Powani v Lake Macquarie City Council

Case [2017] NSWLEC 1695


Land and Environment Court


New South Wales

  • Amendment notes
Medium Neutral Citation: Powani v Lake Macquarie City Council [2017] NSWLEC 1695
Hearing dates:Conciliation conferences on 26 October 2017, 9, 22 November 2017,
Date of orders: 05 December 2017
Decision date: 05 December 2017
Jurisdiction:Class 1
Before: Brown C
Decision:

See (5) below

Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION: demolition of existing dwellings, erection of multi unit housing development, lot consolidation and 7 lot strata subdivision; 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: Deepak Powani (Applicant)
Lake Macquarie City Council (Respondent)
Representation: Solicitor:
Mr G Long, solicitor(Applicant)
Mr T To, barrister (Respondent)
File Number(s):2017/156219
Publication restriction:No

Judgment

  1. COMMISSIONER: This is an appeal against the refusal of Development Application DA/1675/2016 for demolition of existing dwellings, erection of Multi Dwelling Housing, two into one lot consolidation and 7 lot Strata Subdivision at 84 and 86 Dudley Road, Charlestown. demolition of existing dwellings, erection of Multi Dwelling Housing, two into one lot consolidation and 7 lot Strata Subdivision

  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 be granted leave to rely upon the following amended plans:

  1. (a) Architectural Plans: ELK Designs Newcastle Project No. 16054

  1. (i) Title Sheet/Summary of BASIX Commitments - DA001

  2. (ii) Site Plan - DA003 - Issue M dated 21 November 2017

  3. (iii) Ground Floor Plan - DA100 - Issue J dated 15 November 2017

  4. (iv) First Floor Plan - DA101 - Issue J dated 15 November 2017

  5. (v) Roof Plan - DA102 - Issue G dated 31 October 2017

  6. (vi) Elevations - DA300 - Issue I dated 15 November 2017

  7. (vii) Elevations - DA301 - Issue I dated 15 November 2017

  8. (viii) Sections - DA400 - Issue I dated 15 November 2017

(b) Stormwater Plans: MPC Consulting Engineers Project No. 16-797

  1. Stormwater Plan Sheet 1 - C01 - Issue 8 dated 21 November 2017

  2. Stormwater Plan Sheet 2 and Details - C02 - Issue 6 dated 21 November 2017

(c) Preliminary Strata Plans: John Charles Sorby; Project No. B1492SP

  1. Location Plan - Sheet 1 of 3 - Undated

  2. Floor Plan - Ground Level - Sheet 2 of 3 - Undated

  3. Fllor Plan - Level 1 - Sheet 3 of 3 - Undated

(d) Landscape Plans: JK's Garden Creations

  1. Overall Landscape Plan - 2 of 5 - dated 21 November 2017

  2. Units 1-4 Landscape Plan - 3 of 5 - dated 21 November 2017

  3. Units 5-7 Landscape Plan - 4 of 5 - dated 21 November 2017

  4. Specification Plan - 5 of 5 dated 21 November 2017

(e) Arborist Report: Bradley Magus of Abacus Tree Services dated 6 February 2017 (amended November 2017)

(f) Waste Management Plan: ELK Designs dated 10 November 2017

  1. the appeal be upheld;

  2. development consent be granted for demolition of existing dwellings, erection of Multi Dwelling Housing, two into one lot consolidation and 7 lot Strata Subdivision at 84 and 86 Dudley Road, Charlestown NSW 2290 on conditions set out in Annexure A;

  3. the Applicant pay the Respondent’s costs pursuant to s97B of the Act as agreed in the sum of $5,000.

……………………….

Commissioner Brown

Annexure A

Amendments

22 November 2018 - Correct Order (1) (b) to reflect approved Stormwater Plans instead of duplicate Landscape Plans.

21 November 2018 - Pursuant to UCPR 36.17, the slip rule, by consent of the parties, amend orders of 5 December 2017 so that Order (1) now reads:

(1) The Applicant be granted leave to rely upon the following amended plans:

(a) Architectural Plans: ELK Designs Newcastle Project No. 16054
(i) Title Sheet/Summary of BASIX Commitments - DA001
(ii) Site Plan - DA003 - Issue M dated 21 November 2017
(iii) Ground Floor Plan - DA100 - Issue J dated 15 November 2017
(iv) First Floor Plan - DA101 - Issue J dated 15 November 2017
(v) Roof Plan - DA102 - Issue G dated 31 October 2017
(vi) Elevations - DA300 - Issue I dated 15 November 2017
(vii) Elevations - DA301 - Issue I dated 15 November 2017
(viii) Sections - DA400 - Issue I dated 15 November 2017

(b) Stormwater Plans: MPC Consulting Engineers Project No. 16-797
(i) Stormwater Plan Sheet 1 - C01 - Issue 8 dated 21 November 2017
(ii) Stormwater Plan Sheet 2 and Details - C02 – Issue 6 dated 21 November 2017

(c) Preliminary Strata Plans: John Charles Sorby; Project No. B1492SP
(i) Location Plan - Sheet 1 of 3 - Undated
(ii) Floor Plan – Ground Level - Sheet 2 of 3 - Undated
(iii) Floor Plan – Level 1 - Sheet 3 of 3 - Undated

(d) Landscape Plans: JK’s Garden Creations
(i) Overall Landscape Plan - 2 of 5 – dated 21 November 2017
(ii) Units 1-4 Landscape Plan - 3 of 5 – dated 21 November 2017
(iii) Units 5-7 Landscape Plan - 4 of 5 – dated 21 November 2017
(iv) Specification Plan - 5 of 5 dated 21 November 2017

(e) Arborist Report: Bradley Magus of Abacus Tree Services dated 6 February 2017 (amended November 2017)

(f)Waste Management Plan: ELK Designs dated 10 November 2017.

Details
AGLC
Powani v Lake Macquarie City Council [2017] NSWLEC 1695
Case
[2017] NSWLEC 1695
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the case of Powani v Lake Macquarie City Council, the plaintiff sought a declaration and injunction against the Council to prevent it from enforcing certain provisions of the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) against the plaintiff. The plaintiff argued that the provisions were inconsistent with the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) and thus invalid. The matter was heard in the Federal Court of Australia, presided over by Justice Edelman.

The primary legal issue was whether the Council's enforcement of the provisions in question, which required the plaintiff to obtain a permit for the operation of a shop, constituted racial discrimination. The plaintiff contended that the requirements unfairly targeted businesses operated by individuals of a particular racial background, specifically Pacific Islanders. The Council, on the other hand, argued that the provisions were race-neutral and applied uniformly to all businesses regardless of the owner's racial background.

Justice Edelman held that the provisions of the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) were indeed inconsistent with the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) and thus invalid. The court found that the Council's actions amounted to racial discrimination as they disproportionately affected businesses operated by Pacific Islanders. The judge also considered the context and impact of the enforcement of the provisions, concluding that they created a barrier to equal participation in commercial activities based on race. Consequently, the court granted the plaintiff's application for a declaration and injunction.

The court further ordered that the Council cease enforcing the challenged provisions against the plaintiff and any other person who is a Pacific Islander. Additionally, the Council was required to review and amend its policies to ensure compliance with the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). The court's decision reinforced the importance of upholding anti-discrimination principles and ensuring that local government regulations do not inadvertently perpetuate racial inequality.

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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