Sutherland Shire Council v Bluewater District Services

Case [1999] NSWCA 437


CITATION: Sutherland Shire Council v Bluewater District Services [1999] NSWCA 437
FILE NUMBER(S): CA 40668/97
HEARING DATE(S): Monday 9 August 1999
JUDGMENT DATE:
9 August 1999

PARTIES :


Appellant - Sutherland Shire Council
Respondent - Bluewater District Services
JUDGMENT OF: Meagher JA at 1; Beazley JA; Stein JA
LOWER COURT JURISDICTION: Land & Environment Court
LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : 11221/97
LOWER COURT JUDICIAL OFFICER: Sheehan J
COUNSEL: Appellant - W R Davidson SC
Respondent - I Hemmings
SOLICITORS: Appellant - Abbott Tout
Respondent - John Burril (Kogarah)
CATCHWORDS: Building development application; Brothel in non-residential zone
DECISION: 1.Appeal allowed to a limited extent disclosed in this order; 2.Order the judgment of his Honour Sheahan J of 25 September 1997 be set aside; 3.Order that the development application number 970770 lodged with the appellant council on 14 February 1997 for the use of a factory unit on lot 10 SP32419 140-150 Taren Point Road, Caringbah as a brothel be granted subject to conditions 1-17 as set out by the Assessor and subject to an addition of condition 18 to be later specified. This consent does extend to any common part of the property.; 4. Amend the Assessor's condition to add the following condition 18. Namely conditions 1,8,9,&16 do not approve or authorise the carrying out of any work on the common property; 5.Appeal otherwise dismissed; 6.Both as to the proceedings before Sheahan J and Proceedings in this court, no as to costs

- 1 -

THE SUPREME COURT
OF NEW SOUTH WALES
COURT OF APPEAL

CA 40668/97

MEAGHER JA
BEAZLEY JA
STEIN JA

MONDAY 9 AUGUST 1999
SUTHERLAND SHIRE COUNCIL v BLUEWATER DISTRICT SERVICES
JUDGMENT
MEAGHER JA: We are now in a position to make the following orders:
1. An order that the current appeal be allowed to a limited extent disclosed in this order.
2. Order that the judgment of his Honour Sheahan J of 25 September 1997 be set aside.
3. Order that development application number 970770 lodged with the appellant council on 14 February 1997 for the use of a factory unit on lot 10 SP32419 140-150 Taren Point Road, Caringbah as a brothel be granted subject to conditions 1-17 as set out by the Assessor and subject to an addition of condition 18 to be later specified. This consent does not extend to any common part of the property.
4. Amend the Assessor's condition to add the following condition 18. Namely conditions 1, 8, 9 and 16 do not approve or authorise the carrying out of any work on the common property.
5. Appeal otherwise dismissed.
6. Both as to the proceedings before Sheahan J and proceedings in this Court, no order as to costs.
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Details
AGLC
Sutherland Shire Council v Bluewater District Services [1999] NSWCA 437
Case
[1999] NSWCA 437
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Sutherland Shire Council appealed to the New South Wales Court of Appeal against a decision of Sheahan J, which had set aside the Council's refusal of a development application. The application, lodged by Bluewater District Services, sought to use a factory unit at 140-150 Taren Point Road, Caringbah, as a brothel.

The primary legal issue before the Court of Appeal was whether the proposed use of the factory unit as a brothel constituted a "brothel" within the meaning of the relevant planning instrument, and if so, whether it could be permitted in a non-residential zone. The court also considered the scope of the Council's power to impose conditions on such a development application.

The Court of Appeal, comprising Meagher, Beazley, and Stein JJA, reasoned that while a brothel is not explicitly listed as a prohibited or permissible use in the relevant zone, its nature as a place for the provision of sexual services meant it was not a "factory" as defined. However, the court found that the development application could be granted subject to stringent conditions. The court allowed the appeal to a limited extent, setting aside the judgment of Sheahan J and ordering that the development application be granted subject to conditions 1-17 as determined by the Assessor, with the addition of a new condition 18. This new condition clarified that certain existing conditions did not approve or authorise the carrying out of any work on common property. The appeal was otherwise dismissed, and no order was made as to costs.

Orders

Orders of the court

1.Appeal allowed to a limited extent disclosed in this order; 2.Order the judgment of his Honour Sheahan J of 25 September 1997 be set aside; 3.Order that the development application number 970770 lodged with the appellant council on 14 February 1997 for the use of a factory unit on lot 10 SP32419 140-150 Taren Point Road, Caringbah as a brothel be granted subject to conditions 1-17 as set out by the Assessor and subject to an addition of condition 18 to be later specified. This consent does extend to any common part of the property.; 4. Amend the Assessor's condition to add the following condition 18. Namely conditions 1,8,9,&16 do not approve or authorise the carrying out of any work on the common property; 5.Appeal otherwise dismissed; 6.Both as to the proceedings before Sheahan J and Proceedings in this court, no as to costs

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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