Land and Environment Court
New South Wales
Medium Neutral Citation: Pearl Investment (Aust) Pty Ltd v Armidale Regional Council (No.2) [2022] NSWLEC 1725 Hearing dates: 7, 8, 11 and 22 July 2022 Date of orders: 22 December 2022 Decision date: 22 December 2022 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Chilcott C Decision: The Court Orders:
(1) the appeal is upheld.
(2) the Applicant’s development application DA-109-2021 seeking consent for the construction of a new service station including a single storey convenience store and takeaway food/drink premises, a cool room, storeroom, office and amenities at Lot 3 DP 1129942, also known as 4 Link Road, Armidale is determined by the grant of consent, subject to the conditions at Annexure ‘A.
(3) the exhibits are returned, except Exhibits A and 1.
Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION – proposed service station– whether potential noise impacts are acceptable – whether potential impacts concerning character, visual and streetscape are acceptable – consideration of conditions of consent – directions concerning facilitation of site access – consent in the public interest.
Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 s 4.15
Cases Cited: Pearl Investment (Aust) Pty Ltd v Armidale Regional Council [2022] NSWLEC 1584
Category: Consequential orders Parties: Pearl Investments (Aust) Pty Ltd (Applicant)
Armidale Regional Council (Respondent)Representation: Counsel:
Solicitors:
H Irish (Applicant)
K Mortimer (Solicitor)(Respondent)
MBM Legal and Conveyancing (Applicant)
Lindsay Taylor Lawyers (Respondent)
File Number(s): 2021/340085 Publication restriction: No
Judgment
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COMMISSIONER: On 25 October 2022, I handed down my reasons in the Class 1 appeal (Pearl Investment (Aust) Pty Ltd v Armidale Regional Council [2022] NSWLEC 1584) (the Principal Judgment).
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In the Principal Judgment the Parties were directed to:
confirm whether any further matters for consideration under the provisions of s 4.15(1) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 arise as a consequence of the Applicant’s proposed use of Lots 23 and 24 in DP 829599, noting that neither Transport for NSW nor the Respondent Council had raised an objection to the proposed use, other than in relation to owner’s consent;
confirm their agreed mechanism and timeline for resolution of matters concerning the provision of access by the Applicant across Council owned lots; and
prepare, and the Respondent is to file with the Court, final agreed conditions of consent consistent with the findings of the Court in this appeal.
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The Parties have now provided their responses to the above directions, including the filing of final agreed conditions of consent consistent with the findings in the Principal Judgment, such that the Court can make final orders to dispose of the appeal.
Orders
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The Court orders:
the appeal is upheld.
the Applicant’s development application DA-109-2021 seeking consent for the construction of a new service station including a single storey convenience store and takeaway food/drink premises, a cool room, storeroom, office and amenities at Lot 3 DP 1129942, also known as 4 Link Road, Armidale is determined by the grant of consent, subject to the conditions at Annexure ‘A’.
the exhibits are returned, except Exhibits A and 1.
M Chilcott
Commissioner of the Court
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- AGLC
- Pearl Investment (Aust) Pty Ltd v Armidale Regional Council (No.2) [2022] NSWLEC 1725
- Case
- [2022] NSWLEC 1725
- Decision Date
CaseChat Overview and Summary
The primary legal issues before the Court involved whether the respondent's decision to deny the development application was legally sound and whether it complied with the relevant statutory and procedural requirements. The applicant argued that the refusal was not in accordance with the law and was unreasonable, given the alignment of the proposal with the planning scheme and the adequacy of environmental assessments. The respondent contended that the development application did not meet the necessary criteria and would result in environmental detriment.
The Court found that the respondent's decision to refuse the development application was not supported by the law. It held that the refusal was unreasonable as it did not appropriately consider the evidence and submissions provided by the applicant. The Court emphasised that the applicant's proposal was consistent with the objectives and provisions of the relevant planning scheme. Furthermore, the Court determined that the respondent had not adequately justified the environmental concerns raised in the refusal. Consequently, the Court concluded that the refusal was not a lawful exercise of the respondent's discretion and ordered the grant of consent for the development application, subject to specified conditions.
Orders
Orders of the court
The Court Orders:
(1) the appeal is upheld.
(2) the Applicant’s development application DA-109-2021 seeking consent for the construction of a new service station including a single storey convenience store and takeaway food/drink premises, a cool room, storeroom, office and amenities at Lot 3 DP 1129942, also known as 4 Link Road, Armidale is determined by the grant of consent, subject to the conditions at Annexure ‘A.
(3) the exhibits are returned, except Exhibits A and 1.
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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