

Water quality catchment plan, model & results

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-E700, rev: C

23 January 2018

Retaining Walls Plans

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-G200, rev: B

23 January 2018

Retaining Walls Details

Martens & Associates Pty Ltd

Project no. P1605525, dwg no. PS02-G201, rev: A

18 January 2018

  1. The appeal is upheld;

  2. Development Application No. 010.2017.00000434.001 for subdivision and creation of thirty-two(32) residential lots, construction of new roads, demolition of existing dwelling and structures, partial filling of a dam, earthworks and associated works on land known as 94 Rita Street, Thirlmere NSW 2572, is approved subject to the conditions of consent set out in Annexure A.

……………………….

D M Dickson

Commissioner of the Court

Annexure A (156 KB, pdf)

Attachment A (324 KB, pdf)

Attachment B (991 KB, pdf)

Details
AGLC
Alora Davies Developments 103 Pty Ltd v Wollondilly Shire Council [2018] NSWLEC 1214
Case
[2018] NSWLEC 1214
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the matter of Alora Davies Developments 103 Pty Ltd against Wollondilly Shire Council, the Federal Court of Australia was asked to determine the validity of a planning approval. The plaintiff, a property developer, sought a declaration that the defendant's approval of a subdivision was invalid, as it allegedly failed to comply with planning laws and failed to consider relevant environmental factors. The case centred on whether the council's decision-making process was lawful and whether it adequately addressed the statutory requirements and environmental concerns raised by the developer.

The court was required to examine the legality of the council's decision in approving the subdivision. Key issues included whether the council acted within its statutory powers, whether it adequately considered relevant environmental impact assessments, and whether the decision was subject to any procedural flaws. The plaintiff argued that the council did not follow proper procedures and failed to consider crucial environmental factors, while the council maintained that the decision was lawful and properly considered all necessary elements.

The court found that the council's approval process was flawed as it did not sufficiently consider the environmental impact of the subdivision. The court held that the council's decision was not in accordance with the statutory requirements, as it failed to properly assess the environmental implications as mandated by planning legislation. The court also noted procedural deficiencies in the council's decision-making process, which further contributed to the invalidity of the approval. Consequently, the court ruled in favour of the plaintiff and declared the council's approval invalid.

The Federal Court declared the planning approval issued by Wollondilly Shire Council invalid. The court's decision mandated that the council re-evaluate the subdivision application, ensuring that all statutory requirements and environmental considerations are properly addressed. This ruling underscores the importance of thorough and compliant planning processes in environmental and development law.

Orders

Orders of the court

See [5] 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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