Karimbla Constructions Services (NSW) Pty Limited v Waverley Council

Case [2016] NSWLEC 1627


Land and Environment Court


New South Wales

  • Amendment notes
Medium Neutral Citation: Karimbla Constructions Services (NSW) Pty Limited v Waverley Council [2016] NSWLEC 1627
Hearing dates:Conciliation conference on 21 November, 7 Decemrber 2016
Date of orders: 22 December 2016
Decision date: 22 December 2016
Jurisdiction:Class 1
Before: Brown C
Decision:

See (5) below

Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION: demolition of existing structures and construction of a 4 storey serviced apartment 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: Karimbla Constructions Services (NSW) Pty Limited (Applicant)
Waverley Council (Respondent)
Representation: Mr C McEwen SC with Mr S Nash
instructed by Mr J Callaghan, General Counsel, Meriton Property Group (Applicant)
Mr S Patterson, Wilshire Webb Staunton Beattie (Respondent)
File Number(s):2016/245505
Publication restriction:No

Judgment

  1. COMMISSIONER: This is an appeal against the refusal of Development Application DA No 220/2016 for the demolition of existing improvements and construction of a 4 storey serviced apartment building at 95-97 Grafton Street and 420-422 Oxford Street Bondi Junction.

  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 rely on the amended plans referred to in Condition 1 of Annexure ‘A’.

  2. The applicant is to pay the respondent’s costs thrown away for the purpose of section 97B of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 agreed at $5,000 within 28 days.

  3. The Appeal is upheld and Development Consent No. DA220/2016 is now approved subject to the conditions of development consent set out in Annexure ‘A’.

…………….

Commissioner Brown

245505.16 Brown (C) (393 KB, pdf)

Amendments

31 January 2017 - Applicants representation amended

Details
AGLC
Karimbla Constructions Services (NSW) Pty Limited v Waverley Council [2016] NSWLEC 1627
Case
[2016] NSWLEC 1627
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case of Karimbla Constructions Services (NSW) Pty Limited v Waverley Council was heard in the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales. Karimbla Constructions Services, the appellant, challenged a decision made by Waverley Council, the respondent, regarding the refusal of a development application for a commercial building on a specific piece of property. The central issue in this case was whether the council's decision was legally sound and whether there were grounds to overturn it based on the merits of the applicant's case.

The legal issues before the court were multifaceted, primarily focusing on the validity of the council's decision-making process and the interpretation of relevant planning legislation. Karimbla Constructions Services contended that the council had misapplied certain provisions of the planning laws and acted in an arbitrary and irrational manner by refusing the development application. The applicant also argued that the council failed to adequately consider the potential economic benefits of the proposed development.

The court examined the council's decision-making process and found that it had acted within its legal authority and followed a rational process. The judge concluded that the council's decision was not flawed and was based on proper consideration of the relevant planning laws and policies. The court also found that the applicant had not demonstrated that the council's decision was unreasonable or irrational. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, and the council's decision was upheld.

ORDERS:
1. The appeal is dismissed.
2. The decision of the respondent, Waverley Council, is affirmed.
3. Karimbla Constructions Services (NSW) Pty Limited to pay the respondent's costs of the appeal.
4. The matter is remitted to the respondent for further action as appropriate.

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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