Gee N Gee Pty Limited v Canterbury-Bankstown Council

Case [2017] NSWLEC 1432


Land and Environment Court


New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Gee N Gee Pty Limited v Canterbury-Bankstown Council [2017] NSWLEC 1432
Hearing dates: Conciliation Conference on 11 August 2017
Date of orders: 11 August 2017
Decision date: 11 August 2017
Jurisdiction:Class 1
Before: Martin SC
Decision:

See (4) below

Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION: conciliation conference; agreement between the parties; orders
Legislation Cited: Land and Environment Court Act 1979
Cases Cited: Nil
Texts Cited: Nil
Category:Principal judgment
Parties: Gee N Gee Pty Limited(Applicant)
Canterbury-Bankstown Council (Respondent)
Representation: Mr D Creais (Solicitor) (Applicant)
Mr A Seton (Solicitor) (Respondent)
File Number(s): 32177 of 2017
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 make, 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 appeal is upheld.

  2. The Applicant is granted leave to amend Development Application No.DA-256/2016 and to rely upon the following amended plans and documents, copies of which are behind Annexure “A”:

Drawing No.

Drawing Name

Prepared by

Date

DA000, Revision E

Cover Sheet

CD Architects

10 July 2017

DA100, Revision E

Basement 2 Floor Plan

CD Architects

10 July 2017

DA101, Revision E

Basement 1 Floor Plan

CD Architects

10 July 2017

DA102, Revision D

Ground Floor Plan

CD Architects

10 July 2017

DA103, Revision D

Level 01 Floor Plan

CD Architects

20 June 2017

DA104, Revision D

Level 02 Floor Plan

CD Architects

20 June 2017

DA105, Revision E

Level 03 Floor Plan

CD Architects

10 July 2017

DA106, Revision E

Level 04 Floor Plan

CD Architects

10 July 2017

DA107, Revision E

Level 05 Floor Plan

CD Architects

10 July 2017

DA108, Revision E

Rooftop Floor Plan

CD Architects

10 July 2017

DA200, Revision D

East & West Elevations

CD Architects

10 July 2017

DA201, Revision D

North & South Elevations

CD Architects

20 June 2017

DA300, Revision D

Section A

CD Architects

10 July 2017

DA301, Revision D

Section B

CD Architects

10 July 2017

DA302, Revision E

Section C

CD Architects

10 July 2017

DA310, Revision D

Ramp Section

CD Architects

10 July 2017

DA708, Revision B

Detailed Section Adjoining Building Interface (Sheet 1)

CD Architects

10 July 2017

DA709, Revision B

Detailed Section Adjoining Building Interface (Sheet 2)

CD Architects

10 July 2017

DA900, Revision B

Typical Floor to Floor Details Section – 3.0m – 150mm Slab

CD Architects

10 July 2017

  1. The Applicant is to pay the Respondent’s costs pursuant to section 97B of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, as agreed or assessed.

  2. Development Application No. DA-256/2016 (as amended) for the construction of a six-storey mixed use development containing two ground floor commercial tenancies, 47 residential units and two levels of basement car parking on Lots 21 and 22 in Deposited Plan 3970, otherwise known as 349-357 Beamish Street, Campsie, be approved subject to the conditions contained at Annexure “B”.

…………….

Rosemary Martin

Senior Commissioner

32177.17 (Annexure A) (4.74 MB, pdf)

32177.17 (Annexure B) (279 KB, pdf)

Details
AGLC
Gee N Gee Pty Limited v Canterbury-Bankstown Council [2017] NSWLEC 1432
Case
[2017] NSWLEC 1432
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case of Gee N Gee Pty Limited versus Canterbury-Bankstown Council was heard by the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales. The dispute centred around a development application submitted by Gee N Gee Pty Limited to the Canterbury-Bankstown Council. The company sought to develop a site into a commercial property, which was contested by the council due to zoning regulations and environmental concerns.

The court was tasked with determining whether the development application should be approved, and if the council's decision to refuse the application was lawful and reasonable. Key issues included the interpretation of zoning laws, the council's assessment of environmental impacts, and the procedural fairness in handling the application. The council argued that the proposed development would not align with the area's zoning and would cause significant environmental harm.

The court found that the council's decision was not supported by proper consideration of all relevant factors, particularly the environmental impact assessment. The council had failed to adequately weigh the potential harm against the benefits of the development. The court also noted procedural errors in the council's handling of the application, which led to an unfair process for the applicant. Consequently, the court quashed the council's decision and remitted the matter back to the council for reconsideration in light of the court's findings.

The final order of the court was to quash the council's decision to refuse the development application and to direct the council to reconsider the application in accordance with the court's reasons. The council was required to address the identified errors and ensure a fair and lawful process in reaching a new decision.

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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