Baraz Construction Pty Ltd v Strathfield Council

Case [2016] NSWLEC 1287


Land and Environment Court


New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Baraz Construction Pty Ltd v Strathfield Council [2016] NSWLEC 1287
Hearing dates:Conciliation conference on 22 April 2016
Date of orders: 12 July 2016
Decision date: 12 July 2016
Jurisdiction:Class 1
Before: Fakes C
Decision:

See (4) below

Catchwords: MODIFICATION APPLICATION; Residential Flat Building; conciliation conference; agreement between the parties; orders
Legislation Cited: Land and Environment Court Act 1979
Category:Principal judgment
Parties: Baraz Construction Pty Ltd (Applicant)
Strathfield Council (Respondent)
Representation:

Applicant: Mr D Tyrell (Solicitor)
Respondent: Mr T O’Connor (Solicitor)

  Solicitors:
McKees Legal Solutions (Applicant)
Houston Dearn O’Connor (Respondent)
File Number(s):152457 of 2016
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, 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 s34(3) of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 are:

  1. The applicant is granted leave to rely upon the amended plans referred to in Condition 1 of Annexure “A”.

  2. The Appeal is upheld.

  3. The s 96 modification application in respect of Development Consent No. 2014/112/01 (“Development Consent”) seeking the modification of the approval for the construction of a residential flat building over basement car parking is approved with the conditions of the Development Consent being modified as set out in Annexure “A” to this agreement. The consolidated conditions of the Development Consent are as set out in Annexure “B”.

________________________

Judy Fakes

Commissioner of the Court

152457.16 Annexure A (128 KB, pdf)

152457.16 Annexure B (93.9 KB, pdf)

Details
AGLC
Baraz Construction Pty Ltd v Strathfield Council [2016] NSWLEC 1287
Case
[2016] NSWLEC 1287
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Baraz Construction Pty Ltd initiated legal proceedings against Strathfield Council to challenge certain decisions made by the council in relation to a building permit. The dispute centred around the council's refusal to grant a building permit for a proposed development on land owned by the plaintiff. The case was heard in the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales, which has jurisdiction over disputes involving planning and development in the state.

The central legal issues the court had to address were whether the council's decision to refuse the building permit was lawful, rational, and in accordance with the relevant planning laws and guidelines. Specifically, the court had to determine whether the council correctly interpreted and applied the provisions of the relevant planning instruments, and whether the decision was supported by sufficient evidence and proper consideration of relevant factors.

In reaching its decision, the court examined the evidence presented by both parties and the procedural fairness of the council's decision-making process. The court concluded that the council had failed to properly consider certain relevant factors and had not provided adequate reasons for its decision. The court also found that the decision was not supported by sufficient evidence and was therefore unlawful. Consequently, the court quashed the council's decision and remitted the matter back to the council for reconsideration in accordance with the court's directions.

The final orders of the court were that the council's decision to refuse the building permit be quashed, and that the matter be remitted to the council for reconsideration in accordance with the court's directions. The court also ordered that the plaintiff be entitled to recover its costs of the proceedings.

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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