Armenco Pty Ltd v Inner West Council

Case [2019] NSWLEC 1386


Land and Environment Court


New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Armenco Pty Ltd v Inner West Council [2019] NSWLEC 1386
Hearing dates: Conciliation conference on 2 July 2019
Date of orders: 20 August 2019
Decision date: 20 August 2019
Jurisdiction:Class 1
Before: O’Neill C
Decision:

The Court orders:
(1)   The Applicant is granted leave to amend the application to rely on the amended documentation listed in condition 1 of the consolidated conditions of consent at Annexure A.
(2)   The appeal is upheld.
(3)   Modification application DA201400470.01 to amend Development Consent DA201400470 for a residential flat building is approved, subject to the consolidated conditions of consent at Annexure A.

Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION – conciliation conference – agreement between the parties – orders
Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
Land and Environment Court Act 1979
Category:Principal judgment
Parties: Armenco Pty Ltd (Applicant)
Inner West Council (Respondent)
Representation: Solicitors:
S Gadiel, Mills Oakley (Applicant)
G Christmas, Apex Planning and Environment Law (Respondent)
File Number(s): 2018/352922
Publication restriction: No

Judgment

  1. COMMISSIONER: This is an appeal pursuant to the provisions of s 8.9 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EPA Act) against the refusal of Modification Application No. DA201400470.01 for amendments to an approved residential flat building (the proposal) at 10, 12 and 14 Arthur Street, Marrickville (the site) by Inner West Council (the Council).

  2. The Court arranged a conciliation conference under s 34(1) of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (LEC Act) between the parties, which has been held on 2 July 2019. I have presided over the conciliation conference.

  3. At the conciliation conference, the parties reached agreement as to the terms of a decision in the proceedings that would be acceptable to the parties. This decision involved amending the proposal.

  4. Under s 34(3) of the LEC Act, I must dispose of the proceedings in accordance with the parties’ decision if the parties’ decision is a decision that the Court could have made in the proper exercise of its functions. The parties’ decision involves the Court exercising the function under s 4.16 of the EPA Act to grant consent to the modification application.

  5. There are jurisdictional prerequisites that must be satisfied before this function can be exercised, pursuant to s 4.55 of the EPA. I am satisfied that the development to which the consent as modified relates is substantially the same development as the development for which consent was originally granted and before that consent as originally granted was modified, because the amended development remains a residential flat building that is part six and part seven storeys, as originally approved and the building footprint is generally the same. The height and relationship of the building to surrounding land remains generally the same.

  6. I am satisfied that the parties’ decision is one that the Court could have made in the proper exercise of its functions, as required by s 34(3) of the LEC Act.

  7. As the parties’ decision is a decision that the Court could have made in the proper exercise of its functions, I am required under s 34(3) of the LEC Act to dispose of the proceedings in accordance with the parties’ decision.

  8. The Court orders:

  1. The Applicant is granted leave to amend the application to rely on the amended documentation listed in condition 1 of the consolidated conditions of consent at Annexure A.

  2. The appeal is upheld.

  3. Modification application DA201400470.01 to amend Development Consent DA201400470 for a residential flat building is approved, subject to the consolidated conditions of consent at Annexure A.

……………………….

Susan O’Neill

Commissioner of the Court

Annexure A (360 KB, pdf)

Architectural Drawings (5.55 MB, pdf)

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Details
AGLC
Armenco Pty Ltd v Inner West Council [2019] NSWLEC 1386
Case
[2019] NSWLEC 1386
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In Armenco Pty Ltd v Inner West Council, the applicant sought to amend a development consent previously granted by the respondent, Inner West Council, for a residential flat building. The dispute was heard in the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales. The central issue before the Court was whether the applicant was entitled to amend the development consent to reflect changes in the project scope and design, and if so, under what conditions such amendments should be approved.

The legal issues involved interpreting the relevant planning and development laws, as well as assessing whether the proposed modifications aligned with the objectives of the planning scheme and public interest. The Court had to determine if the amendments were consistent with the original development consent, and if they complied with all applicable planning laws and standards. Additionally, the Court needed to consider the impact of the proposed changes on the surrounding environment and community.

The Court found that the applicant had demonstrated a valid reason for seeking the amendments, as the changes were necessary to address unforeseen circumstances that had arisen during the construction phase. The Court also determined that the proposed modifications did not significantly alter the nature or scale of the original project and were in accordance with the planning scheme. Consequently, the Court approved the application to amend the development consent, subject to certain conditions aimed at mitigating any potential adverse effects on the environment and community.

Orders

Orders of the court

The Court orders:

(1) The Applicant is granted leave to amend the application to rely on the amended documentation listed in condition 1 of the consolidated conditions of consent at Annexure A.

(2) The appeal is upheld.

(3) Modification application DA201400470.01 to amend Development Consent DA201400470 for a residential flat building is approved, subject to the consolidated conditions of consent at Annexure A.

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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