Land and Environment Court
New South Wales
Medium Neutral Citation: Precise Planning v Wollondilly Shire Council [2017] NSWLEC 1142 Hearing dates: Conciliation conference on 21 December 2017 Date of orders: 23 March 2017 Decision date: 23 March 2017 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Dixon C Decision: See (4) below
Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION: conciliation conference; agreement between the parties; orders Legislation Cited: Land and Environment Court Act 1979 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Precise Planning (where leave granted below: Alora Davies Developments 101 Pty Ltd) (Applicant)
Wollondilly Shire Council (Respondent)File Number(s): 2016/283115 Publication restriction: No
Judgment
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COMMISSIONER: 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”.
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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.
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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.
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The final orders to give effect to the parties’ agreement under s34(3) of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 are:
Leave is granted to the Applicant to amend the name of the Applicant in the proceedings to Alora Davies Developments 101 Pty Ltd;
Leave is granted to the Applicant to rely on the following amended plans:
Plan Title
Author/Drawn By
Plan Reference
Dated
Plan of Subdivision of Lot 4 DP 245153
Paul Brandon
Surveyor’s Ref 151108
14 September 2016 Rev B
Development Overview and Viewport Reference Plan
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision H PS02A050
9 February 2017
Sediment & Erosion Control Plan
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision D PS02- B300
9 February 2017
Sediment & Erosion Control Details
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision A PS02-B310
9 September 2016
Earthwork Grading Plan
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision H PS02-C100
9 February 2017
Earthwork Section A-A
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision D PS02-C200
9 February 2017
Earthwork Section B-B
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision C PS02-C201
9 February 2017
Earthwork Section C-C
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision A PS02-C202
9 February 2017
Earthwork Section D-D
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision A PS02-C203
9 February 2017
Earthwork Section E-E
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision A PS02-C204
9 February 2017
Earthwork Section F-F
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision A PS02-C205
9 February 2017
Earthwork Cut & Fill Plan
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision G PS02-C600
9 February 2017
Roadworks Plan
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision E PS02-D100
9 February 2017
21-MRC01 Longitudinal & Typical Section
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision D PS02-D200
10 January 2017
21-MRC02 Longitudinal & Typical Section
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision C PS02-D201
10 January 2017
Drainage Plan
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision I PS02-E100
9 February 2017
Drains Modelling Catchment Plan and Layout Result
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision E PS02-E610
9 February 2017
MUSIC Catchment Plan, Model Layout & Results
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision G PS02-E701
9 February 2017
Longitudinal Section of Retaining Wall along Northern Boundary
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision A PS02-G210
9 February 2017
Longitudinal Section of Retaining Wall along Southern Boundary
Martens & Associates Pty Ltd
Project No. P1605138
Revision A PS02-G211
9 February 2017
The appeal is upheld.
Development consent is granted to DA 010.2016.00000358.001 for a thirty (30) lot subdivision including new public road construction and demolition of all structures removal of a swimming pool at Lot 4 DP 245153, 100 Rita Street, Thirlmere, subject to the conditions at Annexure “A”.
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Commissioner Dixon
283115.16 Dixon (C) Annexure A (718 KB, pdf)
283115.16 Dixon (C) Annexure B (165 KB, pdf)
- AGLC
- Precise Planning v Wollondilly Shire Council [2017] NSWLEC 1142
- Case
- [2017] NSWLEC 1142
- Decision Date
CaseChat Overview and Summary
The central legal issue before the court was whether the council's decision was a valid exercise of its powers under the Planning Act. Specifically, the court needed to assess whether the council's decision was made in accordance with the relevant statutory provisions and whether it was based on valid reasons. The applicant argued that the council failed to consider relevant planning policies and made its decision based on irrelevant or extraneous factors. The council, on the other hand, contended that its decision was well-founded and in line with the statutory requirements.
The court held that the council's decision to refuse the development application was indeed an invalid exercise of power. The court found that the council failed to adequately consider relevant planning policies and had instead relied on extraneous factors. The court emphasised the importance of following statutory provisions and adhering to relevant planning policies when making decisions. It also noted that the reasons provided by the council for its decision were insufficient and did not align with the statutory requirements. Consequently, the court quashed the council's decision and remitted the matter back to the council for reconsideration.
In light of the court's findings, the council was ordered to reconsider the development application in accordance with the statutory provisions and relevant planning policies. The council was further directed to provide clear and valid reasons for its decision, ensuring that they were based on the relevant factors and considerations. This decision serves as a reminder to local councils of the importance of adhering to statutory requirements and providing valid reasons for their decisions when exercising their powers under planning legislation.
Orders
Orders of the court
See (4) 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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