Plazawest Pty Ltd v Parramatta City Council

Case [2005] NSWLEC 279


NEW SOUTH WALES LAND AND ENVIRONMENT COURT

CITATION:     Plazawest Pty Ltd  v  Parramatta City Council [2005]  NSWLEC 279

PARTIES:
APPLICANT
Plazawest Pty Ltd 

RESPONDENT
Parramatta City Council

CASE NUMBER:     10686 of       2004

CATCH WORDS:     Development Consent

LEGISLATION CITED:

CORAM:       Hussey C

DATES OF HEARING:       19/04/2005

EX TEMPORE DATE:        19/04/2005

LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES

APPLICANT
Mr G Newport, barrister
SOLICITORS
Maclarens

RESPONDENT
Mr P Marincowitz, solicitor
SOLICITORS
Phillips Fox

JUDGMENT:

THE LAND AND
ENVIRONMENT COURT
OF NEW SOUTH WALES

Hussey C

3 May 2005

10686 of 2004                Plazawest Pty Ltd  v 

Parramatta City Council

JUDGMENT

  1. I am satisfied now that the development consent should be granted and I note that consent orders have been filed by the parties. 

  2. When this matter was initially considered a couple of weeks ago, I noted that it is a rather large development on the corner of Victoria Road and Church Streets, Parramatta, involving demolition of structures and construction of part four and five storey mixed use buildings comprising commercial space at ground level, 155 residential apartments over basement parking for 285 vehicles. 

  3. The matter has been subject to a detailed assessment report from the council planners in exhibit 1 and I have considered this report and also the matters that were raised at the last hearing. 

  4. At the last hearing I expressed some concern about the RTA requirements not being incorporated into the conditions and the contamination aspects which have now been covered by way of deferred commencement condition.  In this case, I think that is appropriate so that the parties are aware that this is a primary condition of the consent that must be satisfied by way of investigation, work done and then certification that it is satisfactory, before the remainder of the consent comes into operation. 

  5. I was also concerned about the conflicting landscaping conditions because there was a complete lack of certainty with those conditions.  That has now been rectified by way of the new landscaping plan which council has considered and now accepts.  It is incorporated into the conditions and I think that is much clearer and acceptable.

  6. All the other conditions of consent are acceptable and, as I note again, it is a major development and I rely on the assessment of the planning officer and no other issues have been raised. 

  7. There was the objector’s concern from the adjoining newsagency.  That concern has been reasonably addressed by way of conditions whereby his rear access for deliveries and services will be maintained during the construction programme for this major development and that is to be incorporated up front into the construction management plan which requires a traffic access plan to be determined before the application proceeds. 

  8. For these reasons then, the formal consent orders should be granted.

  9. The exhibits may now be returned except for Exhibits 3, 4, 8, A and F.

__________________

R Hussey
Commissioner of the Court

rjs

Details
AGLC
Plazawest Pty Ltd v Parramatta City Council [2005] NSWLEC 279
Case
[2005] NSWLEC 279
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Plazawest Pty Ltd applied for development consent from Parramatta City Council for a significant development at the corner of Victoria Road and Church Street, Parramatta. The proposed development includes the demolition of existing structures and the construction of mixed-use buildings with commercial spaces at ground level and residential apartments above, along with basement parking. The application was subject to detailed assessment by the council planners, which was considered by the court. The court was required to decide whether the development consent should be granted, taking into account the council's assessment report, conditions of consent, and any objections raised by the public or adjoining property owners.

The court examined the conditions of consent proposed by the council, including those related to the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) requirements and contamination aspects. The court was satisfied that the conditions addressed these concerns adequately, particularly after the parties had filed consent orders. The court also considered the landscaping conditions, which were initially conflicting but were subsequently rectified by the new landscaping plan accepted by the council. The court noted that all other conditions of consent were acceptable and that no other issues had been raised. The objector's concern from the adjoining newsagency was reasonably addressed by conditions ensuring the maintenance of rear access during construction.

The court concluded that the development consent should be granted, relying on the planning officer's assessment and the resolution of the issues raised during the proceedings. The court found that the conditions of consent effectively addressed the RTA requirements, contamination aspects, and landscaping concerns. The court also accepted that the objector's concerns were reasonably addressed, ensuring the adjoining newsagency's rear access would be maintained during construction. Consequently, the court ordered that the formal consent orders should be granted.

The court ordered that the formal consent orders should be granted and directed the return of exhibits, except for Exhibits 3, 4, 8, A, and F. This decision finalized the court's consideration of the development consent application, allowing the project to proceed subject to the conditions of consent.

Orders

Orders of the court

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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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