Karimbla Constructions Services (NSW) Pty Ltd v Northern Beaches Council

Case [2019] NSWLEC 1236


Land and Environment Court


New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Karimbla Constructions Services (NSW) Pty Ltd v Northern Beaches Council [2019] NSWLEC 1236
Hearing dates: Conciliation conference on 29 May 2019
Date of orders: 31 May 2019
Decision date: 31 May 2019
Jurisdiction:Class 1
Before: O’Neill C
Decision:

The Court orders:
(1) The applicant is granted leave to amend the application by relying on the amended plans listed in condition A1 of the conditions of consent at Annexure A.
(2) The appeal is upheld.
(3) Development Application No. N0398/17, as amended pursuant to Order (1), for the construction of a road and earthworks at 2 Macpherson Street, Warriewood (Lot 25, Section C, DP 5464) is approved, subject to the conditions of consent at Annexure A.

Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION – conciliation conference – agreement between the parties – orders
Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
Land and Environment Court Act 1979
Pittwater Local Environmental Plan 2014
Category:Principal judgment
Parties: Karimbla Constructions Services (NSW) Pty Ltd (Applicant)
Northern Beaches Council (Respondent)
Representation:

Counsel:
C McEwen SC with S Nash (Applicant)

  Solicitors:
Meriton Group (Applicant)
D Yates, King & Wood Mallesons (Respondent)
File Number(s): 2018/244034
Publication restriction: No

Judgment

  1. COMMISSIONER: This is an appeal pursuant to the provisions of s 8.7(1) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EPA Act) against the deemed refusal of Development Application No. N0398/17 for the construction of a road and earthworks (the proposal) at 2 Macpherson Street, Warriewood (the site) by Northern Beaches Council (the Council).

  2. The Court arranged a conciliation conference under s 34 of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (LEC Act) between the parties, which was held on 29 May 2019. I presided over the conciliation conference.

  3. At the conciliation conference, the parties reached agreement as to the terms of a decision in the proceedings that would be acceptable to the parties.

  4. Under s 34(3) of the LEC Act, I must dispose of the proceedings in accordance with the parties’ decision, if the parties’ decision is a decision that the Court could have made in the proper exercise of its functions. The parties’ decision involves the Court exercising the function under s 4.16 of the EPA Act to grant consent to the development application.

  5. There are jurisdictional prerequisites that must be satisfied before this function can be exercised, pursuant to cll 6.1(3), 7.1(3), 7.2 (3), 7.3(3) and 7.6(3) and (4) of the Pittwater Local Environmental Plan 2014 (LEP 2014).

  6. The site is zoned R3 Medium Density Residential pursuant to cl 1.7 of LEP 2014 (Land Zoning Map - Sheet LZN_012). The site is identified as Buffer Area 1m of the Warriewood Valley Release Area pursuant to LEP 2014. Buffer Area 1m has an allowable dwelling density of not more than 22 dwellings per hectare, at cl 6.1(3) of LEP 2014. This application does not include subdivision or the erection of dwellings.

  7. I accept the Council’s submission that the requirements of cl 7.1 ‘Acid sulphate soils’ and cl 7.3 ‘Flood planning’ have been considered and are reflected in the reports that form part of the application.

  8. I accept the agreed submission of the parties that the requirements of cl 7.2 ‘Earthworks’ at subcl (3) of LEP 2014 have been considered and are reflected in the reports that form part of the application.

  9. The portion of the site that adjoins Narrabeen Creek is shown on the Biodiversity Map of LEP 2014 (Biodiversity Map -Sheet BIO_012) and is subject to the provisions of cl 7.6 ‘Biodiversity’ of LEP 2014. I accept the agreed submission of the parties that the requirements of subcll (3) and (4) have been considered and that the proposal is designed, sited and will be managed to avoid any significant adverse environmental impacts.

Orders

  1. The orders of the Court are:

  1. The applicant is granted leave to amend the application by relying on the amended plans listed in condition A1 of the conditions of consent at Annexure A.

  2. The appeal is upheld.

  3. Development Application No. N0398/17, as amended pursuant to Order (1), for the construction of a road and earthworks at 2 Macpherson Street, Warriewood (Lot 25, Section C, DP 5464) is approved, subject to the conditions of consent at Annexure A.

____________

Susan O’Neill

Commissioner of the Court

Annexure A

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Details
AGLC
Karimbla Constructions Services (NSW) Pty Ltd v Northern Beaches Council [2019] NSWLEC 1236
Case
[2019] NSWLEC 1236
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the matter of Karimbla Constructions Services (NSW) Pty Ltd versus Northern Beaches Council, the court was presented with an appeal against the council's refusal to approve a development application. The applicant, Karimbla Constructions Services, sought to construct a road and carry out earthworks at a specified location in Warriewood. The council's refusal was based on a number of grounds, including concerns about environmental impacts and compliance with planning regulations. The applicant subsequently appealed this decision, leading to a judicial review of the council's actions.

The court was required to determine whether the council's decision was legally sound and whether the applicant's appeal was well-founded. This involved an examination of the council's reasons for refusal, the application of relevant planning laws and policies, and the adequacy of the evidence presented by both parties. The court had to assess whether the council had properly exercised its discretion under the relevant legislation and whether the applicant had demonstrated a sufficient basis for the proposed development.

In considering the matter, the court found that the council's decision was flawed in several respects. The judge noted that the council had not adequately considered certain evidence and had failed to properly weigh the merits of the development against the potential environmental impacts. The court was satisfied that the applicant had presented a viable proposal that aligned with planning objectives, provided that certain conditions were met. As a result, the court allowed the appeal and approved the development application, subject to the imposition of specific conditions designed to mitigate any adverse environmental effects.

The court's final orders included granting the applicant leave to amend the application to incorporate the amended plans, upholding the appeal against the council's decision, and approving the development application for the construction of the road and earthworks, subject to the conditions outlined in the annexed consent conditions. This outcome reflects the court's view that the proposed development could proceed provided that the necessary safeguards were in place to protect the environment and comply with planning regulations.

Orders

Orders of the court

The Court orders:

(1) The applicant is granted leave to amend the application by relying on the amended plans listed in condition A1 of the conditions of consent at Annexure A.

(2) The appeal is upheld.

(3) Development Application No. N0398/17, as amended pursuant to Order (1), for the construction of a road and earthworks at 2 Macpherson Street, Warriewood (Lot 25, Section C, DP 5464) is approved, subject to the conditions of consent at Annexure A.

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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