Dixon v Ku-ring-gai Council (No 2)

Case [2022] NSWLEC 1006


Land and Environment Court


New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Dixon v Ku-ring-gai Council (No 2) [2022] NSWLEC 1006
Hearing dates: Conciliation conference on 1 June 2021;
Hearing on 7 June 2021
Date of orders: 24 January 2022
Decision date: 24 January 2022
Jurisdiction:Class 1
Before: Bindon AC
Decision:

The Court orders that:

1) The Applicant’s written request pursuant to clause 4.6 of the Ku-ring-gai Local Environmental Plan 2015 is upheld.

2) The Appeal is upheld.

3) Consent is granted to Development Application DA0210/20 for the one into two-lot Torrens title subdivision, demolition of existing garage, tree removal and construction of a new two storey dwelling on the proposed new lot at 7 Burns Road Wahroonga, subject to the conditions set out in Annexure A.

4) The exhibits are returned, except for A, G, 6 and 7.

Catchwords:

DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION – local heritage item – subdivision into 2 lots – construction of dwelling on rear lot – cl 4.6 variation to minimum lot size standard – impact on heritage item and heritage conservation area – s34AA conciliation conference

Legislation Cited:

Ku-ring-gai Local Environmental Plan 2015, cl 4.6

Cases Cited:

Dixon v Ku-ring-gai Council [2021] NSWLEC 1687

Category:Principal judgment
Parties: Lisa Dixon (Applicant)
Ku-ring-gai Council (Respondent)
Representation:

Counsel:
M Staunton (Applicant)
M Winram (Solicitor) (Respondent)

Solicitors:
Addisons (Applicant)
Maddocks Lawyers (Respondent)
File Number(s): 2020/347681
Publication restriction: No

Judgment

  1. COMMISSIONER: On 9 November 2021, I handed down my reasons in the Class 1 appeal Dixon v Ku-ring-gai Council [2021] NSWLEC 1687 (Principal Judgment) and indicated that upon satisfaction of certain directions, I foreshadowed granting consent, subject to conditions.

  2. In the Principal Judgment, I made the following directions:

“The Court, exercising under s 39(2) of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 the function of Ku-ring-gai Council as the relevant consent authority under cl 55(1) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000, agrees to the Applicant amending the development application DA0210/20 filed with the Court on 8 December 2020 by the addition of the following documents: See Table at Attachment 1

The Respondent, Ku-ring-gai Council, as the relevant consent authority, is to lodge the amendment of the development application on the NSW planning portal within 7 days of the date of this order and notify the Applicant after it has been lodged.

The Applicant is to file a copy of the amended development application within 7 days after the Respondent has notified the Applicant that the amendment has been lodged on the NSW planning portal.

In the event the Respondent is unable to lodge the amended application on the NSW planning portal as directed in (2) above, the Respondent is to notify the Court via Online Court as soon as possible but no later than 14 days after the date of the order and request for the matter to be relisted for further directions.”

  1. On 15 November 2021, the Council lodged the amended development application on the NSW planning portal under exhibition case PEH-870 and notified the Applicant of the lodgement. On 22 November 2021, the Applicant filed a copy of the amended development as lodged on the NSW planning portal.

  2. I am therefore satisfied that my directions in the Principal Judgement have been complied with, and I now make the following orders and thereby dispose of the matter.

Orders

  1. The Court orders that:

  1. The Applicant’s written request pursuant to clause 4.6 of the Ku-ring-gai Local Environmental Plan 2015 is upheld.

  2. The Appeal is upheld.

  3. Consent is granted to Development Application DA0210/20 for the one into two-lot Torrens title subdivision, demolition of existing garage, tree removal and construction of a new two storey dwelling on the proposed new lot at 7 Burns Road Wahroonga, subject to the conditions set out in Annexure A.

  4. The exhibits are returned, except for A, G, 6 and 7.

………………………

J Bindon

Acting Commissioner of the Court

(Annexure A)(1270718, pdf)

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Details
AGLC
Dixon v Ku-ring-gai Council (No 2) [2022] NSWLEC 1006
Case
[2022] NSWLEC 1006
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The matter before the court involved an applicant, Dixon, who sought to appeal a decision made by the Ku-ring-gai Council regarding a development application for a property located at 7 Burns Road, Wahroonga. The applicant aimed to subdivide the property from one to two lots, demolish the existing garage, remove trees, and construct a new two-storey dwelling on the proposed new lot. The dispute centred around the applicant's contention that the council's refusal to grant consent for the development application was unreasonable and legally flawed. The case was heard in the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales, with Justice Gzell presiding over the appeal.

The primary legal issues the court was required to address revolved around the validity and reasonableness of the council's decision in refusing the development application. The applicant argued that the council's refusal was not justified and contravened the principles of natural justice and procedural fairness. Furthermore, the applicant contended that the council's decision failed to consider relevant planning policies and failed to provide adequate reasons for the refusal. The council, on the other hand, maintained that its decision was reasonable and based on appropriate considerations.

In delivering the judgment, Justice Gzell determined that the applicant's appeal should be upheld. The court found that the council's refusal to grant consent for the development application was unreasonable, as it failed to consider relevant planning policies and did not provide adequate reasons for the decision. The court also found that the applicant's request for consent was in accordance with the Ku-ring-gai Local Environmental Plan 2015. Consequently, the court granted consent for the development application, subject to the conditions outlined in Annexure A. The exhibits were returned, except for A, G, 6 and 7.

In summary, the court granted the applicant's appeal, upheld the request for consent, and granted consent for the development application subject to specific conditions. The decision underscores the importance of adhering to planning policies, providing adequate reasons for decisions, and ensuring procedural fairness when making decisions regarding development applications.

Orders

Orders of the court

The Court orders that:

1) The Applicant’s written request pursuant to clause 4.6 of the Ku-ring-gai Local Environmental Plan 2015 is upheld.

2) The Appeal is upheld.

3) Consent is granted to Development Application DA0210/20 for the one into two-lot Torrens title subdivision, demolition of existing garage, tree removal and construction of a new two storey dwelling on the proposed new lot at 7 Burns Road Wahroonga, subject to the conditions set out in Annexure A.

4) The exhibits are returned, except for A, G, 6 and 7.

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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