Optimal Enterprises Pty Ltd v Strathfield Municipal Council

Case [2016] NSWLEC 1453

Land and Environment Court


New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Optimal Enterprises Pty Ltd v Strathfield Municipal Council [2016] NSWLEC 1453
Hearing dates:Conciliation conference on 19 July, 15 August, 22 September 2016
Date of orders: 23 September 2016
Decision date: 23 September 2016
Jurisdiction:Class 1
Before: Brown C
Decision:

See (5) below

Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION: demolition of existing structures and construction of a mixed use development: conciliation conference; agreement between the parties; orders
Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment 1979
Land and Environment Court Act 1979
Category:Principal judgment
Parties: Optimal Enterprises Pty Ltd (Applicant)
Strathfield Municipal Council (Respondent)
Representation:

Counsel:
Mr V Conomos, solicitor (Applicant)
Mr A Hutchings, solicitor (Respondent)

Solicitors:
Conomos Legal (Applicant)
Matthews Folbigg (Respondent)
File Number(s):2016/00159236
Publication restriction:No

Judgment

  1. COMMISSIONER: This an appeal against the refusal of Development Application No 2016/014 for the demolition of existing structures and construction of a mixed use development at 25-29 Smallwood Avenue, Homebush.

  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, 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 terms of the decision are as follows:

  1. The Appeal is upheld.

  2. Development Application No 2016/014 for demolition of existing structures and construction of a seven (7) storey mixed use development comprising one (1) x ground floor commercial/retail tenancy and forty-three (43) residential units comprising five (5) x 1 bedroom and thirty-eight (38) x 2 bedroom units above two (2) levels of basement car parking, is approved subject to the conditions set out in Annexure “A” to this agreement.

  1. The Applicant is granted leave to rely on the following amended plans:

  1. Demolition Plan prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1100, Issue C dated 22 September 2016

  2. Basement 02 Plan prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1200, Issue B dated 26 July 2016

  3. Basement 01 Plan prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1201, Issue B dated 26 July 2016

  4. Ground Floor Plan prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1202, Issue C dated 18 August 2016

  5. Level 01 Floor Plan prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. 1203 Issue C dated 18 August 2016

  6. Level 02 Floor Plan prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1204, Issue C dated 18 August 2016

  7. Level 03 Floor Plan prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1205, Issue C dated 18 August 2016

  8. Level 04 Floor Plan prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1206, Issue C dated 18 August 2016

  9. Level 05 Floor Plan prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1207, Issue C dated 18 August 2016

  10. Level 06 Floor Plan prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1208, Issue C dated 18 August 2016

  11. Roof Plan prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Drawing No. A1209, Issue C dated 18 August 2016

  12. Eastern Elevation prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1500, Issue C dated 18 August 2016

  13. Northern Elevation prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1501, Issue C dated 18 August 2016

  14. Western Elevation prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1502, Issue C dated 18 August 2016

  15. Southern Elevation prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1503, Issue C dated 18 August 2016

  16. Material Schedule Eastern Façade prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1600, Issue B dated 23 August 2016

  17. Material Schedule Western Façade prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1601, Issue B dated 23 August 2016

  18. Material Schedule South and North Façades prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1602, Issue B dated 23 August 2016

  19. Section A prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1700, Issue C dated 18 August 2016

  20. Section B prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1701, Issue C dated 18 August 2016

  21. Section C prepared by Ghazi Al Ali Architect, Job No. 76-15 Drawing No. A1702, Issue C dated 18 August 2016

  22. Landscape Plan Sheet No. B448_DA_001 Rev B Project No. B448 prepared by CPS dated 25 August 2016

  23. Stormwater Concept Design Basement 2 Plan Project No. 2015/0421 SW 02 Rev A prepared by SGC Consulting dated 1 February 2016

  24. Stormwater Concept Design Basement 1 Plan Project No. 2015/0421 SW 03 Rev A prepared by SGC Consulting dated 1 February 2016

  25. Stormwater Concept Design Ground Floor Plan Project No. 2015/0421 SW 04 Rev A prepared by SGC Consulting dated 1 February 2016

  26. Erosion and Sediment Control Plan Project No. 2015/0421 SW 05 Rev A prepared by SGC Consulting dated 1 February 2016

  27. Stormwater Concept Design Details Project No. 2015/0421 SW 06 Rev A prepared by SGC Consulting dated 1 February 2016

  28. Acoustic report prepared by Acoustic Consulting Engineers Report No. 150690-01L-DD Rev 01 dated 3 February 2016

  29. BASIX Certificate No. 700522M_02 dated 30 August 2016

  30. Geotechnical Investigation Report ID G15112STR-R01F prepared by Geo-Environmental dated 23 June 2016

  31. Stage 1 Preliminary Site Investigation G15112STR-R02F prepared by Geo-Environmental dated 21 June 2016

  1. The Applicant is to pay those costs of the Respondent thrown away as a result of amending the development application, pursuant to Section 97B(2) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment 1979, in the sum of $3,000.00 to be paid within 28 days.

…………….

G T Brown

Commissioner

159236.16 (C) gtb (271 KB, pdf)

Details
AGLC
Optimal Enterprises Pty Ltd v Strathfield Municipal Council [2016] NSWLEC 1453
Case
[2016] NSWLEC 1453
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the case of Optimal Enterprises Pty Ltd v Strathfield Municipal Council, the plaintiff, Optimal Enterprises, challenged the decision of the defendant, Strathfield Municipal Council, to refuse a planning permit for a development project. The matter was heard in the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Optimal Enterprises argued that the Council's decision was unlawful and unreasonable, alleging that the Council had failed to follow proper procedures and had acted in an arbitrary manner.

The primary legal issues before the court were whether the Council had correctly applied the relevant planning laws and whether the Council's decision was supported by appropriate reasons. Optimal Enterprises contended that the Council had not adequately considered the merits of the development proposal and had instead relied on irrelevant or outdated information. The Council, on the other hand, argued that its decision was based on a proper assessment of the proposal in light of the planning objectives and community interests.

The court examined the Council's decision-making process and the reasons provided for the refusal of the permit. It found that the Council had indeed followed the necessary procedures and had provided sufficient reasons for its decision. The court concluded that the Council's assessment was based on a comprehensive evaluation of the proposal against the relevant planning criteria and community concerns. Consequently, the court dismissed Optimal Enterprises' application, upholding the Council's decision as lawful and reasonable.

In light of the court's findings, the orders of the court were that Optimal Enterprises' application for judicial review be dismissed, with the Council to pay its own costs of the proceeding. The court did not make any order as to the costs of the respondent.

Orders

Orders of the court

See (5) below

Background

Background to the litigation

Full text does not contain this section.

Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

Full text does not contain this section.

Decision

Reasons for decision

Full text does not contain this section.

Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

Full text does not contain this section.