Rhonda Jones v Road and Maritime Services

[2017] NSWLEC 1655

Land and Environment Court

New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation:	Rhonda Jones & Ors v Road and Maritime Services [2017] NSWLEC 1655
Hearing dates:	Conciliation conference on 16 October 2017
Date of orders:	17 November 2017
Decision date:	17 November 2017
Jurisdiction:	Class 1
Before:	Maston AC
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:	Rhonda Jones (First Applicant) Alan Edward Jones (Second Applicant) Peter John Jones (Third Applicant) Phillip William Jones (Fourth Applicant) Estate of Late Nancy Charlotte Jones (Fifth Applicant) Estate of Late Kevin George Jones (Sixth Applicant) Roads and Maritime Services (Respondent)
Representation:	Counsel: Ms P M Lane (First Applicant) Mr M Galvin (Second - Fifth Applicants) Ms A Hemmings (Respondent) Solicitors: Ms C Williams, CA Williams Legal (First Applicant) Mr M Culleton, Russel McLelland Brown Lawyers (Wollongong) (Second - Fifth Applicants) Ms H Kalarostaghi (Respondent)
File Number(s):	2016/148009
Publication restriction:	No

Judgment

1. 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”.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. The final orders to give effect to the parties’ agreement under s34(3) of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 are:

1. The Court notes that the parties or their representatives have reached an agreement in a conciliation conference held on 16 October 2017 pursuant to s.34 of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979, presided over by Acting Commissioner Maston, as to the terms of a decision in the proceedings that would be acceptable to the parties (being a decision that the Court could have made in the proper exercise of its functions).

2. Compensation is determined in the sum of $228,130, pursuant to section 55 of the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (Act), for the acquisition of Lot 111 in Deposited Plan 1205972, being the part of the land in Certificate of Title 3/423331 being known as 471 Bringelly Road, Rossmore.

3. The Applicants are to duly complete and deliver to the Respondent the deed of release and indemnity and direction as to payment issued by the Respondent within 28 days of the final orders in these proceedings.

4. Within 28 days of the Respondent receiving the duly completed deed of release and indemnity and direction to payment the Respondent is to pay the compensation less any advanced moneys paid.

5. The Respondent has agreed to pay the Applicants' reasonable costs as agreed or assessed subject to the production of invoices and receipts.

Notations:

Statutory interest pursuant to ss.49 and 50 of the Act is payable on the remainder of compensation.

……………………….

Acting Commissioner Maston