Sonar Australia Pty Ltd v Roads and Maritime Services

[2016] NSWLEC 1230

Land and Environment Court

New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation:	Sonar Australia Pty Ltd v Roads & Maritime Services [2016] NSWLEC 1230
Hearing dates:	Conciliation conference on 2 June 2016
Date of orders:	08 June 2016
Decision date:	08 June 2016
Jurisdiction:	Class 3
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:	Sonar Australia Pty Ltd (Applicant) Roads and Maritime Services of New South Wales (Respondent)
Representation:	Mr A Perkins, Project Lawyers (Applicant) Mr H Kalarostaghi Hunt & Hunt (Respondent)
File Number(s):	2016/158105
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, 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 are:

1. The Court notes that the parties or their representatives have reached an agreement in a conciliation conference held on 2 June 2016 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 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 $3,534,093.00, pursuant to section 55 of the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (Act), for the acquisition of Lot C in Deposited Plan 306471 being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title C/306471 and known as 235 Parramatta Road, Haberfield and acquisition of Lot B in Deposited Plan 306471, being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title B/306471 and Lot 1 in Deposited Plan 655550, being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title 1/655550 and known as 237 Parramatta Road, Haberfield.

3. The Applicant is 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 Applicant's reasonable costs as agreed or assessed subject to the production of invoices and receipts.

…………….

Acting Commissioner Maston

Decision last updated: 08 June 2016