Australian Fitness Management Pty Ltd v Georges River Council

Case [2019] NSWLEC 1259


Land and Environment Court


New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Australian Fitness Management Pty Ltd v Georges River Council [2019] NSWLEC 1259
Hearing dates: Conciliation conference on 20 May 2019
Date of orders: 11 June 2019
Decision date: 11 June 2019
Jurisdiction:Class 1
Before: Chilcott C
Decision:

The Court orders:

 

(1)   Leave is granted to the Applicant to rely on the amended architectural plans set out in condition 1 of Annexure A.

 

(2)   The appeal is upheld.

 (3)   Development consent is granted to Development Application No. DA2018/0129 for the fit out and use as a fitness studio (recreation facility (indoor)) opening 24 hours, 7 days and associated signage on Lot 2 in Deposited Plan 1176421, known as 125 Boundary Road, Peakhurst, subject to the conditions of consent in 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: Australian Fitness Management Pty Ltd (Applicant)
Georges River Council (Respondent)
Representation: Solicitors:
M Jaku, Jaku Legal (Applicant)
S Wilson, Georges River Council (Respondent)
File Number(s): 2018/319985
Publication restriction: No

Judgment

  1. COMMISSIONER: Australian Fitness Management (the Applicant) has appealed the deemed refusal by Georges River Council (the Respondent) of its development application (DA2018/0129) for the fit-out and use of a two storey industrial unit, with upper level mezzanine floor, for the purposes of a fitness studio, at 125 Boundary Road, Peakhurst (the Subject Site).

  2. The appeal comes to the Court pursuant to s 8.7 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EPA Act), and falls within Class 1 of the Court’s jurisdiction.

  3. The Court arranged a conciliation conference under s 34(1) of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (LEC Act) between the Parties, which was held on 20 May 2019, and I presided over the conciliation conference.

  4. 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 the Court upholding the appeal and granting consent to the development application, subject to conditions.

  5. 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 development application.

  6. There are no jurisdictional prerequisites that must be satisfied before this function can be exercised.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. The Court orders:

  1. Leave is granted to the Applicant to rely on the amended architectural plans set out in condition 1 of Annexure ‘A’.

  2. The appeal is upheld.

  3. Development consent is granted to Development Application No. DA2018/0129 for the fit out and use as a fitness studio (recreation facility (indoor)) opening 24 hours, 7 days, and associated signage, on Lot 2 in Deposited Plan 1176421, known as 125 Boundary Road, Peakhurst, subject to the conditions of consent in Annexure ‘A’.

…………………………..

Michael Chilcott

Commissioner of the Court

Annexure A (436 KB)

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Details
AGLC
Australian Fitness Management Pty Ltd v Georges River Council [2019] NSWLEC 1259
Case
[2019] NSWLEC 1259
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Australian Fitness Management Pty Ltd sought a review of a decision of Georges River Council to refuse development consent for a fitness studio on a property in Peakhurst. The matter was heard by the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales. The central issue before the court was whether the council's decision to refuse consent was lawful, considering the applicant's amended architectural plans and the suitability of the proposed development. The court also had to consider whether the refusal was based on an error of law or an unreasonable exercise of discretion.

In determining the matter, the court examined the amended plans and the objections raised by the council and other parties. The applicant argued that the plans met all the relevant planning criteria and that the refusal was based on an incorrect application of the planning scheme. The court agreed with the applicant, finding that the council had erred in law by not properly considering the amended plans and had unreasonably exercised its discretion by refusing consent. The court held that the amended plans demonstrated that the proposed development would not have the adverse effects that the council had claimed, and that the development was appropriate for the site.

Consequently, the court granted the applicant leave to rely on the amended plans and set aside the council's decision. The court then granted development consent to the applicant, subject to the conditions outlined in Annexure A. The orders included granting the applicant leave to rely on the amended plans, setting aside the council's decision, and granting development consent to the applicant for the fit out and use of the property as a fitness studio, with conditions as outlined.

Orders

Orders of the court

The Court orders:

(1) Leave is granted to the Applicant to rely on the amended architectural plans set out in condition 1 of Annexure A.

(2) The appeal is upheld.

(3) Development consent is granted to Development Application No. DA2018/0129 for the fit out and use as a fitness studio (recreation facility (indoor)) opening 24 hours, 7 days and associated signage on Lot 2 in Deposited Plan 1176421, known as 125 Boundary Road, Peakhurst, subject to the conditions of consent in 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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