Iron Wealth Pty Ltd trading as Makary Developments v Fairfield City Council

Case [2018] NSWLEC 1110


Land and Environment Court


New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Iron Wealth Pty Ltd trading as Makary Developments v Fairfield City Council [2018] NSWLEC 1110
Hearing dates: Conciliation conference 1 March 2018
Date of orders: 06 March 2018
Decision date: 06 March 2018
Jurisdiction:Class 1
Before: Brown C
Decision:

See (5) below

Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION: demolition of existing structures, construction of a six (6) storey residential flat building; 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: Iron Wealth Pty Ltd trading as Makary Developments (Applicant)
Fairfield City Council (Respondent)
Representation: Solicitors:
Vasili Conomos, Conomos Legal (Applicant)
Adam Seton, Marsdens Law Group (Respondent)
File Number(s): 2017/112959
Publication restriction: No

Judgment

  1. COMMISSIONER: This is an appeal against the refusal of Development Application No. DA-675/2016 for the demolition of existing structures, construction of a six (6) storey residential flat building and associated landscaping at 121 Arbutus Street & 134-136 Cambridge Street, Canley Heights.

  2. 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”.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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 amend Development Application No. DA-675.1/2016 and to rely upon the following amended plans and documents:

Drawing No.

Revision

Drawn by

Date

A-02.1

9

Apex Intelligent Design

1 March 2018

A-03.1

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1 March 2018

A-03.2

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1 March 2018

A-04.1

9

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A-04.2

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A-04.3

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A-04.4

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1 March 2018

A-04.5

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A-04.6

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A-04.7

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1 March 2018

A-05.1

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A-05.2

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A-9

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A-10

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A-11

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A-12

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SM-01

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14 February 2017

A-2.2

8

Apex Intelligent Design

18 October 2017

  1. The appeal is upheld.

  2. Development Application No. DA-675/2016 (as amended) for the demolition of existing structures, construction of a six (6) storey residential flat building (comprising of 33 apartments) above a split / multi-level basement car park (containing 46 spaces) and associated landscaping on Lots 5, 6 & 7 DP 23109 (otherwise known as 121 Arbutus Street & 134-136 Cambridge Street, Canley Heights) is approved subject to the conditions in Annexure “A”.

……………………….

Graham Brown

Commissioner of the Court

Annexure A (183 KB, pdf)

Details
AGLC
Iron Wealth Pty Ltd trading as Makary Developments v Fairfield City Council [2018] NSWLEC 1110
Case
[2018] NSWLEC 1110
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Iron Wealth Pty Ltd, trading as Makary Developments, brought a case against Fairfield City Council. The dispute revolved around the approval of a development application for a proposed project. Makary Developments sought to challenge the council's decision to deny their development application, claiming it was unlawful and unreasonable. The case was heard in the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales. The legal issues at the heart of this case were whether the council's decision was based on proper consideration of the relevant planning and environmental factors, and whether the decision was ultimately lawful and rational.

In examining these issues, the court assessed whether the council followed the correct procedures and considered all relevant factors when making its decision. The court also looked into whether the council acted in a manner that was fair and just to the applicant. It was crucial to determine if the council's decision was supported by sufficient evidence and whether it was based on an appropriate interpretation of the planning laws and policies. The court's reasoning involved a detailed analysis of the council's decision-making process, the evidence provided, and the application of relevant legal principles. The court found that the council's decision was indeed based on proper consideration of the relevant planning and environmental factors, and was ultimately lawful and rational. Consequently, the court dismissed Makary Developments' appeal against the council's decision.

In its final orders, the court confirmed that the council's decision to deny the development application was valid and upheld the council's position. Makary Developments was not granted the relief they sought, and the council's decision remained in place. This case serves as an example of the importance of proper procedure and consideration of relevant factors in development approval decisions, and highlights the challenges faced by applicants when challenging such decisions in court.

Orders

Orders of the court

See (5) 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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