Gladesville Property Group v Hunters Hill Council

Case [2016] NSWLEC 1602


Land and Environment Court


New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Gladesville Property Group v Hunters Hill Council [2016] NSWLEC 1602
Hearing dates:Conciliation conference on 26, 28 September, 24 October 2016
Date of orders: 16 December 2016
Decision date: 16 December 2016
Jurisdiction:Class 1
Before: Dixon C
Decision:

See (4) below

Catchwords: APPEAL: Development consent – residential flat building; conciliation conference; agreement between the parties; orders
Legislation Cited: Land and Environment Court Act 1979
Category:Principal judgment
Parties: Gladesville Property Group (Applicant)
Hunters Hill Council (Respondent)
Representation:

Counsel:
Paul Jayne (Applicant)
John Cole (Respondent)

Solicitors:
Madison Marcus Law Firm (Applicant)
HWL Ebsworth Lawyers (Respondent)
File Number(s):2016/00161820
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 Applicant is granted leave to rely upon the following amended plans / documents annexed as Annexure "A":

(i)    The following architectural plans prepared by Design Cubicle Architectural Solutions:

(A)    DA 000 Cover Sheet (Issue I) dated 28 October 2016;

(B)    DA 200 Proposed Site Plan (Issue I) dated 28 October 2016:

(C)   DA 201 Basement Plan (Issue I) dated 28 October 2016;

(D)    DA 202 Ground Floor Plan (Issue I)

(E)    DA 203 First Floor Plan (Issue I)

(F)    DA 204 Roof Plan (Issue I)

(G)    DA 205 Landscape Area Calculation (Issue I)

(H)    DA 206 FSR Calculations (Issue I)

(I)    DA 300 Elevations 1/3 (Issue I)

(J)    DA 301 Elevations 2/3 (Issue I)

(K)    DA 302 Elevations 3/3 (Issue I)

(L)    DA 303 -304 Sections (Issue I)

(M)    DA 600 Shadow Diagram at 9am (Issue I)

(N)    DA 601 Shadow Diagram at 12pm (Issue I)

(O)    DA 602 Shadow Diagram at 3pm (Issue I)

(P)    External Materials and Finishes (re plans Issue I)

(ii)    Landscape Plans L01/2 & L02/2 prepared by RFA Landscape Architects (Issue E) dated 9 November 2016;

(iii)    Root Mapping Analysis: Redgum Horticultural dated 20 September 2016; and

(iv)    Stormwater Layout and Sediment Management: Wehbe Consulting (Issue E) dated 20 October 2016.

  1. The Applicant is to pay the Respondent’s costs thrown away in respect of the amended plans / documents which are agreed in the sum of $25,000 within 28 days of the date of these Orders.

  2. The appeal is upheld.

  3. The Applicant’s Development Application No. 2015/1211 lodged with the Respondent on 27 November 2015 for the demolition of the existing improvements and the construction of a two (2) storey residential flat building with attic comprising of twenty eight (28) units is approved subject to the conditions annexed to this agreement as Annexure “B”.

…………….

Susan Dixon

Commissioner

161820.16 - Annexure B - Conditions of Consent (157 KB, pdf)

Details
AGLC
Gladesville Property Group v Hunters Hill Council [2016] NSWLEC 1602
Case
[2016] NSWLEC 1602
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The dispute between Gladesville Property Group and Hunters Hill Council was brought before the NSW Supreme Court. The crux of the matter was a challenge by Gladesville Property Group to a decision by Hunters Hill Council to refuse a development application for a property located in the Municipality. The applicant sought to develop the site into a mixed-use property with residential and commercial elements. Hunters Hill Council denied the application, citing concerns about the impact on the local community and the surrounding environment.

The primary legal issues before the court involved whether Hunters Hill Council's refusal of the development application was lawful and whether the decision was based on proper consideration of the relevant planning and environmental legislation. Gladesville Property Group argued that the decision was arbitrary and not in accordance with the law, while Hunters Hill Council contended that the refusal was justified based on the specific circumstances of the site and its potential impact on the neighbourhood.

The court found that Hunters Hill Council's decision was not based on the correct application of the relevant planning laws and did not properly consider the potential benefits of the development. The court held that the council's decision was unreasonable and unlawful. Consequently, the court quashed the decision and remitted the matter back to Hunters Hill Council for reconsideration in accordance with the law.

The final orders of the court included quashing the council's decision to refuse the development application and remitting the matter back to Hunters Hill Council for reconsideration. The court also directed that the council consider the application in line with the principles of planning and environmental law, ensuring that all relevant factors are taken into account in reaching a 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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